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Reviews
Doctor Zhivago (2002)
Go Watch the Original
Led astray from Pasternak's novel and even the original Doctor Zhivago, the movie was perfectly cast with everyone playing the wrong roles. Hans Matheson -- decent actor, but simply isn't suited to play Zhivago. In terms of playing Lara and Tonya, however, Keira Knightley and Alexandra Maria Lara are excellent and superb, matching if not exceeding the performances of their predecessors.
Though I must say, I would have liked to have seen Alexandra Maria Lara play Lara and Keira Knightley play Tonya; but due to Knightley's age, this may have been an impossibility. Both are stunning actresses with remarkable skill and this is reflected in Zhivago.
I am extremely disappointed by the removal of Yevgraf in this version. Some of the plot changes also make the movie implausible; this version disrupts the storyline without filling in the gaps.
If you need to watch a movie to give you an impression of Pasternak's novel, go watch the original. Then watch this. It would be hazardous to do it the other way around.
Napoléon (2002)
A Magnificent Work... Underrated, but a few Errors..
With an exceptional performance by Clavier, and the rest of the Napoleon cast, this multi-million dollar miniseries is highly underrated. It depicts Napoleon's life well for such a short lifespan, but there are a few mistakes that accompany the film.
First, Malkovich wasn't the best choice to play the renowned diplomat Talleyrand. Malkovich portrays him in a rather bland and placid manner, and the director shows him as a bit of a weakling, whereas Talleyrand was one of the most powerful men in all Europe -- even after Napoleon's defeat.
Second, Alain Doutey as Marshal Ney... not as enthusiastic as the real Marshal Ney would have been. His famous line, repeated in the film, was said unenthusiastic and without spirit.
Simoneau would have done better had he shown elements of the Duke of Wellington to contrast the two military leaders... we definitely didn't really want to see the blubbering Louis XVIII, or the King/Prince of Spain, for that matter.
Other than that however, the rest of the performances were fantastic. Josephine, Caulaincourt, Caroline Bonaparte, Murat -- and of course, the Emperor Napoleon, were all shown true to form.