Battle of the blockbusters: Napoleon declares war on Marvel
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 22 November 2023
⏱️ 29 minutes
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Summary
British director Sir Ridley Scott's new epic, Napoleon, is released in cinemas today. It comes as Marvel’s latest film suffered its lowest box office opening ever, raising questions about the future of superhero movies.
Have audiences grown tired of the genre Scott has called "boring as shit"? Our critic gives his verdict on the new release, and assesses the state of cinema in 2023.
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Guest: Tom Shone, Sunday Times film critic and author of The Nolan Variations and Blockbuster: How Hollywood Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Summer.
Host: Luke Jones.
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Email us: storiesofourtimes@thetimes.co.uk
Clips: 20th Century Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lucasfilm/Disney, Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Hovis, MGM, HBO Max.
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Transcript
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| 0:57.0 | I hate to use the word vision, but I do have a vision I know exactly what I want. |
| 1:05.0 | He's one of Europe's most respected and battle-hardened leaders. |
| 1:11.0 | Short in both temper and stature, he's used to leading armies of thousands. |
| 1:17.0 | People still go, what are you doing that for? |
| 1:20.0 | Eventually you have to say, honestly, shut fuck up you can bleed me if you like |
| 1:25.6 | Part of the jobs is you've got to just stand your ground saying this is what I want |
| 1:29.9 | fuck off and that's it |
| 1:39.1 | What on earth you might ask did Hollywood Titan Ridley Scott see in the French Emperor Napoleon? |
| 1:47.0 | I'd have 300 men, 100 horses, and 11 cameras in the field. And 11 cameras in the field. |
| 1:50.0 | I started to think like Napoleon. |
| 1:53.0 | That influence can be great, but it can be deadly. |
| 1:57.0 | At the age of 85, one studio boss says Ridley Scott's productivity is the single best argument for a second Joe Biden term |
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