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War and Peace | 
| Director: Sergei Bondarchuk
Actors: Lyudmila Savelyeva, Vyacheslav Tikhonov, Gennadi Ivanov, Irina Gubanova, Antonina Shuranova
Studio: Continental Distributing
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $4.95
You Save: $35.00 (88%)
New (6) Used (12) from $4.95
Rating:  64 reviews
Sales Rank: 21647
Format: Box Set, Color, Hifi Sound, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: Russian (Original Language), English (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 3
Running Time: 403 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 630274265X
UPC: 032031133938
EAN: 9786302742657
ASIN: 630274265X
Theatrical Release Date: April 28, 1968
Release Date: January 1, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: CHARITY SALE!! Brand new, excellent condition. Still shrink wrapped! 100% of the proceeds benefit literacy efforts of Books for America.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Like Tolstoy's novel, this epic-length War and Peace is rough going, but worth the effort. Winner of the 1969 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and widely considered the most faithful adaptation of Tolstoy's classic, Sergei Bondarchuk's massive Soviet-Italian coproduction was seven years in the making, at a record-setting cost of $100 million. Bondarchuk himself plays the central role of Pierre Bezukhov, buffeted by fate during Russia's tumultuous Napoleonic Wars, serving as pawn and philosopher through some of the most astonishing set pieces ever filmed. Bondarchuk is a problematic director: interior monologues provide awkward counterpoint to intimate dramas, weaving together the many classes and characters whose lives are permanently affected by war. Infusions of '60s-styled imagery clash with the film's period detail; it's an anomalous experiment that doesn't really work. Undeniably, however, the epic battle scenes remain breathtakingly unique; to experience the sheer scale of this film is to realize that such cinematic extravagance will never be seen again. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 59 more reviews...
 War and Peace (Special Edition) July 18, 2008
Walter Durling C.
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It is a masterpiece. The battle scenes are memorable. I watched this movie many years ago, on TV. It was worth watching it now on a big screen TV and from the Special Edition DVD.
 THE PHANTOM FIFTH DISK July 4, 2008
Lloyd A. Fradkin
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just recieved and watched in one sitting the Special Edition of War and Peace. I first saw this film in 1968 at the Fine Arts Theatre in Los Angeles. It was shown in two parts in differant weeks. I went on the two days corresponding to the last day of Part One and the first day of Part Two. (This of course was the English dubbed version.)I was on leave from the Navy and later thatg year saw the film again in France in four parts. Each part dubbed in French with English Subtitles.
I noted several reviewers commenting on no fifth disk. My sealed set is in the original Russian Package and inside is a extra disk in its own slip cover. This fifth disk is full of interesting bonus materials including a film on the making of War and Peace which is second to none. It is interesting to see the tricks needed to carry out such scenes as the buring of Moscow and the danger it posed to the camera crew.
I have only one main regret on this edition. When you go to English language it is obvious the a complete English language sound track was unavailable. It takes some getting used to as at any moment, within a persons dialogue, you flip from dubbed English to Russian with English subtitles. This version is in four parts and each holds it own and the viewer can enjoy the total film over four nights. I fully enjoyed this film again and highly recommend it.
Monumental, Oustanding Film March 27, 2008
zorba (Bala Cynwyd, Pa USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If "War and Peace" is arguably the greatest novel ever written, this has to be one of the most outstanding films ever made. The grandeur, the scope, the almost unimaginable battle scenes, the thousands of soldiers and horses and cannons, the tender love scenes and most of all, the depth of the Russian soul which,in the end, was the victor over the invading Grand Armee of Napoleon. This six-hour masterpiece is stunning in its magnificence. The one I viewed had substitles, thus letting the Russian and occasional French dialog get through -- even though I couldn't understand a word. It just made the film all the more...Russian. A lot of the book was necessarily omitted, but on the whole, the film was a faithful reproduction of the essence of the book. Oh well, I could string superlatives all day but suffice it to say that this power of this wonderful film does justice to the greatness of the underlying novel.
 War and Peace January 27, 2008
Judith Bragg (Australia)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought this DVD for my husband who watched it years ago.
He is an avid Napoleonic History lover and really liked the movie, the longer battle scenes.
I watched it too, but thought it slow for someone not interested in this topic. The american version was enough for me.
I still enjoyed it though.
War and Peace-a unique cinematic experiment and experience! January 25, 2008
Juan C. Roman
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
It has often been said that this film is "problematic", hard to experience, and even difficult to digest.
But I have wondered how familiar are some of these critics with the experience of World Cinema. Limiting one's cinematic experience and standards to Hollywood's formulas will certainly not help in appreciating this unique experiment and monumental film adaptation of one of the most complex literary works ever written.
Bondarchuk's War and Peace is not important for the amount of money invested in its creation, or for the casts of thousands employed in the re-creation of its complex drama.These concerns are cinematic TRIVIA for those limited to reduce the nature of things to numbers.
In my view, Bondarchuk's re-creation of War and Peace will remain an important landmark in cinematic history because it treated its literary source with respect, inspiration and affection, and this shows throughout the film. To compare Hollywood's version with this one is like comparing a dinner at Chili's with a 8 course dinner at a fine French restaurant. There is simply no comparison.
Bondarchuk's War and Peace version from 1968 is a cinematic experience not to be missed by those who consider cinema the 7th art. It works at different levels: internal dialogues from the complex and numerous characters are effectively blended with the outside world. Even the so-called 60s-style visual effects remain an interesting experiment, retaining their creative interest in today's era of computerized special effects. These visual techniques are a refreshing approach, working almost as literary devices. Far from being pure visual effects,they add something truly creative and emotional to the particular scenes where they are employed.
Again, if one's familiarity with cinematic techniques is limited to Hollywood, the appreciation of this film is bound to be limited too.
It is important to remember that Russian cinema has a long history of innovation and experimentation since the early 20s, with seminal directors like Eisenstein.And even today,Hollywood owns much to the creative genius of daring film-makers like Eisenstein.The fact that some of his techniques were created in the the style of the 20s, does not eliminate their intrinsic cinematic value.I will say as much for Bondarchuk's creations.
Finally, if you love literature, and if you appreciate Tolstoy's greatest literary creation, you will capture the love and respect, clearly palpable in this monumental adaptation of his novel.
Now that we have the chance to see the original, un-cut Russian version of this film on its 40th anniversary, I can only add that this is a special privilege, to be enjoyed slowly, like a good wine.Take your time, enjoy this film, and witness a great creation of the 7th art.
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