exelenc I never truly enjoyed adaptation of Sergey Bondarchuk. Actually, I didn't even finish it because of very annoying Natasha, with her constant overreacting and inappropriate emotions. Overacting was the issue of almost all Bondarchuk's cast, in my opinion.This version has much better cast. Though I doubted that Clemense Poesy could be a good Natasha, she definitely is. The charming, sincere, unexperienced but honest young woman. I found myself really engaged into her emotions. I understood why she did this or that things, visiting Elen before the duel, going to run away with Kuragin... Beautiful, seductive Elen is another gem of this film. She is so insidious and charismatic at the same time, that I'm sure that actress could easily play Cersei Lannister if she had to. Men are good, too. Alessio Boni is handsome and noble, and his Andrey Bolkonsky is attractive and tragic figure. Pierre is cute, that kind of man you don't notice at first and even at second glance, but eventually you fall in love with. The only problem with this W&P adaption (except of several historical mismatches) is that it is a bit superficial. However, it's a problem for all Tolstoy's movie adaptations - the directors haven't found the proper cinema language for that titan writer yet. On the good side, it looks like his books do not get old fashioned at all, so finally we'll see the perfect W&P and AK movies :)

mahatma-kumar16 It is difficult for an Indian to write a laudable review for this grandiose series after so many ethnic Russians have written brutally critical ones. Still I will try. I have watched both Bondarchuk's Soviet production of 1960s and this particular one. Let me put it like this. The Soviets (who tried hard to reproduce the aristocratic milieu of the Russian Empire of early 19 century) did their best and failed. May be it can be explained that under Lenin and Stalin they managed to execute all real Russian aristocrats - so there were no nobles left to tell them how the high life folks really behaved. I hear the only expert from "old" Russia they could unearth was the widow of the executed tsarist admiral Kolchak (even she was condemned to some 18 years in various GULAG camps). In this series the motley crew of European star actors and gifted Russian extras surprisingly create a very sophisticated and warm world of Russian nobility which is quite believable for a fan of classic Russian culture like me. Two grades are off due to poorly staged battle scenes and outlandish Russian hussars's braids (unlike the Mongols their elite cavalry never wore braids, especially in the 19 century).

jamesnightshade Excellent all-around--the superb acting is the high point--Alexander Beyer and Hannelore Elsner particularly good, and of course Malcolm McDowell is good. The cinematography and production design are gorgeous, and the historical realism is dense and exciting (best Napoleon you'll ever see). Costumes are excellent and rich, and the direction is skillful (wonderful close-ups of the actors, the directors really gave them a chance to shine). Music is beautiful. A really outstanding, well-made piece, a great tale with a wonderful cast of villains and delightfully honorable, upstanding characters, with many exciting contests and backstabbing among them. Though admittedly the narrative has to move along at a brisk pace, and much is left out of the story, this is true of any long tale like this one brought to the screen. Much fun to watch over a few nights.

Matvei Karetnik Countries of the Europe tried very much to make this movie. Movie is outstanding, but not without remarks. Firstly, Clémence Poésy does not approach for Natasha Rostova at all. There is no that charm which was described by the Leo Tolstoi in the novel. Secondly, in the end of first part of movie was used music by... modern composer Aram Khachaturyan for the Lermontov's drama "Masquerade". Italian actor Alessio Boni is ingenious! I think, that his role the best in this film! Hi is one of the best actors, ever played role of Andrey Bolkonsky. Alexander Beyer's work (Pierre Bezukhov) is very convincing. Noticeably, that this actor really very well knows "War and peace". It has allowed it to represent Pierre Bezukhov very authentically. The image of old prince Bolkonsky (M. McDowell) has turned out very expressive and truthful. Such old Russian prince - the petty tyrant. In common, movie is remarkable!