Instant Classic

Rating: 8/10 (17 November 2012)

This is a 90 years old,75 minutes long movie which still packs a wallop. Set in a Russia which is under the rule of Tsar Nicholas, it is divided into six parts starting from the rebellion of the sailors of the Potemkin The officers on the battleship Potemkin are treating their men like dirt. They are given the poorest quality of meat which turns out to be the last straw and the sailors rebel against their officers and take control of the boat. This inspires their civilian counterparts also and the citizens of Odessa join the sailors against the Tsar. There is retaliation by the Tsar which sets the stage for a tense climax. The movie is technically brilliant and is a great indicator of the sheer genius of Eisenstein.The scenes of rebellion and the retaliation by Tsarist forces are shot beautifully. There is a coherent storyline and the viewer is hooked throughout the short length of the feature film. This can't be recommended highly enough. 4 out of 5 for Potemkin. An true classic.