War & Peace Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

War & Peace Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 20, 2016

Any filmed adaptation of one of the great novels of all time, even one as robustly detailed as Leo Tolstoy's War & Peace, deserves nothing less than the finest, first-class treatment. But that length. Far too long for a feature length film and probably too short to span multiple television seasons, it's the miniseries to the rescue to provide the material with that happy medium middle ground it needs. This adaptation, written for the screen by Andrew Davies, gives Tolstoy's tome ample breathing room to develop and dazzle without overextending its stay or selling itself far too short. Though certainly more readily digestible than Tolstoy's weighty page-turner, and very well done and approachable, the series is best enjoyed as a compliment to the original material, not a replacement. Besides, who doesn't want to say that they've read one of the most prodigious novels of all time?

She loves me!...?

War & Peace: sprawling yet intimate, a story of life, love, lust, greed, hope, and the search for purpose, all in the shadow of its namesake. As the Napoleonic wars knock on Russia's door and the characters maneuver to discover who they are and find their places in the world, the story traverses through a number of challenging yet approachable themes that dissect the very essence of life and the tangled webs made of complex human emotions and interactions through which every character must, in his or her own way, maneuver. And the series doesn't shy away from painting the characters with a less-than-flattering brush as they progress through the story, engendering an authenticity and a heightened purpose in the material. The series, like the novel, allows for an intimate, detailed examination of each, certainly even here at eight episodes lacking the nearly infinite detail and robust vision laid out in the book, but presenting with enough emotional draw, dramatic weight, and thematic purpose to fully realize Tolstoy's vision in what is, arguably, the most thorough and satisfying of any War & Peace adaptation yet.

The series also benefits from a richly detailed and envisioned recreation of early 19th century Russia, with a splendor of set design and costuming befitting the saga. Even without the enormous budget of a major feature length picture and the necessary constraints that come with a six-hour feature, never does the show feel anything less than lovingly authentic. Battle scenes are likewise well done, satisfactory in scale if not a little straightforward and sometimes more narrative driven than action oriented. The cast is terrific, each grasping both the intimate character details and broader dramatic machinations at work throughout the series, understanding the evolutions at play and the thematic relevance that drifts throughout the series, not to mention its subtle but obvious reflections of modern society that allow the series to maintain a relevance beyond historical stature.

The following episodes comprise War & Peace. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray disc menu screens. Some spoilers follow.

Disc One:

• Episode One: 1805. As Russia declares war upon Napoleon Bonaparte's French army, the lives of three young people are about to change forever. Pierre Bezukhov (Paul Dano) is a lost soul, out of place in St. Petersburg society as the illegitimate son of a wealthy count who is now close to death. His dearest friend, Andrei Bolkonsky (James Norton), is a brilliant man, but equally unhappy and eager for the challenge of war. Meanwhile, in Moscow, spirited teenager Natasha Rostova (Lily James) is desperate to experience life and love.
• Episode Two: Andrei and Nikolai (Jack Lowden) have survived their first encounter with the French, but a terrible new battle looms as the Russian commanders risk stepping into Napoleon's trap. At home in St. Petersburg, Pierre wants to put his vast inheritance to good use, but Vassily (Stephen Rea) and Helene (Tuppence Middleton) are laying a trap of their own for him. Meanwhile, Natasha and Sonya (Aisling Loftus) are desperate for news from the front line.
• Episode Three: Pierre fights a duel that sends his life in a surprising new direction. Still reeling from news of Andrei's reported death, another challenge faces Marya (Jessie Buckley) when her sister-in-law Lise (Kate Phillips) goes into labor. Meanwhile, at the Rostov house in Moscow, Natasha and Sonya receive unexpected marriage proposals and Nikolai makes a mistake with disastrous consequences for his family.
• Episode Four: After the shock of recent events, Andrei shuts himself away in the countryside until a visit from Pierre and a chance encounter with a stranger make him wonder if his life could still change for the better. Natasha is excited at the prospect of her first grand ball, but worries that no one will invite her to dance. Still unable to find happiness, Pierre tries to build bridges with Helene.

