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Napoleon (TV Miniseries) (3-Disc...
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Napoleon (TV Miniseries) (3-Disc...
Title: Napoleon: Collector’s
Edition
Stars: Christian Clavier, Isabella Rossellini, Gerard Depardieu, John Malkovich, Guillaume Depardieu, Julian Sands, and Toby Stephens
Writer: Didier Decoin
Based on the book “Napoleon” by: Max Gallo
Director: Yves Simoneau
Feature Length: 361 minutes
Extras:
”Napoleon: Behind The Scenes”,
“Napoleon And Wellington”, “Biography: Napoleon Bonaparte: The Glory Of
France” ,“Cast Biographies”
Languages:
English Stereo Sound
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Three Slim Keep Cases Within A Cardboard Slipcase
Chapter
Stops: 56
Sound:
Stereo Sound
Year of DVD Release: 2003
Home Video Distributor: A&E Home Video
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
Filmed on location in France, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Morocco, Canada, and St. Helene, a cast of 150 actors lead by stars Christian Clavier, Isabella Rossellini, Gerard Depardieu, and John Malkovich were assembled to produce this epic A&E original miniseries based on the book by Max Gallo entitled “Napoleon.” This six-hour miniseries was directed by Yves Simoneau (Nuremberg) and was co-produced by Gerard Depardieu, who also has a small, but important role in the film. Christian Clavier is the Corsican man who would become one of the most powerful men of the 19th century with the Napoleonic Age signaling the birth of his empire in 1800 that later crumbled in 1814. The effects of Napoleon’s legacy continue to this day with law reforms such as the “Napoleonic Code” that is still the basis for state laws of Louisiana as well as the basis for laws in 70 other governments worldwide. The introduction of a general public education for all regardless of societal stature, and the discovery of the Rosetta Stone are just a few of historical elements that are associated with this controversial figure in history.
The goal of the filmmakers was to portray a more personal perspective of Napoleon from his early days when the General had more interest in mathematics than politics through the turmoil of his personal life and the subsequent intoxication of with absolute power that ultimately corrupts him and leads to betrayals within his own inner circle. Napoleon is not portrayed as an angel in this miniseries, but neither is he portrayed as a monster. I think this might be one of the most courageous attempts to present the “Emperor” simply as a human being.
All of the performances are quite good in this film, but the standouts in my opinion belong to Christian Clavier who essays his role as if he were born to play it and John Malkovich, who is more than comfortable in his role as French Diplomat “Tallyrand,” a man whose duplicity made him both a man to be admired and feared. Gerard Depardieu appears as “Joseph Fouche,” a historical figure who basically controlled the flow of information to the French Citizens and inventor of the Scientific Police and eventually the KGB. Isabella Rossellini portrays “Josephine” with a combination of sincere love for Napoleon and an heir of tragedy. Guest appearances by Julian Sands and John Wood as Pop Pius VII add greater texture to the miniseries as a whole.
The miniseries aired on A&E on April 8 and 9 of 2003, but it was a truncated form that left out approximately half of the actual story that was filmed. For the DVD release A&E Home Video presents the entire miniseries uncut with a complete running time of approximately six hours. The additional three hours not seen on American television greatly enhances the epic quality of the miniseries and fills in gaps that I must say troubled me when I originally screened and reviewed the A&E TV broadcast version. After watching the complete miniseries on DVD I can say without reservation that this is the way the miniseries should have been presented to begin with on A&E because the additional scenes add so much to the characters and texture as well as the sweeping scope that I do not think I could watch the shorter version ever again. If you enjoyed “Napoleon” on A&E then you will love the definitive cut of the entire miniseries on DVD and if you have not yet seen “Napoleon” or are unsure, this DVD set is by far the best way to see what I now truly think was one of the best miniseries presentations of the 2002-2003 television season and ironically enough, it is also the best miniseries that has never aired on American television since only the DVD-Video release has the entire epic.
“Napoleon” is presented uncut across the first two dual layered discs that come within the set. Each DVD comes housed in a slim keep case within a cardboard slipcase much like the recent Fox DVD-Video releases of “Futurama” and “The Family Guy” so the complete three-disc set has a small footprint that matches beautifully with standard keep case DVD titles in one’s DVD-Video library. Each part of Napoleon runs for about 90 minutes each with 14 scene selections each for all four parts. One can choose to view each installment individually or as one longer reel per disc. The image quality is beautiful and has outstanding color and detail. “Napoleon” is presented in the (1.33:1) aspect ratio of the television exhibition. A clear English Stereo Soundtrack is provided for the entire miniseries, but there are no captions for the hearing impaired or subtitles encoded on to any of the discs.
The third DVD contains the bonus materials that include the fascinating documentary “Napoleon And Wellington” (95:49), which contrasts the lives of both military figures destined to clash at the climactic Battle of Waterloo. The documentary features videotaped interview clips with the current Duke of Wellington regarding his ancestor as well as various historians and military professors. The documentary is a perfect companion to the miniseries and shows just how much the filmmaker’s strived to adhere to the facts and recreating key scenes that were caught on paint so to speak by artists of the period. Robert Loggia narrates the documentary and gives it a certain degree of character. The acclaimed 1998 A&E Biography of Napoleon (44:27) hosted and narrated by Peter Graves is included too and covers much of the same ground in the documentary including clips from the interviews used in “Napoleon And Wellington,” but with a sharper focus of Napoleon’s character. The A&E “Making Of Napoleon” TV special (20:25) is also included and features cast and crew interviews from the set of the production. Biographies with select film credits for Christian Clavier, Gerard Depardieu, Isabella Rossellini, and John Malkovich wrap up the extra features included within this DVD set.
This is a must see miniseries made better on DVD. “Napoleon: Collector’s Edition” will debut on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 from A&E Home Video.
© Copyright 2003 By Mark A.
Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Box Set Now By Clicking On The Text Link Below!
Napoleon (TV Miniseries) (3-Disc...