War and Peace

Frequently gorgeous, occasionally dull, always fascinating.

Exhaustive, spectacular, often dazzling in its ambition and faithfulness to Tolstoy, the movie is still regarded as one of the wonders of epic cinema.

This is the barbaric yawp of the Soviet film industry circa 1968, an entertainment A-bomb test announcing to the world: 'Here is what we are capable of.'

Considering its cost and the vast effort that went into its making, such a film can be made only once in our time. The wonder, indeed, is that it was made at all.

The Tolstoyan directness comes through the film, the attempt stated and restated -- to resolve the dilemma of how to live. And while the movie sometimes hammers its moral points home with something less than grace, its epic quality never fails.

...an essential masterpiece.

Bondarchuk's greatest achievement in adapting War and Peace was surprisingly enough, the style.

filled from end to end with stunning set-pieces and painterly images, exquisite camera movements and elaborate set design