First 2/3rds brilliant, final third, well...

Rating: Null/10 (13 November 2004)

Note: there are some spoilers and I'm saying this so people don't call me an asshole.
I recently saw this film for film class and it wasn't too bad. In terms of directing Eisenstein owns the film. It's as if he's the star of the movie, like what Michael Mann did with "Collateral." The first third on the boat with the mutiny is excellent. Sets up character, plot and tone perfectly.
And then there's the massacre at Odessa. The horrific beauty of it. It shows how pointless killing is. The baby carriage going down the steps has proved to be one of the most iconic images in cinema. Also the lion sequence...who ever would've thought of doing a scene like that? Only Eisenstein.
But then there's the final third. The problem is that it's anticlimactic. I'm not sure how much of the movie is based on fact, but the soldiers winning...it's kind of a deus ex machnia. Eisenstien felt after a lot of suffering to give the heroes what they wanted. The problem is that you think Eisenstein is building up to a big final fight and then he tricks you.
It's a little cheap. I would've rather seen a huge final action scene.
The greatest movie ever made? No. But absolutely a very good film and one that should be studied.
Grade: B