War & Peace

My wife an I were blown away by how well done this TV series is. I've read Tolstoy and know how profound his descriptions of life can be. But this series really made me think about what life is all about, with it's joys and sorrows in good times and bad. I was very moved. They quality was there. And they didn't resort to the usual vulgarity found in so many TV series and movies today. I can only hope that BBC or other companies make more wonderful TV series like this in the future. Thank you BBC for creating a great product that thinking people can enjoy.

Most of it is superb. HOWEVER, there are some irredeemable problems:(1) To see Weinstein’s name at the start of every episode (For US distribution) is a mega turn-off.(2) Makes sense the DVD set has his grubby name on it with a couple of grotesque, gratuitous sex scenes.(3) The audio team did poor job in mixing what characters are saying with other ambient sounds for several scenes.(4) The actors occasionally whisper too softly—requiring lip reading—and they occasionally speak far to fast for intelligibility.(5) There are two scenes missing that I know they did film, because they exist in what’s now available for free on YouTube. One scene skipped is the wolf hunt scene.(6) The appearance of English subtitles are sloppy and oversized.Apart from these issues, the show is superb.

This adaptation of the Tolstoy masterpiece sticks closely to the events in the novel. Paul Dano is particularly moving as Pierre Bezukhov and Lily James and James Norton are an attractive pair of mismatched lovers. The war scenes are well staged and not too gory. Overall, a good version which inspired me to re-read the novel.

I liked this series a lot, altho, according to another reviewer, this wasn't the UK version, so it's a few minutes shorter than the UK version. I have not read the book. I didn't have any issue with Lily James being blond in this role, altho I understand Natasha was dark haired in the book.I guess I was used to seeing Lily as a blond because she was blond in Downton Abbey. James Norton as a dark haired Andrei was a little startling. Norton plays a light haired guy in another PBS series. The light hair seems to suit him better. I was glad the series included the epilogue from the book. I thought that was a more fitting ending than the one in the Audrey Hepburn movie.

As a Russian, I was curious about the series because I heard a lot of negative reviews that compare the series to the famed 1965 Bondarchuk's Oscar-winning epic. I actually loved this one. It was done with great sensitivity and care to the Russian culture and as close to the original novel as possible. The talented cast members capture the characters' depth and complexity just as if they were Russian. I will re-watch the series as I re-read the Tolstoy's War & Peace often. I am glad I purchased it for my collection.

Watching this miniseries reinforced my desire to read the actual novel by Tolstoy. I'm a character development junkie and I loved watching how the characters grew and developed (or failed to) over time. The war, while devastating and violent, provoked change in the characters that might not have happened in the peaceful, wealthy Russian society, and the miniseries does an excellent job depicting this change in so many characters even though there are only 8 episodes. By then end, I found that I had compassion for characters that I started off disliking, and was happily surprised by the redemption and resolution by the final episode. The cinematography is gorgeous, and I'm not normally a big movie crier, but I loved these characters so much that I sobbed multiple times. My heart is full and ready to face the world with a little more empathy and courage, and if that doesn't make a good movie experience, I don't know what does. Thank you, BBC for this treasure.

When reading about Napoleon, French historians portray him as a glorified war hero. Tolstoy presents the other side, how the war impacted the Russian people, and their preoccupation with him. Their anxiety and fear of sending loved ones off to possible slaughter. Happier times were filled with festive, lavish dinners and ballroom dances. The dynamics of intriguing relationships with likable, kind (Pierre, Natasha or Tasha, and Marya) and not so likable, scheming self-promoters (sister and brother, Helene and Anatole). "As long as there is life, there is happiness" - Pierre. What humanity this great literary work captures!

This TV version of War and Peace was so beautifully done--both visually and aurally absorbing. The use of the Russian Orthodox chants during some of the most emotional scenes, such as Pierre's duel with Dolokhov--and Lily James was absolutely lovely as Natasha Rostov. James Norton was well cast as Prince Andrei, but the dark dye on his hair was kind of a distraction. I don't understand the reason for it, and it looked fake. The standout actor, to me, was Paul Dano as Pierre. He perfectly conveyed the combination of idealism, confusion, awkwardness, and sweetness of that character. However, I also loved Jessie Buckley as Princess Marya, and I don't like the fact that the American version of the series excluded the scenes when Prince Vasily and his son Anatole go to Bald Hills to try and woo her, only for Anatole to screw it up by flirting with Mme. Bourienne. I thought at least this and other annoying omissions would be rectified in the DVD, where the scenes that were shown in Britain but not in the U.S. could be either reinserted or at least on the DVD as an extra feature, but sadly, the DVD was a disappointment in that regard. Shame on you, Weinstein Co.

