It does take liberties with history, but it is a mightily credible film for several reasons. The story is very compelling and while long the film is never boring. The battle sequences are beautifully staged, the production values are rich and the score is wonderfully bombastic. The direction is also strong and the script is intelligent and thought-provoking. Then there is the acting. Rod Steiger is magnificent as Napolean, it is a perfect balance of hot rage and cool calculation and he even manages to upstage the thousands of Soviet soldiers recruited as extras for the battle scenes. Just as good is Christopher Plummer as Duke of Wellington, shown here as quite arrogant and having contempt for lower-class cannon-fodder. In conclusion, a great film, worth seeing for Steiger and Plummer, their performances are so good the whole film is worth watching just for them. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Review of Waterloo
