Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Alexander Nevsky, Sergei Eisenstein's landmark tale of Russia thwarting the German invasion of the 13th century, was wildly popular with home-grown audiences back in 1938, quite intentionally so, given the prevailing Nazi geopolitical advancement and destruction at the time. It can still be viewed as a masterful use of imagery and music, with the "Battle on the Ice" sequence as the obvious highlight. Unfortunately, the rest of the film pales in comparison. A great score by Prokofiev was effectively integrated by the Russian filmmaker, but stands on its own merit as well. --Bill Desowitz, Amazon.com
Special Features
Region 2
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Symphony of the White,
By
This review is from: Alexander Nevsky [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I think "Alexander Nevsky" is the best of Eisenstein's works. It's also probably one of the most extraordinary historical films ever times except "Intolerance", "The Seven Samurai", Olivier's "Henry V" (inspired by Eisenstein's vision) and "Ivan the Terrible" of course. Plot is very simple: Teutonic Knigts attack Russia but the russian people crush their in great battle on frozen Lake Pejpus. Scene of battle is truly great and fantastic. In my opinion it's more exciting than fights in "Breaveheart" and "Joan of Arc" (by Luc Besson). Teutonic Knight wear white costumes and they look terryfying; russian people are dressed in black. "Alexander Nevsky" has beautyfull photography by Eduard Tisse - he was operator of all Eisenstein's films. Not only knight's wears are white but ice of the lake, the snow, the water and the heaven are white also - it's really symphony of the white. After see this film, some critic called Eisenstein "the best russian painter of all times". Music has wrote by Sergei Prokofiev, cantata "Alexander Nevsky" is one of the most famous works by this composer. I recommend "Alexander Nevsky". Extraordinary visions, great scenes, beautyfull photography and music. This film is a masterpiece!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Eisteinstein's first sound film is near masterpiece,
By
This review is from: Alexander Nevsky [1938] [DVD] (DVD)
Eisenstein's first sound film retells the battle of the ice of 1242, when the Russians under Alexander Nevsky defeated the Livonian knights, eager to bring Russia under Roman Catholicism. Made in 1938, Nevsky can be seen as a piece of propaganda: the Germanic knights, with their sinister (and somewhat goofy) helmets are obvious stand-ins for the Nazis. The butchery by the knights when they enter a Russian town seems a prophetic warning of the massacres of World War II. The film ends with a warning: those who came to Russia with the sword will die by the sword. Made in delicate black and white (somewhat reminiscent of a daguerreotype), it also marked Eisenstein's return to official favor. By the late 1920s, Stalin wanted Soviet filmmakers to stop experimentation and made movies that would be more populist and palatable to the Russian public. That stopped Eisenstein's career in Russia for a decade, and in Nevsky he came back with his more accessible film. Nevsky's strong point is in its second half, which features the battle itself, and it is justly seen as a milestone in movie history: never before (and probably never after) a battle would be so vivid in the screen. Another strong point is Prokofiev's beautiful, haunting soundtrack (using a composer to score a movie was completely unusual at the time). One of its weaker points: the comic relief (in the form of two simpleton Russian warriors trying to woo a beautiful Russian peasant) is really jarring.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never forget.,
By
This review is from: Alexander Nevsky [1938] [DVD] (DVD)
I had forgotten how great a film this is. You must, of course, put aside all our tedious modern gimmickry and realism ... which surprisingly often obscure the true sense and impact of films ... and accept Eisenstein's work on its own terms. You then have something which literally brings tears to the eyes: the force of nobility and sacrifice which can, on occasion, stand over and above any flaws of nationalism, politics or calculated interest. You also have a stunning musical score from Prokoviev: tears to the eyes, indeed. The re-mastering is a success, though naturally the age of the filmstock shows through. Similarly, the sound track is a bit muddy, but Prokoviev's score has the force and clarity to overcome that; the need to overcome the technical weakness almost, in itself, seems to underscore the concept of heroic nobility facing against the odds running through the whole film. The camera work is, of course, excellent if you allow yourself to accept the notion of declaratory symbolic representation of ideals. Do not forget the idealistic message of true socialism! 1938 ... and the film shows almost uncanny foreknowledge of the Nazi assault on Russia to come, with all its horrors and ultimate victory. A great and unforgettable film.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews |
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
