Over the holiday I saw Scott’s Napoleon. When I walked out of the movie, my daughter asked what I thought of the movie. I paused, and then said, “I don’t know.”
“That’s an unusual comment, “she responded, remembering that I have a PhD in critical tools.
I usually like Scott’s stuff, but when I thought about this movie, I finally decided that he missed his opportunity. The movie just didn’t make much sense to me. It had scenes of big wars and bonking attractive females. But there was actually no
Nothing about Russia
Ignoring his best advisors Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 with more than 600,000 men from every corner of his empire—French, Italians, Germans and Poles. He planned the war to be over in 3 weeks, but like WWII and the Nazi Germans, he screwed himself.
Napoleon and the Russians fought to standstill, I believe, in just a single day—face-face. Both exhausted. So, the next day the Russians fled. When Napoleon got to Moscow, the Russians had fled, leaving the city deserted. At night, the Russians set the entire city on fire, themselves, leaving Napoleon with nothing.
Several months later, the Austrians declared war on France and eventually, Napoleon lost it all and was exiled to Elba. After a brief return, he was finally defeated at Waterloo by the English. From control of most of Europe to exile and eventually death—not the death of a heroic winner.
Nothing about bureaucracy
Ridley Scott had nothing to say about the great contributions of governance. To a significant degree, Napoleon put an end to feudalism, moving in the direction of federalism. We can thank Napoleon for the orientation to balance of power as well as what might be considered a United States of Europe.
It turns out that Ridley Scott and most people remember Napoleon as a warmonger. Instead, he made terrific contributions in the fields of government and diplomacy. I suspect many, in their ignorance, care less. But even Napoleon, himself, understood. “My true glory is not the 40 battles I won . . .what will live forever is my civil code.” That’s an important comment to consider and appreciate, for all of us.