The BBC’s 2015 production of ‘War and Peace’ meets the challenge of condensing Tolstoy’s 1,000-page epic novel containing 500 named characters down to six hours of watchable screen time by focussing on 14 main characters at the core of the story. Through their eyes we experience the machinations of the Czarist aristocracy in the early 1800s struggling to increase family wealth through status-enhancing marriages, and the cataclysmic invasion of western Russia by Napoleon’s Grande Armee. These dramatic backdrops are used to frame the core characters’ personal development and interactions as they undergo deep, transformative, life-changing experiences.Tolstoy’s novel is renowned for its discursions on philosophy and social justice, the relationship of the individual to society and our place in the universe, but the heart of the story is about family and the resultant bonds of love & duty. This 2015 production focuses on three of the five families central to the action: the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs and the Bolkonskys. Comparisons have been made with the much longer 1972 BBC series (20 episodes covering 17 hours of screen time), the earlier production a more stretched-out epic offering space for the characters to develop slowly in the framework of a longer narrative and for a larger cast of minor characters in the novel to play meaningful roles, whereas this shorter six-hour 2015 production inevitably forces severe pruning of the peripheral narrative threads in Tolstoy’s book.Cinematically the 2015 production is magnificent: the costuming, the opulent 18th century interiors, the stunning landscapes covered with snow or summer flowers, the banquet tables, carriages and sleighs, and a thousand fine details is a continual feast for the eye and the mind. The state-of-the-art CGI is flawlessly integrated into the action and particularly effective in the battlefield scenes.The casting is faultless: American actor Paul Dano conveys all Pierre’s innocence, idealism and goodness (with an impeccable British accent) plus his social awkwardness and naivety, James Norton the introverted, dutiful and courageous Andrei, Lily James nails the best-ever onscreen Natasha Rostova and Tuppence Middleton as the conniving, self-serving Helene is superb in a difficult and complex role (Tuppence finally gets her come-uppance in a very nasty way). Gillian Anderson is excellent as Anna Pavlovna Scherer; Jessica Buckley impressive as Andrei’s pious & devoted sister Marya; Aisling Loftus, Stephen Rea, Brian Cox all deliver fine, compelling performances. The screenwriting, editing and pacing are also very good.My only gripe is that due to the constraint of six hours’ screen time, this otherwise excellent production feels too rushed. A longer production (like the BBC’s 20-hour 1972 production) does Tolstoy’s novel better justice and enables the deeper themes to be explored, with more time for the character developments at the heart of the book. As an example Pierre’s prolonged encounter with the simple but wise Platon Karataev when both are prisoners of the French Army, so vital to his enlightenment and character transformation in the book, is skipped over in five minutes before the plot again races onto the next scene. However, this production is what it is: a fine piece of work with a coherent narrative & a great introduction to the book for younger viewers unfamiliar with Tolstoy. While too short, this 2015 production is nevertheless another notable triumph for the BBC drama department.The picture and sound quality of the Blu-ray release is superb, the menus basic but functional and easy to use. The brief extras include scenes deleted from the finished edit, a feature about how the orchestral music was integrated into the film and how Count Rostov’s folk dance was designed & choreographed.

