I want to say that the English film, in my opinion, better than the film Bondarchuk.
I am glad for the younger generation of viewers who did not read the novel (namely, for them the film was shot). They will be able to watch the film as an illustration of the novel without much loss. High quality and as close to the text as possible. And this is not a boring (as Bondarchuk) exposition, but a melodrama that captures the viewer of a high level. That in a new way reveals the novel and tells the viewer what worried Tolstoy in the 19th century in the relationship of people.
Very accurate selection of actors. They turned out not to be cinematic static characters, but live people, because they did not try to pretend to be aristocrats. The exception (in my opinion) is Helen. After all, it is an aristocratic upbringing, whatever its intrinsic nature. Therefore, her crucifixion somewhat strains the viewer.
From series to series, the pace of events consciously increases and this keeps the viewer at the screen: who has not read the books, he waits, opening his mouth, how everything will end, and the sophisticated - will the director make mistakes at the end. I didn't. Tolstoy knew that the novel would be addressed more than one century and envisaged a truly Hollywood finale, which was masterfully done in an English film.
Which episodes I liked the most? The whole film is “quality” smooth and it is especially difficult to highlight something. Still. . .
The battle scenes are beautiful. Here helped computer graphics, which was used virtuoso.
Natasha's first ball. And a scene of her dancing at her uncle's house after the hunt. The wolf hunt itself.
The partisan sortie in which Petya Rostov was killed.
All episodes with Princess Maria Bolkonskaya.
The film's finale.