If there’s a movie this year that is meant to be seen on the big screen, it's Napoleon — and there’s no bigger screen than Cineworld’s 270-degree ScreenX.
The infamous general-turned-emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is at the centre of Ridley Scott’s new epic, a two-and-a-half hour period piece filled with brutal battle scenes and tense political intrigue. The movie’s heart, though, belongs to the torrid passion between the French leader – played by Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix – and his one true love Josephine – portrayed by The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby – a tortured relationship which shaped both of their lives.
The new film proves that Ridley Scott is still at the height of his powers as a visual storyteller – and this is the first time one of his works is being shown in ScreenX. For those unfamiliar with this revolutionary cinema experience, ScreenX is a 270-degree projection supported by up to twelve additional projectors that extend the film onto the walls of the screening room.
Yes, you are basically surrounded by screens.
Available at Cineworld in the UK across 23 sites, ScreenX delivers an immersive experience that allows you to not only watch a movie, but to wander through the vastness of every scene, feel the cruelty on the battlefield and admire the luxury of each palace room. To see the pyramids of Egypt in all their glory as they are being bombarded by Napoleon is a sight best experienced wall to wall, engaging your full peripheral vision in ScreenX.
It also allows one to find new appreciation for the magnificent effort of the production, as it takes centre stage on a wraparound screen.
In this panoramic viewing experience, everything is closer and more tangible, emotions run higher, and the atmosphere is absolutely engulfing.
Starting with Marie Antoinette’s beheading during the French Revolution and spanning until Napoleon’s exile after the battle of Waterloo, Napoleon takes viewers on a historical journey that helps us understand better the man behind the tyrant.
Ridley Scott once again plays with the audience’s expectations, channeling Gladiator's breathtaking action scenes while tapping into the sharp-witted sense of humour displayed in many of his previous works.
His best ally here is Phoenix, a chameleonic actor whose deadpan delivery as the titular character allows him to command every scene in the most deliciously awkward ways.
Scott doesn’t idealise the character (this is hardly a hagiography), and instead finds the cracks in Napoleon’s narcissistic, brute personality to the point of allowing bursts of comedy throughout the story.
That means Napoleon ends up being a perfect blend of action, romance, comedy and historical recreation.
It also has a soon-to-be iconic line, as Napoleon shouts at an English representative: "You think you’re so great because you have boats!"
Much has been written about Napoleon, but the filmmaker behind gems like Alien and Blade Runner knows how to make his particular portrait feel fresh, whip-smart and revealing. Seeing Scott's work in this innovative 270-degree projection format for the first time ever further cements what we knew – that this master storyteller delivers captivating visual spectacles better than just about anyone else in the biz.
So if you want to experience Napoleon in all its greatest glory, Cineworld ScreenX is well worth it.
Napoleon runs in Cineworld in ScreenX November 22 through December 7, 2023 – get your tickets here.
Mireia (she/her) has been working as a movie and TV journalist for over eight years. Based in the UK, she is a former deputy movies editor at Digital Spy, and previously worked for the Spanish magazine Fotogramas. Mireia's work has been published in other outlets such as Esquire and Elle in Spain, and WeLoveCinema and GamesRadar+ in the UK. She is also a published author, having written the essay Biblioteca Studio Ghibli: Nicky, la aprendiz de bruja about Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service.
During her years as a freelance journalist and film critic, Mireia has covered festivals around the world and has interviewed high-profile talents such as Kristen Stewart, Ryan Gosling, Jake Gyllenhaal and many more. She's also taken part in juries such as the FIPRESCI jury at Venice Film Festival and the short film jury at Kingston International Film Festival in London. LinkedIn
