Trailers
Description
After defeating France and imprisoning Napoleon on Elba, ending two decades of war, Europe is shocked to find Napoleon has escaped and has caused the French Army to defect from the King back to him. The best of the British generals, the Duke of Wellington, beat Napolean's best generals in Spain and Portugal, but now must beat Napoleon himself with an Anglo Allied army.
Starring
Awards
Key opinion
Sergei Bondarchuk’s 'Waterloo' is widely recognized as an unparalleled achievement in historical epic filmmaking, praised for its massive scale and authentic large-scale battle recreations that remain unsurpassed by modern CGI-heavy cinema. While the technical artistry and performances of Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer receive high acclaim, the film's characterization and narrative focus remain points of intense debate among viewers.
| Direction | The massive, authentic battle sequences represent an unsurpassed technical achievement in cinema that relies on real-world scale rather than digital effects. | |
| Score | Nino Rota's musical score is a flawless, high-quality accompaniment to the film's epic narrative. | |
| Production | The lavish production design, including period-accurate uniforms and palatial sets, creates a visually immersive historical atmosphere. | |
| Acting | Rod Steiger delivers a masterful, multidimensional portrayal of Napoleon that succeeds in generating both disdain and deep empathy. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some appreciate the tight, focused duel between Napoleon and Wellington, while others criticize the exclusion of broader political context and the marginalization of key figures like Blücher. | |
| Emotion | The emotional depth of the film is polarizing; some find the combat scenes effectively evoke the spiritual horror of war, while others perceive the character portrayals as manipulative or emotionally distant. |