With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i Mieczem), Parts 1 & 2

With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i Mieczem), Parts 1 & 2

With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i Mieczem), Parts 1 & 2

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DVD details

Actor: Aleksandr Domogarov, Bogdan Stupka, Izabella Scorupco, Krzysztof Kowalewski, Michal Zebrowski
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Polish (Original Language); Tatar (Original Language); Turkish (Original Language); Ukrainian (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 175 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-04-13
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Polart

DVD Reviews of With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i Mieczem), Parts 1 & 2

DVD Review: Izabella Scorupco Stunning in With Fire and Sword
Summary: 4 Stars

At the time of its release in 1999, With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i mieczem) was the highest budgeted movie in the history of Polish cinema. Directed by Jerzy Hoffman, the film is based upon the first book of Henryk Sienkiewicz's famous and historic Trilogy. Hoffman had already adapted the last two books, Colonel Wolodyjowski/Fire in the Steppe (Pan Wolodyjowski, 1968) and The Deluge (Potop, 1974).

In With Fire and Sword we follow dashing, young Polish officer, Jan Skrzetuski (Michal Zebrowski), as he joins in the fight against the rebellious Zaporozhian Cossacks under the command of Hetman Bohdan Chmielnicki. He meets gorgeous Helena (Izabella Scorupco) and falls instantly in love but must contend with his rival for her affection, the crafty Cossack, Jurko Bohan, played by the talented Alesandr Domogarov. The fight over the stunningly beautiful Helena is set amidst various battles of the Uprising.

After drop-dead gorgeous, Polish actress, Izabella Scorupco, starred in the James Bond flick, Golden Eye (1995), we all expected big things from her. Very sadly, her career never really did pan out. Let's face it, beautiful Polish woman are a dime a dozen, like grains of sand on the beach. But Bialystok-born Izabella was one of those exquisite Polish beauties that literally took a man's breath away. With Fire and Sword was her first film following Golden Eye.

Comic relief is provided by Pan Zagloba, one of Polish literature's most comic characters, portrayed with uproarious effect by Krzysztof Kowalewski. Andrzej Seweryn gives a memorable performance as Polish prince, Jarema Wisniowiecki.

I enjoyed this movie very much. Polish Americans will especially appreciate the 17th century Polish costumes and settings. The Polish cavalry charges do become a bit redundant after awhile but it is quite something to see the winged hussars in action. This isn't a 5-star film but it's close. Of the three Trilogy films, this one is, by far, the best.

Ukrainians objected to With Fire and Sword, saying it portrayed them in a less than flattering manner. For the Ukrainian take on the Uprising, check out Taras Bulba starring Yul Brynner and Cossack-with-a-Brooklyn-accent, Tony Curtis.

English translations of Sienkiewicz's Trilogy are available at major libraries. You will definitely want to read this patriotic classic for yourself. The movie's good but the book is a masterpiece. Helpful hint: Kuniczak's translations are much easier to read than Curtin's.

DVD Review: A Classic Film Epic
Summary: 5 Stars

Wow! Rebelling Cossack and Tartar hordes vie with winged hussars for the fate of Poland in this extraordinary movie. Throw in a beautiful damsel in distress, a manly, emotionally charged protagonist, and complexly characterized antagonists and you have the mix for an extraordinary movie. With Fire and Sword has the narrative sweep and costumed sumptuousness of the great historic film epics along with the imagery one expects from world class cinema.
With Fire and Sword is Henryk Sienkiewicz's vast and wonderful novel of the brewing crises of 17th Century Poland that eventually destroyed the Polish state. Director Jerzy Hoffman has distilled this sprawling work into a compelling, fast paced dramatic work.
Some reviewers have noted the "cross talk" feature, which can be distracting on a very few occasions. I believe what is happening is that the Ukrainian characters are speaking in Ukrainian while a narrator repeats what they are saying in Polish. Perhaps, if one could follow the original dialog in Polish this feature may be annoying. Relying solely on the English subtitles, it seemed to add an even greater sense of authenticity for me.

DVD Review: Reduced Classic
Summary: 4 Stars

I have been looking forward for years to see this screen version of Sienkiewicz's classic book. The movie version follows the story line of "With Fire and Sword" very honestly but leaves out a lot of the filler material. I am a bit dissapointed with the production in the sense that the battle scenes seem so sparsely populated after reading the novel. I guess that computor enhancement was not available to it's production crew. This was great Polish history but on a reduced scale.

DVD Review: Stay away from this version! Missing subtitles!
Summary: 1 Stars

Very disappointed by this two disc version.
1. They divided it into a 4 part screen play which doesn't flow as well as the movie
2. The subtitles often miss out part or are one sided so you miss what one character is saying completely.
3. There is a strange voice over some parts repeating what the characters just said in a monotone voice that completely ruins the movie and there is no way to turn it off.

This is a fantastic movie and one of my all time favourites, but steer clear of this version. Try to get the dual layer disc that has all the characters on the front cover.

DVD Review: An excellent adaptation of a masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars

Yes, the DVD transfer could have been better. I don't really care. If a little graininess is the price we must pay for having the enjoyment of this film, then so be it. It's a miracle that this sprawling, brutal epic --- the most expensive in the history of Polish cinema --- was made in the first place. Reasonably faithful to both Sienkiewicz' work and the history of the Zaporozhye Uprising, this features good production values, excellent acting, and unforgettable characters. Plus, it does justice to a great story! For anyone who enjoys historical epics, this should be near the top of the list of must-see films.

Description of With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i Mieczem), Parts 1 & 2

Spectacular battles, rollicking humor, and lavish production values frame a sweeping romantic drama that all audiences will enjoy. At the time of its release, this lavish historical epic was the most expensive Polish film ever made. Based on the novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz (QUO VADIS?), this grand drama is set in 17th century Poland during the Cossack uprising against the Polish nobility. As the violent confrontation builds, a battle for the heart of a beautiful girl rages between a dashing Pole and a brutish Ukrainian. This is a special full-length version, including footage not in the original theatrical release.

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