Alexander Nevsky

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David F An old movie about an even older battle in Russia. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/16/25 Full Review Virgo V Alexander Nevsky is a 1938 Soviet historical drama film directed by Sergei Eisenstein. It depicts the attempted invasion of Novgorod in the 13th century by the Teutonic Knights of the Holy Roman Empire and their defeat by Prince Alexander, known popularly as Alexander Nevsky. Alexander Nevsky was the first and most popular of Eisenstein's three sound films. Eisenstein, Pavlenko, Cherkasov and Abrikosov were awarded the Stalin Prize in 1941 for the film. Russia Beyond considers the film one of the 10 best Russian war films. The 1938 film Alexander Nevsky has many positive aspects, including: Battle of the Ice: The film's climactic battle sequence is considered a model for epic movie battles. The scene was filmed in a hot summer outside of Moscow, but the cinematographer used a variety of techniques to create a wintry landscape. Score: Sergei Prokofiev's score is considered one of the greatest ever composed for a film. Prokofiev used different instruments and compositional styles to evoke different imagery. Cinematography: The film's cinematography was some of the most advanced at the time. Story: The film tells a simple, powerful story that's true as far as events from the 1200s can be accurately recreated. Special effects: The film's special effects were among the most advanced at the time. Propaganda: The film was designed to mobilize and bring confidence to the worldwide struggle against fascism. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/01/25 Full Review joe s A true classic! Superb camera work and the most realistic battle scenes in film. Eisentstein and Tisse invented Russian montage in Battleship Potemkin and use it here in the famous battle on the ice. The film music by Prokofiev is maybe the greatest film music ever written, so get the version with the music rerecorded by the St. Petersburg Symphony if you can. (it's on YouTube) Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review william d The scenes where the armies are gathering on the ice were impressive. However, the actual battle scenes look very fake. Most of the movie consists of actors in close-up spouting metaphors that allegedly demonstrate their patriotism (not surprising given the fact that this movie was made during Stalin's greatest purge). The movie's only quality is as an historical artifact - not of Nevsky's story, but as a reflection of the 1930s Soviet Union. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This is clearly a film made as propaganda against Nazi Germany, but even taking that into account the movie stands for its own merits. I tought that due to the title the movie was going to focus more on the main character, but this is not the case, the protagonist is the battle against germans in order to defend its country. Amazed by the amount of production on display. A film that didn't hold on money. Also interesting is the depiction of female warriors as equals Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Eisenstein is more remembered for being a great propagandist than a critical examiner of cinematic truth, the latter of which he is far from, making his films showy and less experiential. He does this, however, with the most exceptional composition and assemblage, that it's hard not to be taken by the content. It's meant to get an emotional rise out of it's audience, ala Brechtian theatre. It's over-the-top hero/villain story paints the Germans under a cruel light, burning babies and all captured Russians. They fill the screen with dark organ music played by a black cloaked creepy looking fairy tale monster, led by someone who looks like Emperor Palpatine wearing Hondo's hat. Are the Russians free from all sin, do they not put people to death? Well it's different, if you choose not to serve in the military, the peasants will kill you, and since they're poor that's okay. Alexander and the Russians march to triumphant music that should get a rise out of the faithful. Eisenstein is not challenging our view of war, he's glorifying it - we watch the German's slaughtered with cheerful music - who are they but faceless machines behind masks? No doubt by this time, Soviet and German ties were thinning, and this is meant to incite anti-German tidings. I even realize that emperor-looking guy is wearing a bishop-like hat with a near-swastika symbol - I'm not sure how accurate this is to 1205 Germany, but it certainly has us thinking for Germans in a modern context for this time. Before this battle starts, I love the crane up over the spears of Russian peasants - amazing how many extras fill the frame. I'm happy to see Eisenstein agrees that this is the most memorable shot of the film, reiterating it for the final shot. It's great to see a clever battle plan - we wonder why the Russians are just waiting as the German's ride toward them at full speed, what's the idea? Suddenly, the Russian rows open up to clear columns, forcing the Germans to overstep, falling victim to an attack from the side. It's a film about national pride - not my cup of blood. Those invested with the characters will feel something strong when the woman and the two men fighting for her walk away into the horizon. Or during the funerary procession. Or Nevsky's return to Pskov with Prokofiev blasting at full triumphance, carrying children and greeting people with smiles. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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