Rating: 
Summary: For Filming Alone
Review: If you are to buy one film, based on filming alone, buy this one. The imagery is breathtaking.
Rating:
Summary: Painterly tradition. On celluloid.
Review: After shooting artsy TV advertisements, Ridley Scott turned his considerable talents to actual motion pictures. His first attempt is an adaptation of Joseph Conrad's novella 'The Point Of Honour' - a tale of fixation-...-obsession. Fencing in this film - crude and seemingly 'ungentlemanly' - reflects a more realistic portrayal, rather than the quasi-romantic stylistic, balletic and 'clean' approach favoured by just about all previous films (the 'Musketeer' films, 'Cartouche,' 'Scaramouche,' 'Don Juan,' etc.); much of this fencing was also done with heavy cavalry sabres - not really 'fencing' weapons!The (American) accents of Keith Carradine (Armand d'Hubert, 3ème Régiment de Hussards, reluctant duellist and realist-rather-than-Royalist) and Harvey Keitel (Gabriel Ferraud, 7ème Régiment de Hussards, and manic man of honour, fixated on fighting duels), along with Stacey Keach's third-person narration, reflecting the wider conflict and perhaps humankind's perceived need to struggle to 'express' oneself, might not be to everybody's liking, but that would do a disservice to both Carradine (dignity) and Keitel (brooding passion/honour) who put their all into it - after a while the accents become completely irrelevant anyway. Carradine did so again three years later in 'The Long Riders.' Stirling support is provided by England's RSC and RADA: Robert Stephens,' "Well come across him again ..." Tom Conti's laconic, "The enemies of reason have a certain blind look ..." and, "Duels between nations must take absolute precedence ..." and Diana Quick's, "I knew a woman who was beaten to death by a man; I don't think it surprised her one bit ..." are lines that have become part of my vocabulary, whether intentionally or not ... Nevertheless - and here is the real success of the film - Scott's attention to even the tiniest peripheral or background detail adds a visually-arresting 'still-life' quality to the quite stunning scenery and locations. Each still of the film could, if on canvas, fetch a few hundred-thou at Sotheby's/Christie's. For with each viewing comes the discovery of yet more minutiae and period detail. Utterly rewardlingy Exquisite! Besides, those Hussar uniforms are pretty cool, huh ...?!!
Rating:
Summary: Superb, overlooked swashbuckler
Review: This is a superb film, one of Ridley Scott's best. His budget went towards magnificient costumes and locations, giving one the feel of Napoleonic France. Keitel and Carradine give maybe the best performances of their careers (certainly Carradine, Keitel was also wonderful as Houdini in "Fairie Tale") with fine supporting performances by Fox, Conti, and the late James Stephenson. But the real star is the excellant swordplay choreographed by William Hobbs. Whether it's saber duels or smallswords, the choreography is impeccably realistic, a far cry from the old-style fencing of Hollywood swashbucklers. If you're a fan of swordplay, this film belongs in your collection along with Lester's "Three" and "Four Musketters."
Rating:
Summary: Feeding on Spite
Review: Delving into the feeding-on-spite theme results in great prose by Conrad and an equally grand film by Scott, including a truly inspired score by Blake, weaving both Romantic and Modern elements effectively together. The malevolence exhibited by Keitel's dark character is mirrored by the anguish of Carradine's absurd quandary. These tensions are contrasted by stunning art and film direction, with gorgeous locations in the French countryside and realistic recreation of period life in Napoleonic France. By far, this is my favorite Ridley Scott film.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo! What a gem
Review: This is my absolute all time favorite movie. A very realistic depiction of campaigning during the napoleonic wars, and of the brutal, non-romantic aspects of the ancient practice of dueling. The soundtrack is also quite superb. Love the opening scene where the mayor of strasbourgs' nephew is skewered. Harvey Keitel gives a wonderful performance as the mad-dog Faraud. With all the junk out now on DVD, why is this movie still available only on VHS? What a shame.
Rating:
Summary: This should be seen on DVD, but MUST be seen.
Review: I can only agree with most of the praise given to this film, and add that while the performances by both leading and supporting actors are supurb, and while a plot that revolves around the power to manipulate a man of honor by the very means of that honor is able to captivate an audience from a time far removed from any intimate relationship with that virtue; the sheer force and beauty of the cinematography is enough to make it a must-see. At long last this film has come to DVD and in grand form. The extras too are well chosen and well done. The butchered format of the video kept the plot while sinking so much of the visual statement. The DVD keeps it all and adds even more to the viewer's insight into the film. I found it quite interesting to learn who the two actors originally chosen for the role were.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: This stunning film is incredibly beautiful to watch; the scenary, script, and actors are wonderful. This is a highly intelligent piece of work, so many films are sheer pap, driven by special effects, and soundtrack franchises; in contrast the Duellists is a work of art which has a great integrity. Apart from a great personal interest in history, I am an experienced fencer with foil, epee and sabre and this film contains the most brutally accurate swordplay I have ever seen. As other reviewers pointed out, this is no Errol Flynn picture. It confronts romantic notions with some stark truths. I find it hard to watch the sabre duel in the cellar which lays bare the result of carving human meat with edged steel. The historical realism of The Duellists is spot on down to the smallest details of Napoleonic campaigning. The horrible scenes set in the Russian snows vividly bring home something of the agony in 1812. I find this a very subtle film, posing questions for each viewer to answer in their own way. The actors do not parade convenient 20th Century attitudes; the pain of D'Hubert's mistress is deeply poignant. If anyone enjoyed this film I strongly suggest reading Joseph Conrad's short story The Duel. Ridley Scott remains virtually 90% faithful to Joseph Conrad, but the ending of the original story has one subtle embellishment the film does not develop.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie!
Review: Great movie, but for some reason it's a very bad print on VHS. The screen is fuzzy, low res, and the lighting and colors are dull and not well defined. I remember a much better picture quality when I saw it in the 70's. I WANT IT ON DVD!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Why oh why is this not on DVD ? !!!!!!!!!
Review: Such a great film; for what it is worth to anyone else, this is in my top 5 of all time. The story is wonderful, Riddly Scott paints amazing pictures with the camera that you just want to pause the film and look at them like you would a painting.... ...but the quality of the VHS is very , very bad !!! eeerk ! The best way to watch it is if they show it on TV... I have a brand new HI-FI VHS player and a brand new wide screen HD TV and it was just plain bad...the contrast between dark and light is terrible and adjusting all the controls of the TV could not help it enough. If only this was on DVD.............
Rating:
Summary: This Movie needs to be released on DVD
Review: Every time I watch this movie, I am amazed by its power. Keitel and Carridine are amazing. The tension between these two are palpitable. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie.
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