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Emperor's New Clothes, The
Paramount Classics


7.0

based on 28 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 4 votes
Read user comments
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MPAA RATING: PG for brief language

Starring Ian Holm, Iben Hjejle, Tim McInnerny, Tom Watson, Nigel Terry, Hugh Bonneville, Murray Melvin, and Clive Russell

An original tale about Napoleon's last great adventure -- and the adventures of the lowly impostor who assumed his identity in a grand conspiracy to outwit the world. (Paramount Classics)

GENRE(S):	Romance
WRITTEN BY:	Kevin Molony Alan Taylor Herbie Wave Simon Leys (novel The Death of Napoleon)
DIRECTED BY:	Alan Taylor
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: December 10, 2002 Video: December 10, 2002 Theatrical: June 14, 2002
RUNNING TIME:	107 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	Germany / Italy / UK

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Chicago Tribune Loren King

One of the most clever, most enjoyable historical fantasies to hit screens in a long time, The Emperor's New Clothes is a sumptuous showcase for Ian Holm, who delivers not one but two great performances.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

It's sometimes said that the greatest test of a chef is cooking something cheap and simple, like a piece of chicken or a hamburger. In a movie that testifies to simple pleasures, Taylor and company pass that test again and again.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Sergio Ballo's costumes have the look of authentic clothing, realistically reflecting the characters' wide range in social status. Rachel Portman's score, at once romantic, majestic and vital, completes this beguiling film.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

Engaging, witty and touching film, one that defies categories to become a romantic comedy, historical biopic and philosophical rumination, all in one.

New Times (L.A.) Gregory Weinkauf

In tampering with history, these storytellers present to us a rare and wonderful case of enlightenment beyond the accepted truth.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

It's a royal, finely modulated double performance by an actor who always wears his powers with graceful modesty.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Taylor's approach to this material -- mixing occasional humor with undemanding drama -- works well enough that we don't care about the logical inconsistencies and plot holes. To that end, The Emperor's New Clothes ends up as a pleasant diversion.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Touching historical fantasy.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

In a hilarious bit of actorly sleight-of-hand, Holm (who is not new to the role of Napoleon, having it played it twice before) slips effortlessly from emperor to impostor.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Has a refreshingly different twist: What we have here is a "what if" comedy.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

The result is a genre-bending yarn, an entertaining mix of period drama and flat-out farce that should please history fans.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Surprisingly sweet and gentle comedy.

Salon.com Charles Taylor

A trifle but an exceptionally civilized, charming trifle.

Variety Derek Elley

Pleasant rather than rollicking entertainment.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

The film's European locations, sets (in Rome's Cinecitta studios) and photography are unusually striking; Rachel Portman contributes an elegant score; and Holm (who played the emperor once before in 1981's "Time Bandits") embodies the character with an effortlessly regal charisma.

Miami Herald Marta Barber

Mildly engaging.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Alan Taylor ("Palookaville"), an American, directs with a playful touch, and Denmark's Hjejle is far more assured acting in English here than she was in "High Fidelity."

TV Guide Ken Fox

A fun and fanciful comic adventure, based on the novel "The Death of Napoleon" by Simon Leys, that takes a great premise and runs with it.

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

Charming but slight.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

Holm carries Napoleon's regal bluster without edging into cartoonish folly, taking him seriously enough to make an absurd situation solemn, and keeping the film from winking too coyly at its audience.

Chicago Reader Hank Sartin

Desperately wants to be whimsical and charming. But whimsy isn't easy to carry off, and director Alan Taylor, who has directed mostly television dramas, has a heavy hand -- scenes meant to be comical are destroyed by leaden pacing and a puzzling mix of tones.

Boston Globe Lynda Gorov

Not without its charms. But it never rises to its clever what-if concept.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Watching this comedy is like going out with an attractive blind date who runs out of conversation after a quarter of an hour.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

All's fair in love and war, I know, but really now.

Empire Ian Freer

Not dire, but you can’t escape the feeling that there’s a good movie in here trying to get out.

Village Voice J. Hoberman

Dull, if not devoid of wit, this shaggy dog longs to frisk through the back alleys of history, but scarcely manages more than a modest, snoozy charm.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Although there's plenty of opportunity for low comedy in the notion of an emperor and an oaf exchanging roles, The Emperor's New Clothes, much to its detriment, doesn't pursue them.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

The blithely dishonest script would have us believe that the real Napoleon can't prove his identity when the fake Napoleon refuses to come clean. Not only is that patent nonsense, it's cockeyed dramaturgy.

The average user rating for this movie is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

J D gave it a10:
Exellent.

His Majesty Gilbert de Mulroneycakes gave it an 8:
How the hell do you pronounce Iben Hjelje?

Chad S. gave it a 6:
Perhaps, afraid their film would lapse into Monty Python territory, the filmmakers elected not to get more comic mileage out of their faux-Napoleon. As for the adventures of the real French commander, his strategizing of produce domination is cute, and romance, slight, but well-done. If the filmmakers had the courage to go for belly-laughs instead of half-baked whimsy, they would've really had something here. Ian Holm is good here but he can do this sort of thing in his sleep. The script should've given him more opportunities to cut loose. Farting isn't funny, but Napoleon(or the semblance of Napoleon) farting would've been hillarious because it would be a great actor passing gas, and he'd find a way to do it with aplomb.

Marc K. gave it a 4:
Maybe this film was a hit in England, but I was bored by the whole thing. Stereotypical British take on what an idiot they think Napoleon was.

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Emperor's New Clothes, The Paramount Classics

Emperor's New Clothes, The
Paramount Classics