Eisenstein's Masterpiece

Rating: 6/10 (8 May 2011)

The montages throughout the film added to overall theme of unity. The shots of the soldiers' mutiny due to the maggot covered meat added to the power of the film. I too would rise up and fight. Different angles of one single action also added to the film. The shot of the soldier falling and landing on the metal piece of the ship hanging from the ropes was breath taking. I felt the anger that the soldiers felt when the leader of the uprising died in such a heroic way. The death of the soldier inspired a future of the country under united peoples. The theme is expressed with the repetition of the word "Brother" throughout the parts of the film. The message of hatred for hierarchy was portrayed with the montage of clips of actions in the movie. The movie was portrayed well for the silent movie. I liked sense on unity in the movie. The German montage moment was focused more on the group rather than the individual. Einstein used the death of the officer to unite the people against a common foe. Part five, the final battle, was the worst part in the film. The preparation for the battle took ten minutes. The men prepared the cannons and loaded everything for a pointless battle. The music was edging the audience on and getting them hyped up for a disappointment. "Brother?" Really? It was a joke. I was hyped for the battle scene and was completely disappointed with the ending. I wanted to see blood and gore and I got people cheering. Those people on the stairs died for nothing. That little boy that died escaping the soldiers on the stairs that Einstein depicted so well died for vain. The overall theme of unity was there, but a waste on time.