Fascinating and impressive, even today

Rating: 7/10 (5 February 2008)

As films made in 1925 go, this is a cracker. It's not going to be the sort of thing you rent to watch when your Mum comes to stay over Christmas and it's not got much chance of getting chosen on an areoplane if The Fifth Element or Planet of the Apes are available, but it deserves great credit for even competing against the modern films.
The fascination comes in seeing both footage shot 80 years ago and in seeing a snap shot of post-tsarist Russia. That the latter turned so sour dulls the enthusiasm of the modern viewer but it is, nevertheless, historically fascinating. As a piece of cinema it is also powerful and impressive....I'm no expert, but you can see there is real talent at work here from the director. The number of memorable scenes from the film are a testament to its impact even today.