Ridley Scott Napoleon Movie - Depiction of Waterloo

[Mr Grumpy]

Just for fun, I thought I'd deconstruct the Battle of Waterloo scene.  I learned some amazing things I did not know before.  Clip is here: Battle Of Waterloo Scene | NAPOLEON (2023) Joaquin Phoenix, Movie CLIP HD (youtube.com)

SPOILER ALERT

0:06:  Napoleon looks tired here, wearily putting on his famous hat.  Seems right.  By 1815, Napoleon was in the twilight of his career and reportedly suffering from various ailments during this campaign. 

0:45:  French Cuirassiers circling a British (or KGL?) infantry square.  Looks great.  This must be the period of the battle where Ney was launching his mass, albeit unsupported, cavalry charges at the Allied center.  Props to anyone who can identify the British regiment from its colors.

1:30:  The French cavalry returning defeated.  Napoleon personally rallies his men, showing his fearlessness by standing in front of the ranks of weapons pointed at the enemy.  This must be the climactic charge of the Imperial Guard?

1:39:  The Allies are in a long and mighty seeming infantry line.  The extended line beloved of WDS games.  

2:12:  The French infantry advance.  The British open fire at what seems like quite a long range for the Brown Bess they are equipped with. 

2:25:  Whoah. Napoleon, accompanied by his Imperial General Staff and Marshall Ney, draws sword to personally lead his men!  The French infantry cheer and break into a run.

2:32:  The British break ranks into their own bayonet charge.  The two hordes clash in a massive melee.  Wellington orders the Allied cavalry to join in.

3:07:  The Emperor, shaking off his illness, shows his mad skills, personally cutting down at least two men.  Clearly, his plan is to cut his way to the Iron Duke, knowing that if he engages Wellington in personal combat, both armies will stop fighting and form a circle to watch.

3:41:  Blucher arrives, the wide angle showing off the extensive chevaux de frise and redoubts which Wellington had used to fortify the ridge at Mont St. Jean.  

4:00:  A greencoat from the famed 95th Rifles puts a ball through Napoleon's hat!  Props to whomever can CGI Sean Beans' face onto this guy.

4:18:  The damage to his hat seems to have broken Napoleon's morale, as he flees headlong.  I think it likelier he could no longer bear to watch a battle that had devolved into a mass of men fist fighting on the ground.  "C’est magnifique, mais ce n’est pas la guerre. c'est de la folie!"

4:58:  Napoleon takes time to raise his sword in salute to Wellington.  The Emperor is no sore loser.

I have not seen the whole movie, but watching this clip left me shaken.  It seemed like a fevered dream, clashing with all that I knew about this famous battle.

Hilarious film from start to finish, might win the award for the best comedy at the next Oscars?  

If you look at the comments for the various clips on YouTube anyone pointing out how stupid this film is gets shouted down by the people who only go to the cinema to be entertained and not informed, so we just have to accept that this is Hollywood's version of history and NOT a documentary. 

Pity, I think it is possible to both inform and entertain, but Ridley Scott does not agree.