Krieg und Frieden Episode #1.2 (2016) watch online HD

Anybody who even as much attempts to adapt Leo Tolstoy's magnum opus 'War and Peace' deserves at least a pat on the back for trying, regardless of how successful it is in doing so or not. The novel is one of the greatest there is, but because of the enormous length (one of the longest novels there is, and it was admittedly not the easiest to immediately get gripped at first), very rich story and dialogues, and complex characterisations and themes it is also one of the most difficult to adapt.

Of the major versions, the best version is the 1972 mini-series with Anthony Hopkins, not only an ideal adaptation of the book and as faithful as one could get but also brilliant in its own right, one of the best the BBC ever produced. The 1966 Russian one directed by Sergei Bondarchuk, while not as accessible, is a close second, a towering achievement and contains the best battle and ballroom scenes of all the 'War and Peace' adaptations. The 1956 King Vidor film has a number of good things, like the production values, the music score, Audrey Hepburn and some of the supporting cast but the sound quality and two male leads are very problematic and the story is not as riveting as it could have been. Faring least is the 2007 adaptation with Clemence Posey as Natasha, beautiful production values and some impressive supporting performances but sunk by the problematic performances of the three leading characters, awkward and underwritten script-writing and bland storytelling.

This latest offering from 2016, courtesy of BBC, is not as good as the 1972 mini-series or the Sergei Bondarchuk film, but is far more successful than the 1956 film and 2007 adaptation. This very well done and feels more settled and meatier in content, though the episode isn't one hundred percent flawless.

Although the production values are wonderful on the whole, some of the costumes don't fit as well with the period and are not as lavish as the rest and some of the make-up is 21st century-ish.

However, considering that adapting 'War and Peace' is a mammoth task and virtually impossible to be word for word, detail for detail this does very well as an adaptation. It is condensed and not one hundred percent faithful, but the heart and soul of the book is there and while focusing predominantly on the relationships between the characters and the characterisations it is very intelligently written and everything feels coherent and emotionally investible. Even if the Sergei Bondarchuk film has more beautiful ballroom scenes and more powerful war scenes, this adaptation hardly underwhelms in either.

'War and Peace' (2016) stands brilliantly on its own, and shouldn't be marked down solely for it not being a completely faithful adaptation, that is not fair on the adaptation as they are two different mediums and deserve to be treated as such.

It is wonderfully made for starters. The photography is some of the most beautiful personally seen all year on television, almost poetic and heart-breaking in its beauty, the settings, interiors and period detail is sumptuous in every sense. It's always special when scenery is like a character all of its own and the Russian landscapes is one of the greatest examples of that, as well as looking exquisite, seen anywhere on film or television not just this year but possibly ever.

Another standout is the music score, words cannot describe how amazing it is, almost like another character. Not only is it so dynamic with every scene, with the haunting choirs, chilling ambiance, poetic nuance and rousing bombast even enhancing the impact, but it serves as an amazing score on its own and one of the best music scores for television this year as well as worthy of its very own soundtrack album.

The script is very literate and intelligent, the characterisation meaty and the dialogue always flowing beautifully. The storytelling throughout is engrossing with a lot packed in but elaborated upon enough to make it fascinating and easy to follow.

Performances are top-notch, regardless of any reservations as to whether certain actors are right physically. Paul Dano's sensitive and multi-faceted portrayal Pierre is one of the most successful ones of all 'War and Peace' adaptations, and is one of his best overall performances. James Norton is a handsome, commanding and tragic Andrei. In support, standouts are an outstanding Jessie Buckley, Tuppence Middleton as a Helene that's somewhat both a villain and a victim and Jim Broadbent's incredibly powerful and affecting Bolkonsky. Greta Scacchi and Adrian Edmonson also fare well. Lily James has settled better, though Natasha is yet to be properly interesting.

Overall, great and more settled. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Greetings from Lithuania.

While "War & Peace" (2016) does not really feels "Russian", that isn't a problem for me. To be honest, this adaptation is the my first encounter with "War & Peace" epic, i haven't read the book, nor saw it's previous adaptations, but i will definitely watch one day Sergey Bondarchuk's once in a life time epic "Voyna i mir" (1966), but at the moment i'm glad for what i have - 2016's BBC adaptation is a good show overall.

Ovreall, performances were uniformly good by many well known faces as well as art design and settings (it was filmed in my own land Lithuania!) - it feels periodic. Story is epic to say the least, and while the first episode reminded me of some soup operas, the second was truly great. I will definitely watch next and last 4 episodes.

I have not read the book, so I cannot judge the series based on how closely it follows it. Story-wise, I'm really enjoying it so far, but it is the way it... feels that bothers me. Even though the music and background is great at showing the setting, the characters feel more like a bunch of British people pretending to be Russians than actual Russians. Which I know is the case here, but quality acting/writing/directing is supposed to convince me that a British person is Russian, right?

I have two examples:

In the beginning, we have a wedding. The ceremony is done in Russian which I thought was a great touch. However, in the next scene we hear the two most British sounding Russians ever speaking and that ruined the "mood" the previous scene set for me.

Then, in another scene, we have two female characters cross themselves after hearing good news. It felt really awkward to me and it showed that the actresses do not share the same religious beliefs as the characters they portray.

So yes, the story is great, but if it didn't take place in Russia and if the characters didn't have Russian names it could be a period piece taking place in England for all I know.