Disc Two:

• Episode Five: After months of waiting, Natasha is frustrated to learn that her wedding to Andrei may be delayed still further. She tries to make a good impression on her new father and sister-in-law, but instead finds herself facing a new temptation in Moscow.
• Episode Six: Napoleon invades Russia and preparations begin for another great battle against him. As the French army marches east, Marya is terrified to find her family in danger. Andrei cannot forgive Natasha, and vows to take revenge on his rival. Meanwhile Natasha falls ill and Pierre tries to take care of her, before making a decision that will change his life forever.
• Episode Seven: At the battle of Borodino, Pierre and Andre fight on the front line of Russia's greatest struggle against Napoleon. As even Moscow comes under threat from the French army, Natasha and the Rostovs realize they must hurry back to pack up the family home and flee the city.
• Episode Eight: Pierre is held prisoner by the French and faces new ordeals as the relentless Russian winter sets in. In the shadow of tragedy, Natasha struggles to see a way forward, while Helene grapples with an awkward dilemma of her own. As the war rages between the Russians and the French, will our Russian heroes ever find peace again?

War & Peace Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

War & Peace wasn't photographed, processed in post-production, or in any way put together to capture a razor-sharp façade or display bold, popping colors. The series plays with something of a dreamy quality about it, a soft-focus soap-opera-like presentation that favors delicate colors and gentle details. Period attire never finds the in-depth texturing, rigid lines, or finely accentuating costume detailing of other period dramas, though the most basic definition does impress a good deal. Colors are hazy and reserved, never popping and capturing only the broadest, almost monochromatic splashes. Black levels are never particularly deep, whites are frequently blown out, and skin textures appear consistently pasty and pale. But it's consistent and stable in its artistic direction. It does suffer from some noise and macroblocking, however. This is not a traditionally attractive presentation, but considering an apparent faithfulness to the core vision it's difficult to find much room for complaint.

War & Peace Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

War & Peace features an active, but not quite wholly satisfying, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Surrounds are frequently engaged outside of otherwise quiet and straightforward dialogue scenes. Music enjoys good stage balance and clarity, coming up a little short in lifelike transparency but delivering enough detail and immersion to please and compliment the series' visual look and dramatic tone. Atmospheric effects often impress, whether busy street din, trotting horses, or gentle natural ambience. Battle scenes are appropriately chaotic but often lack that sense of detailed pronouncement and heavy aggression. While sounds spread all over -- gunfire pops from every corner, canons burst, balls zip, dirt and debris fly, and men scream -- the track lacks a sense of completion, a feeling of total, absolute weight to all of it. The foundation is strong, but there's a muddled, reserved hesitation to battle, a tepidness that keeps various clashes from fully drawing the audience into the madness. Otherwise, the series is dialogue intensive, and the spoken word enjoys good clarity and prioritization with a natural center placement.

War & Peace Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

War & Peace contains all of its supplements -- six brief featurettes -- on disc two. No DVD or digital copies are included.

• From Page to Screen (1080i, 4:44): Writer Andrew Davies discusses key parts of the writing process, including stage directions. He also reads from the script, blended with behind-the-scenes and from-film footage. Director Tom Harper also discusses staging the production.
• The Read Through (1080i, 2:25): Cast and crew discuss the importance, benefits, and camaraderie of the script read-through.
• Making the Music (1080i, 2:25): A quick discussion on music -- its importance to the show and the process of making it -- with Michael Garvey, Director of Music/BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Martin Phipps, Composer; and Andrew Skeet, Orchestrator & Conductor.
• Count Rostov's Dance (1080i, 1:11): Choreographer Diana Scrivener and Actor Adrian Edmondson quickly recall a fun dance scene from the program.
• Rundale Palace (1080i, 2:14): Jana Druvina, Head of Records Department, Rundale, runs through the location's historical highlights.
• What Is War & Peace? (1080i, 1:04): A quick, playful piece in which the cast offers a few thoughts on what the story has to offer.

War & Peace Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

War & Peace impresses on every level. Even within the limitations of an eight-part miniseries, the program accomplishes much, exploring Tolstoy's sprawling source and capturing its broader essences and more intimate details alike with both flair and finesse. Production design is first-class and the acting is impressive across the board. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray is limited to a few fluffy extras, fair video, and decent audio. Recommended.