General Hadik

Scenery is correct: landscapes, buildings, interiors, costumes are quite beautiful, full of colours and lights, some scenes have really great atmosphere, you can feel the breeze above the fields, enyoy the light of the sunset or full moon, the sounds of crickets in the morning, etc., Gyori Mark is very talented and so from this point of view this film would have deserved 9 or 10 stars out of ten.

Unfortunately, the story is banal and boring enough (whether it is based on true events or not), because of lack of any true conflict: the campaign related by the film hasn't any serious target, there is nothing at stake, hussars struggle by no emotions or passion, not for family, nor for country or even not for vengeance, they act only because Mária Terézia ask them to, Hadik's hussars doesn't even know where they are going to while riding and what is the purpose of their campaign.

Characters are one-dimensional, they hasn't any personality, any specific motivation, they are featureless heroes with no memories, wishes, so you can hardly identify with them, and can't feel excited for them, too.

The film is full of sentences aiming to sound cathartic but these statements don't fit the actual situation where they are pronounced in, furthermorme, they are lifeless, meaningless, they are not told to others to express the character's current emotions, thoughts, wills at the moment; heroes speak directly to the spectator.

I can't imagine how could name people themselves at the end as historical expert. Without spoiler I cannot bring here the examples, but except the names-who are real-everything is so funny, compared to real life.

I did not know to cry or laugh when he arrives home, where the children who play at the yard are dressed in very expensive traditional costume as it "usual" for children playing in the dust. So fake hungarian folkore advertisement only for tourist!

Unviable and discredited the whole movie!

Or when his wife rush into the court of the Quenn to blame her as commoners "usually" do, and the Quenn response is quite "normal".

The duels: in the fifties it was an exceptation every action movies that the villain and the hero running up and down on staircase at the final peak and fence, but now ? Of course the Quenn of the enemy at once starts to flirt with the bloody hero, why not if he a Hussar!

If they sometimes would have started to sing it were more amusing.

The cinematography is professional, beautiful and atmospheric... the costumes are beautiful.. But unfortunately this is not enough... if everything else is weak.

The weakest is the acting, directing and scriptwriting!

The story is unfortunately stupid and boring, and there is no real conflict, even though the film's trailer is campaigning about how much danger the hussars are in and what patriotic actions they perform. The purpose of the trip is to bring back a glove... the hussars fight without real emotions and passion... winning a bet, not the real defense of the homeland.

The characters have no real personality, no concrete motivation, characterless characters with whom you can hardly identify. We get bored of them, we don't get excited for them.

The biggest problem with the film is the completely unfilmic, theatrical sound of the actors' speech. When will Hungarian film production finally stop this huge mistake? Professional actors learn speech technique in college... let them stop this mannered, theatrical, terrible style of speech... the role they are playing becomes unreliable if the actor speaks in this mannered, overdramatized style. Those speech teachers who think this is the right acting style should be fired from the college. And those directors and sound engineers who think this kind of voice and acting style is right should be urgently sent for a hearing test.

The text put into the mouths of the characters in the film, their speaking style hurts one's ears because it is emotionless or overdramatized, but by no means a normal speaking voice. And the fact that the actor speaks to the viewer and speaks to the viewer is simply total amateurism.

This film is a shining example of all the problems of Hungarian filmmaking:

• there is no proper scriptwriting, dramaturgy, text, character development, development of motivations,
• the actors' excessive theatrical style of acting and speaking style spoils the entire atmosphere and watchability of the film.

• the professionalism of the director and sound engineer is questionable if these amateurish mistakes are not noticed.

This movie tells a great story and in the same time focusing on the human side just as much. Humble, not playing it over and reflecting on the era without using 21st century superhero movie pieces. If you look at the battle, that's exactly what it meant to be in a battle in those times.

Some, who might be spoiled with the nowadays level of CGI might be sour about this movie, but in my opinion, the story is always shall come first instead of special effects.

Great casting, great play overall.

And majestic, uplifting, respectful to the heritage of being a Huszár. True image of their compassion and dedication.

Well done, we need more!

It is an OK movie with historically accurate costumes.

You will get exactly what you can read in the description of the movie. It depicts the events of the siege against Berlin led by Hadik. Nothing more, nothing less.

The film creates a very good atmosphere, and it is quite fun to watch. The dialogues are full of funny and smart remarks, especially when characters are teasing each other.

However the movie doesn't give us a well-detailed, deep portrayal of the characters and most of the conflicts are solved too soon, therefore they don't seem to be serious enough for us to root for the characters.

It is fun to watch once, but it is not a memorable movie.