Cheap Battleship Potemkin (DVD) (Aleksandr Antonov, Vladimir Barsky) (Sergei M. Eisenstein, Grigori Aleksandrov) Price

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Customer Reviews of Battleship Potemkin

The crew of the Battleship Potemkin returns home after its battle against Japan. A mutiny erupts onboard after the crew is given contaminated rations and soon news of their rebellious movement reaches shore. The sympathetic townspeople near the ship send them food and water but they are soon fired upon by troops sent to deal with the mutineers. The Russian fleet is then dispatched to destroy the Potemkin and put an end to the uprising.

"The Battleship Potemkin" is a propaganda product that has exceeded its original purpose to become something much more significant. When it was first made, the film was more important for its commentary on class struggle but it is now more renown for its innovations in cinematic storytelling. Eisenstein's use of juxtaposed images was the origin of the modern film montage and his editing techniques gave rise to a faster and more energetic narrative style that was much more satisfying than the start-and-stop, jarring method that characterized other films of the era. The expert craftsmanship typical of so many films made today owe "The Battleship Potemkin" a debt of gratitude for influencing their look and feel. Clearly this is one ship that has not sailed into the sunset to be forgotten.

A cinematic milestone!
The notoriously dated aspects of silent cinema (maudlin storylines, theatrical acting, silly makeup, tinny music, intrusive dialogue cards, abysmally slow pace, etc.) that make sitting through them a trying experience for today's audience are nowhere in sight in this rightly acclaimed milestone in cinema history. Legendary Russian director Sergei Eisenstein here pioneered his innovative use of "montage"--a method of storytelling through the juxtaposition of expressive images--that every director since has owed their cinematic expression to (and that possibly none have surpassed). Orson Welles, David Lean, Stanley Kubrick, all named this film among their top ten. In fact, it's revolutionary ideas trancended language barriers, and in the '20's became a hit in cinemas around the world, including the U.S. The brilliant Eisenstein had created a "universal language" through which his ideals could be conveyed to all. That his ideals were nothing less than Communist propaganda cannot tarnish the genius of his grasp of cinematic grammar. His striking use of image and rapid cutting to tell the (partly fictitious) story nearly render the dialogue cards redundant; narrative velocity is relentless; every character portrait is convincing and touching; riveting suspense and atmosphere is summoned beautifully; it's photography was recently named by "American Cinematographer" as one of the screen's 25 finest ever; and finally, the Shostakovitch score (written sometime after it's release) is fittingly nationalistic and epic in scope. That film students speak of "gleaming nuggets of montage" from it's superlative framework (such as the magnificent "Odessa Steps" sequence) really do the film injustice; for surely "Potemkin's" greatest triumph is the tremendously successful union of it's many excellent parts (an achievement that "Citizen Kane" does not attain, among others). For any film fan interested in either silent cinema, or just cinematic art, this is one those handful that are required viewing! P.S.: For the best of "montage" in sound pictures, see David Lean's "Oliver Twist"; particularly Nancy's murder, and the scenes bordering it. I review the Criterion DVD edition of this film at Amazon!

Only if you can get it cheap. No special features.
The movie: 5 stars.
The dvd edition: 2 stars, okay picture, good score, no special features, average on the whole.

A nice little DVD edition, if you get it cheap. Not worth the same price as a Criterion DVD for its lack of special features and general cheap-lookingness.

Image was quite good, especially for a silent. The score, i believe, composed by Eistenstein collaborator Prokofiev, was wonderful.

If this is your only way of seeing Battleship Potemkin, however, i couldn't recommend it highly enough. The main attraction of this DVD is the movie itself, which is more than worth the price of entry. No matter how many people tell you about the Odessa steps sequence, you'll still be impressed by it. The most moving single sequence in all of silent cinema - and one of my favourite sequences in all cinema. Such brilliant editing, such brilliant movement down the steps. And the imaginative little episodes as we move down the steps: the famous pram rolling down the steps, the little boy who gets shot and trampled on, his wailing mother who picks him up and marches up the steps towards the descending cossacks (this moment is pictured on the DVD cover).

The movie is a very moving experience, and has become one of my favourites. If there is no Criterion edition or edition with special features, i'd say get this (but try not to pay too much for it - as i said, its pretty much just the movie).