Ridley Scott, the renowned filmmaker behind Gladiator and Alien, strikes back at French critics of his latest film, Napoleon. Joaquin Phoenix stars as the titular character, portraying Napoleon Bonaparte alongside Vanessa Kirby as Empress Joséphine. The movie explores Napoleon's rise to power and delves into his personal relationships.

The film received a score of 7/10 in an IGN review, which described it as a polished historical epic that felt somewhat impersonal. It highlighted Phoenix's performance as a key element, depicting Napoleon with a complex mix of traits. In contrast, some French critics like those from Le Figaro and biographer Patrice Gueniffey criticized the film's approach, labeling it anti-French and pro-British.

In response to these critiques, Scott has been quoted as dismissive towards historical accuracy debates, humorously telling historians who challenge him on events they didn't witness to keep silent. He emphasizes creative interpretation in historical filmmaking and speaks boldly against those nitpicking historical details of the movie, urging them to "get a life."

Napoleon has sparked conversation online for scenes like the one where Napoleon fires cannons at Egypt's pyramids, with Scott justifying such decisions as artistic symbolism. His frank comments have started to become viral, turning the no-nonsense director into a bit of an internet meme.

Adding to the conversation, Phoenix referred to Napoleon as an experience filtered through Ridley Scott's vision, advising those interested in the historical figure to explore more authoritative resources. Napoleon is now part of the broad array of content on Apple's on-demand platform as well as in theaters for viewers looking for an evocative portrayal of one of history's most famous leaders.