AHOLDER-1
Sound: The orchestral score written for this film synchs well and helps drive the tension and energy of the film. There even is am homage to Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture by using Le Marsellaise in the score.
90/100 Technical: Poor use of the ship model. Eisenstein breaks the 180 degree plane a couple of times. The montage editing drives the pace and tension of the film. Excellent use of framing and camera angles.
95/100 Narrative: Episodic in 5 parts but it flows together. Weak ending if the film was not for propaganda use.
100/100 Acting/Character: Excellent acting for the era. Eisenstein is not afraid of using close ups of the supporting cast; great faces too. Superb use of the different ranks and groups to signify the proletariat, bourgeoisie, and the elite classes; for the propaganda use.
95/100 Did I like it: Yes, but if the ending were true to the real actions of the Soviet Union the ending would have had more bloodshed.
90/100 Artistic merit: Excellent use of montage, controversial subject matter, and a film with a history of being banned or edited. This film's influence on setting standards for future films weighs heavy here. It also shows the power of a "silent" film.
100/100 Total score 95/100
Kirpianuscus
a propaganda film. it is obvious this conclusion. and one of films who seems more than perfect. because it is a challenge. for cinematography, for memorable scenes, for details. and for the state. and this does it one of rare meetings who remains in memory for entire life. because it is the film who change. perspectives, opinions and who defines the pure art. because it is one of the brilliant cinema lesson for each viewer. and, maybe, this is the most important thing about it.
Michael Morrison
As is true with so many films, silent and sound both, "Battleship Potemkin" gains classic, indeed iconic, status very much because of the accompanying score.I have seen "Battleship Potemkin" several times, including a (I think) tenth-year anniversary edition with a new score, and one I remember very admiringly. (I saw it in a film class at Los Angeles Valley College.)However, on the night of 13 November 2016, Turner Classic Movies presented "Battleship Potemkin" with what is billed as the original 1926 score, "newly recorded."Magnificent!Extraordinary!The pounding beat accelerates with the action, matching perfectly with what is seen, and urging the audience into edge-of-the seat anticipation.As many times as I have seen, and been enthralled by, "Battleship Potemkin," I do not remember seeing the one colorized shot. It is, yes, part of the communist propaganda, but actually adds to the drama of the movie.Bear in mind, please, that my earliest years included membership in Young Americans for Freedom, as well as a dose of common sense, so even the greatest communist propaganda finds no fertile soil in my heart or mind. But every time I see "Battleship Potemkin" I am tempted, however briefly, to seek out a CPUSA membership form.Director Sergei Eisenstein proclaimed his admiration of D.W. Griffith and never hesitated to credit Griffith with having taught him the art and skill of editing."Battleship Potemkin" uses editing in part to propagandize, but more so to advance the story.In addition to skilled and dramatic editing, Eisenstein used a brilliant moving camera, especially at The Steps (if you haven't seen this before, I don't want to give anything away, but you'll see quickly what I mean) to, again, tell the story, but to tell it in so dramatic a fashion, any thoughtful person, and even just the person seeking a movie to relax and enjoy, will be caught up and moved and excited and fascinated.Eisenstein was his own editor, and this was only his second feature film, and that he was a rare genius is immediately obvious.Bear in mind this was financed by the Soviet government, for its own purposes, so Eisenstein's huge crowds and the availability of the Soviet navy are understood, but they help make this one of the greatest movies of all time.As propaganda, "Battleship Potemkin" is occasionally obvious, even blatant, but as a movie, it is simply -- to repeat -- one of the greatest of all time.I cannot stress too much how strongly I recommend "Battleship Potemkin."Probably there are several versions around for home consumption, but do try to see the one with the enhanced original score. Composer Edmund Meisel has very little information given about him at TCM, but there is a Wikipedia article on him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_MeiselProbably Turner Classic Movies will present this again, and I'm hoping it will be available On Demand. Please, for your own enjoyment and edification, do try to watch it.
Thanos Karagioras
"Battleship Potemkin" is one of the most famous movies in history and is also considered as one of the masterpieces of world cinema. In this movie we watch a protest strike that started when the crew was given rotten meat for dinner and ended in a riot. After that the sailors raised the red flag and tried to start the revolution in their home port Odessa. This movie is divided into five episodes which are:1) 'Men and Maggots', in which the sailors protest because they gave them to eat rotten meat, 2) 'Drama on the Deck', in which the sailors mutiny and their leader (Vakulinchuk) is killed, 3) 'A Dead Man Calls for Justice' in which Vakulinchuk's body is lament by the people of Odessa, 4) 'The Odessa Staircase', in which Tsarist soldiers massacre the Odessans, 5) 'The Rendezvous with the Squadron', in which after all of these the sailors cheer on the rebellious battleship and join the mutiny.Some things that we have to mention about this movie are that is based on historical events and shows us everything about the Battleship Potemkin. I liked this movie because of the direction of Sergei M. Eisenstein which I found very good and also for the music. Finally I have to say that "Battleship Potemkin" is fairly considered as one of the best movies in the history of cinema and I strongly recommend it to everyone who is a fan of cinema. This movie is very well divided into episodes which give us a better view about what happened back then and also make us understand better the history behind this.
