War and Peace

No film adaptation replaces Tolstoy but this is close
This effort keeps the spirit and message of Tolstoy intact. He would have approved.
Every film/theater adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace" has naysayers. A novel (originally published in 1869 with 1200+ pages) of this length requires adjustment.
Step aside Anna Karenina and make room for "War & Peace." It's just as film-worthy.

This is an elegant look at the high social life of Russia with exquisite period costuming as good as any previously created for epic TV drama. Sensational symphony orchestration. A combo dazzling to the eye & ear. This 2007 version has a great international cast. Amazingly it is nearly impossible to recognize at least 9 of the actors were dubbed in English. It's so well done; it is obvious the actors HAD to be speaking English during the filming. After watching over 7 hours of this adapted drama, you'll wish for more. Alas, Tolstoy wrote no sequel.

The story remains true to the Tolstoy plot and reveals the character of...

War and Peace
While in my mind, it would be impossible for any film to compete with the mastery of the novel version of War and Peace, this movie comes close. War and Peace is set during the invasion of Russia by Napoleon's army. Both the elaborate costumes and the beautiful settings are a realistic depiction of this time period that really make you feel you stepped back in time and into the aristocratic life old world Russian. The cast couldn't have been more perfect. Alessio Bono and Alexander Beyer really brought Prince Andrej and Pierre to life with their stunning performances. I especially enjoyed Clemence Poesy's touching depiction of Natasha. Even the background music is beautiful and fitting. The whole movie draws you into a world filled with a mixture of passion and politics as four families struggle though Napoleon's invasion. While they face many horrors on the battlefield, there is also a great balance of romance.

While some scenes and a lot of great dialogue had to be cut...



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