Written by Zoe Crombie

Depending on the kind of person you are, you’re likely to find that historical accuracy in movies bothers you to a different degree than other moviegoers. Though you might be totally unbothered by the anachronisms of a series like Indiana Jones or those present in megahits like Titanic, you may be outraged to find that some Bridgerton characters aren’t wearing Regency-appropriate silhouettes or fabrics – or, more likely, fall somewhere between these two poles. Even so, it’s fair to say that Ridley Scott has ruffled more than a few feathers in the promotion of his latest film, especially with regard to how it depicts the facts of the life of the real man at its centre.

Napoleon is an epic that feels like a long time coming. There hasn’t been an English language film about the military leader in at least two decades, and there’s never been one on this scale – borrowing from earlier hits like Gladiator, this is a film loaded with all the battle sequences an action fan could ask for, with extras easily in the hundreds. Lead by Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix as Bonaparte, with Vanessa Kirby as his wife Joséphine, there’s plenty of personal drama to balance out the wide-scale excitement, and this all adds up to a portrait of a formidable man that while not always 100% accurate is compelling throughout.

So whether you’re looking for the latest piece of Scott action or a history buff wanting to balk at some inaccuracies, Napoleon is sure to generate some lively post-film discussions.