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Movies / On DVD / The Emperor's New Clothes
The Emperor's New Clothes

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The Emperor's New Clothes (2002)

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Reviews Counted:84

Fresh:62

Rotten:22

Average Rating:6.6/10

Consensus: The premise of The Emperor's New Clothes is intriguing, and Holm gives a delightful performance.

Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES recasts history in 19th Century France. Based on the novel by Simon Leys, THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON, the film supposes that Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile in St. Helena... THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES recasts history in 19th Century France. Based on the novel by Simon Leys, THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON, the film supposes that Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile in St. Helena and returned to Paris in 1821, whereas the history books say he died that year. With imaginative photography, beautiful costumes, an upbeat orchestral score, and solid acting, the film is a fanciful, witty, comedic delight. Starting out in St. Helena, Napoleon (Ian Holm) enjoys a pampered existence, even as a prisoner, and is treated with great respect by those who serve him. Therefore, when he devises a scheme to trade places with a servant on a ship so that he may escape, the deckhand he chooses (also Holm) thinks he's the luckiest man alive, waited on hand and foot in St. Helena. Napoleon returns to Paris under the guise of this ship servant. When he arrives, he expects to be recognized, received with joy by his people, and made emperor once again. Instead, he is ignored. Days later, the deckhand in St. Helena dies, literally erasing Napoleon's existence. From there, Napoleon must adjust to daily life in the free world as nothing more than a simple Everyman. Fortunately, he finds a loving wife, Pumpkin (Iben Hjejle), to help him with the transition. [More]

Starring: Ian Holm, Iben Hjejle, Tim McInnerny, Tom Watson

Starring: Ian Holm, Iben Hjejle, Tim McInnerny, Tom Watson, Nigel Terry, Hugh Bonneville, Murray Melvin, Eddie Marsan, Clive Russell, Niall O'Brien

Director: Alan Taylor

Director: Alan Taylor
Screenwriter: Alan Taylor, Kevin Molony, Herbie Wave
Producer: Uberto Pasolini
Composer: Rachel Portman
Studio: Paramount Classics

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Emperor's New Clothes

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21 - 40 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

The story is pure fiction, but told with the dignity and self-assurance of an Oliver Stone conspiracy tale.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
07/26/02
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

A delightful, if minor, pastry of a movie.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
07/25/02
Jay Boyar
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel

Holm's strong performance never sinks to caricature.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
07/25/02
Steve Schneider
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly

While Holm is terrific as both men and Hjejle quite appealing, the film fails to make the most out of the intriguing premise.

Full Review Source: FilmsInReview.com | comment Comment
07/20/02
Victoria Alexander
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com

Cleverly upends the goals of the grand strategist, turning him into an underdog to be rooted for. And root we do, quite loyally.

Full Review Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel | comment Comment
07/19/02
Laura Kelly
Laura Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A bit of whimsically warped history elevated by the central performance of Ian Holm.

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
07/19/02
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Viewers are asked so often to suspend belief that were it not for Holm's performance, the film would be a total washout.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
07/19/02
Marta Barber
Marta Barber
Miami Herald

It's a great big snore.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
07/19/02
Ella Taylor
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly

Gives Holm one of his rare cracks at a true starring role, and the man is magnificent.

Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
07/19/02
Robert W. Butler
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star

Recent and long-standing fans of Holm must relish the chance to watch Sir Ian in a dual role, one that he explores with customary insight, subtlety and good humor.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
07/19/02
Susan Stark
Susan Stark
Detroit News

[Holm] saves this film time and again with an eagle's gaze that puts you on alert, prompting you to sit up a little straighter in that theater seat.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
07/19/02
John Monaghan
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press

Presents an intriguing concept ... without developing the idea in a believable or amusing way.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
07/19/02
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

Holm manages to hold the whole thing together, while convincingly shifting gears between the two characters.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
07/19/02
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Not even Sir Alec Guinness could have made it memorable

Full Review Source: Movie Habit | comment Comment
07/19/02
Marty Mapes
Marty Mapes
Movie Habit
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
07/19/02
Arizona Republic
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Another day, another story. Rewriting history in ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’

Full Review Source: Pasadena Weekly | comment Comment
07/15/02
John Esther
John Esther
Pasadena Weekly

The film offers an intriguing what-if premise.

Full Review Source: Journal News (Westchester, NY) | comment Comment
07/15/02
Marshall Fine
Marshall Fine
Journal News (Westchester, NY)

Holm does his sly, intricate magic, and Iben Hjelje is entirely appealing as Pumpkin.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
07/12/02
David Elliott
David Elliott
San Diego Union-Tribune

To build a feel-good fantasy around a vain dictator-madman is off-putting, to say the least, not to mention inappropriate and wildly undeserved.

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
07/12/02
Joe Baltake
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee

The film is occasionally too happy with itself, but it's anchored in a marvelously varied and tempered performance by Ian Holm.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
07/12/02
Shawn Levy
Shawn Levy
Oregonian
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
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