There have been many screen adaptations of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, but this BBC dramatization is the equal of any of them. Engaging acting, atmospheric locations, striking costumes and a flowing but thoughtful script enable this production to stand tall with the others.The three principal actors are tremendous in their wildly different roles. Lily James steals the show as she enchantingly develops her Natasha Rostova character from extreme innocence and naivete to understanding and worldliness. Paul Dano is memorable as an understated and continually unlucky Pierre Bezukhov. The journey Natasha and Pierre make to be together at the end is a romance for the ages. And, James Norton is excellent as the dashing and debonair Andrei Bolkonsky. These three central characters react in surprising ways to the events that war and peace throw at them - all three are tremendously captivating and appealing.Jim Broadbent brilliantly brings Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky to life with heavy doses of eccentricity, energy and grand humour. Tuppence Middleton is menacing in her role as the sultry and self-possessed manipulative Helene Bezukhova. And, Adrian Edmondson is overflowing with good intentions as Count Ilya Rostov, vividly highlighting the pressures of war and changed fortunes. Overall, all of the cast are outstanding - no weak performances.The external scenery backgrounds are exquisite - the rolling field and hill landscapes and buildings are reminiscent of Russia in the early nineteenth century. The snow covered forest for the pistol duel scene and the fields and pastures for the battles provide a stunning backdrop. These are vital to the story, as Tolstoy described the Russian landscape in such detail in his novel that they took on the persona and importance of a human character.Even better are the wonderful grand house and palace interiors, shot on location in Eastern Europe. Every scene is bursting with relevance, luxury and colour. Who cannot be carried away by the fairy-tale romantic images created by the royal ball where Natasha is hopeful that any man will ask her to dance. Also, the Rostov family's stopover for the wolf hunt and Natasha's dance with her poor relations is very atmospheric and shows Lily James at the peak of her portrayal of Natasha.Fantastic costumes are on display throughout. From magical fairy-tale ball gowns to accurate and imposing military uniforms, the actors are given every chance to shine. The costume and make-up of the French soldiers and Russian prisoners for the march in the snow when retreating from Moscow is very well done - you almost shiver and feel cold when you are watching this scene!The almost impossible task of transferring one the the great works of literature to the screen is achieved with great expertise. The six episodes are paced wonderfully, sometimes the dialogue and action is dynamic and fast-paced, at other times thoughtful and slow. The writers give ample time for thought and contemplation of what is unfolding - it would have been a mistake to over-fill the script with more action.One weakness with the DVD is the "Extras". Although there are many small sections discussing the adaptation of the script from the novel to the screenplay, comments from the director, some deleted scenes and one or two other trinkets, it would have been more meaningful to have extended interviews with the leading actors - Lily James, Paul Dano and James Norton in particular. I felt a bit let down by the extras on offer.Hats off to the BBC and all involved with this stunning production.

I came to this version of War And Peace with some trepidation and wondered how it would fare against Jack Pulman’s old version starring Anthony Hopkins. In few, it simply blew me away. The BBC are famous for their costume dramas, but they really excelled with this one. The filming was flawless, the locations mind-blowing, the acting exceptional. Paul Dano was amazing as Pierre Bezukhov, the unwilling aristocrat haunted by idealism and James Norton was a passable Andrei Bolkonsky but among the support actors Brian Cox shone in every scene as General Mikhail Kutuzov, Jim Broadbent growled his way satisfactorily as Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky and Stephen Rea was magnificent as the scheming Prince Vassily Kuragin. I had some qualms with Lily James as Natasha Rostova (who pronounced ‘settled’ as ‘seh- tulled’) but she had the right temperament for the flighty heroine. It was important to tackle the war scenes with as much commitment as the drama - Pierre and Andrei both reach enlightenment after great suffering which is cleverly offset by the horrors of war – but this mini-series pulls out the trumps at every turn. Yes, Tolstoy’s masterpiece is cut in several places but as a new interpretation this is difficult to beat. I doubt that anyone will see a better TV rendition in a lifetime. This was dazzling.

If this were a stand-alone, original piece of TV it would deserve a higher rating. Visually it is most impressive and as a colourful, if somewhat superficial costume drama it would work very well. However, one can't get away from the show's source material and, as an adaptation, it falls woefully short of expectations. True, it's probably impossible to do justice to Tolstoy's masterpiece on screen, but this is not so much an adaptation as an assassination! It is many years since I read the novel but, even so, there is so much that I recall which is totally absent from this series. To use the old cliche, this production has a lot of style but far too little substance. As Sunday night TV escapism it possibly fits the bill, but surely Tolstoy deserves better than this.

Overall, a very good production, which I had already seen when it aired on the BBC. According to a Russian acquaintance of mine, the historical detail, from the costumes, to the furniture, right down to the fireplaces, is remarkably accurate. The beginning is slow and takes time to gather momentum, but when it does, this series captures the drama and the horror of war, as well as the trials and tribulations of the Russian aristocracy and how unprepared and ill-equipped the country was for a war against the mighty Napoleon. I hope this TV series will encourage more people to read War and Peace, which is a very long book, but its chapters are short, and it's a compelling red for anyone interested in history and in human psychology.