Ridley Scott's Napoleon divided audiences and critics when it came out in late 2023, prompting many to label it as a missed opportunity. This historical epic charted the legendary French emperor's career from the white heat of the French revolution, through his domination of Europe, and eventually his defeat and exile. Given the story's vast scope, it was felt by many viewers that the movie's already expansive 157-minute runtime was simply not long enough to provide a suitably rich portrait of Bonaparte's life. In order to rectify this issue, Scott has released a new and extended cut that goes into even greater depth.

Running at 205 minutes (just over three-and-a-half hours), Napoleon's divisive reception (with the original movie holding a middling 58% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes), there is clearly room for improvement. However, for both fans of Ridley Scott and history aficionados, the question of whether this cut is the right approach seems particularly pertinent.

Ridley Scott's Director's Cut Does Improve Napoleon

The Changes Make A Difference

Although some issues with the film remain, it's clear that the additional 48 minutes of footage have helped improve Napoleon. Ridley Scott's updated vision incorporates a variety of interesting new scenes, many of which center around Vanessa Kirby's portrayal of Josephine. Given that her dynamic with Bonaparte is the emotional core of the movie, adding even more depth to their relationship has helped make the story feel more resonant, as well as ensuring that Josephine feels like much more than a peripheral player, sidelined by endless battles.

Beyond Josephine's expanded role, there are other positive changes and additions. For history buffs, a particularly welcome scene is a brief look at the Battle of Marengo – one of Bonaparte's finest military achievements and a victory that came comparatively early in his career. There is also the inclusion of an assassination attempt – highlighting the political peril of Bonaparte's position – as well as a more detailed look at the hardships endured during the Russia campaign. All of these additions help improve the frustratingly flawed original.

How The Extended Version Of Napoleon Is Better

It Impacts A Key Flaw With The Original

While the specific changes in the director's cut are noteworthy, the main improvement brought about by the extended edition is more existential. Perhaps the biggest issue with the theatrical Napoleon was not Josephine's flimsy characterization or the litany of missing battles. Instead, it was the fact that, in trying to take on Bonaparte's entire political career, the movie felt extremely rushed – charging between set pieces with no room for organic growth or evolution. In places, it felt less like an exploration of Bonaparte's life and psyche, and more like a glorified Wikipedia page.

In extending the runtime and drawing out the story, the Napoleon director's cut has gone some way towards making amends. While some problems persist (as Abel Gance's Napoleon proved in 1927, it is probably impossible to capture Bonaparte's entire life in one film), the story now has a slightly more restrained pace that allows certain scenes and characters to breathe. The result feels far less frenetic, even though there's still an inescapable sense that we aren't getting the full story.

Given how Bonaparte shaped European history and politics... articulating the scale of his influence in just over two hours is a mission as ambitious and unlikely as Bonaparte's own invasion of Russia.

Because of the unwieldy nature of the subject and the imitations of cinema, Ridley Scott's Napoleon was likely always unfixable. Given how Bonaparte shaped European history and politics, establishing systems of government that defined the continent for generations, articulating the scale of his influence in just over two hours is a mission as ambitious and unlikely as Bonaparte's own invasion of Russia. However, where the original film fell far short, the director's cut certainly makes more sense as an attempt.

What Happened To Ridley Scott's 4-Hour Napoleon Director's Cut?

There Is Another, Even Longer Version

Even more tantalizing for viewers than the 205-minute version is the prospect of Ridley Scott's discussed four-hour Napoleon cut. In an interview with Empire (via Indie Wire), before the theatrical version had even arrived, Scott teased that he had a "fantastic" four-and-a-half-hour cut of the movie – adding an extra 60 or so minutes to the version now available on Apple TV+. According to Scott, this version focuses even more on Josephine, exploring her life before Bonaparte.

Given how the 205-minute cut adds much to Josephine's story, it may be that the Apple TV+ cut is a revised version of this teased edition. Even though the current director's cut was a surprise, it would be extremely shocking if another, even longer version of the film arrived any time soon. However, if there is a director capable of revisiting a movie on multiple occasions, it is Ridley Scott.

Scott has proven that he is unafraid to return to previously released projects, tinkering with them until he is satisfied.

Over the course of his career, Scott has proven that he is unafraid to return to previously released projects, tinkering with them until he is satisfied. Blade Runner is perhaps the most famous example of this methodology. So, while there is no concrete news on Napoleon's four-hour version, that doesn't mean that such a project will never be released.

Source: Indie Wire