Catherine the Great (2005 TV Movie) User Reviews

"Catherine the Great" was great

[HollinsHermione · 8/10 · 15 January 2009]

At first I thought this was a movie, but in this case the documentary format wasn't dry or uninteresting. Catherine's letters were well-integrated into monologues and dialog. Emily Bruni should be cast in more pictures, because she has a great way of looking boldly and directly into the camera. For those two hours, she was Catherine the Great to me. She made her into a more human, sympathetic character. In high school, we were taught that she was a cold-hearted, brutal killer (probably as a result of gender biases towards powerful women). So I was pleasantly surprised to find that she had many lovers whom she really seemed to care about, such as Potemkin. After seeing Peter's grotesque behaviors, such as torturing live rats, I actually didn't blame her at all for her later actions against him. He seemed to have a very sick mind, and he probably would have gone on to torture more people had he lived longer. I was actually quite grateful when his on screen time was up. But otherwise, I really appreciated the film, which educated in an entertaining way. Now some Hollywood or indie film directors should call Emily and ask her to do more movies!

Not perfect, but very well done.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 1 January 2012]

This is a very beautiful biography of Catherine the Great of Russia. It not only consists of various interviews with smart folks from around the world today but it mostly done through recreations of scenes from the life of Catherine--using gorgeous costumes, sets and location shooting. It's really one of the prettiest biographies I've ever seen. And, it's probably the best film on her available. However, being a retired history teacher, I must point out its two major flaws. First, it picks up when she first travels to Russia as a teenager to marry the future Czar, Peter III. Practically nothing about her early life in Germany is mentioned. It wouldn't have taken that much effort to do so. Also, my know-it-all daughter kept pointing out (and she's right) that too often the film focused on Catherine's 'extra-curricular' activities (i.e., affairs) but omitted so many of the positive contributions to improving her nation--and particularly the new freedoms she'd grant her subjects. While this is indeed true, it does seem that the filmmakers made a deliberate choice to focus on Catherine the woman instead of Catherine the Empress. A logical choice but one that gives a somewhat narrow account of her amazing life.

Exceptionally well made and well wroth seeing.

Catherine the Great was a leader

[chasmilt777 · 9/10 · 11 August 2006]

I can't recall seeing a PBS Home Video that I did not like. Educational documentaries are my favorite. Before viewing this DVD, I knew very little about Catherine the Great. After watching this 2 hour special, I don't know if I admire her or dislike her. Even thought she was not moral in her marriage to Peter, she was not the great nymphomaniac or harlot that history has made her out to be. Over looking her short comings, she did bring social reform to Russia. I believe that she did what she thought was best for her country.

The best thing about this documentary is that it tells her story from her own memoirs and personal letters. It makes a good historical account of her life. She had compassion for her people and was ruthless towards her enemies. It would be unfair to compare Catherine to Evita Peron or Cleopatra. Catherine stands alone. She shows great courage when she leads the way in taking the vaccine for small pox first. This documentary brings out other interesting facts.

Emily Bruni does an excellent job in portraying Catherine the Great. I would like to see her in other acting roles.

I would liked to have seen more about Caterine's religious views as well as her taste in the arts. There are a few Russian subtitles in this special.

Weather you like or dislike Catherine the Great, she helped make Russia a great nation. Too bad Lennin and Stalin made Russia such an evil place to live.