At first I have to say I watched it in German under the title "Kreuzritter 5", so there was a German dubbing and it was bad, which really destroyed some of it's atmosphere. I know the story and I read the book by Henryk Sienkiewicz and I really enjoyed it but I don't think that the movie could retell that epic story in a good way, especially the atmosphere and historical backgrounds. I think the costumes were really good, besides the beards and hair, they looked so artificial. The acting was partially good especially by Scorupco and Szebrowski but there were a lot of actors who weren't that good at all... There also was a problem of historic introduction, in Germany you don't get to know a little thing about eastern European history so my friend who I watched that movie with me was really confused about cossacks and tartans and all those people whom he never really heard of. And didn't knew anything about their relation to Poland or the rest of Europe - so especially this part gave that movie a big minus. The fighting-scenes were less than mediocre. The music could have been better too, it missed some epicness. It could be really much shorter cause it doesn't tell that much story at all.

When Jerzy Hoffman completed the filming of this, the first of the stories in Henryk Sienkiewicz's epic Trilogy, he was actually completing a 30-year labor of love. Although it is the first of the three stories, "Ogniem i Mieczem" (Eng. "With Fire and Sword") was filmed last. (This allowed Polish actor Daniel Olbrychski to appear in this film as the father of the character he portrayed in "Pan Wolodyjowki", the finale of the saga, in 1969. Olbrychski also played the lead in "Potop" (Eng. "The Deluge"), part two of the trilogy, in 1974. I believe he is the only actor to have appeared in all three parts.) After seeing all four films ("The Deluge" is so long that, on film as in the novel, it was split into two parts), I was inspired to read the books, and enjoyed them immensely.Maybe it's because I saw it first, or appreciate the more modern production values, or like the story better, but this is my favorite of the films. It instantly became one of my all-time favorite movies.If you love the tales of Alexander Dumas, then this film is definitely for you. It has swashbuckling "all for one and one for all" heroes, a beautiful princess, sword fights and battles, two delightful comic relief sidekicks (although one comes across far better in the book), a vivid and colorful assortment of characters (and what faces!), a lovely score... well, I could go on and on.Far better, though, that you sit down with a copy of this and just enjoy it for yourself.

Many comments have been made on the movie, the plot and the acting. I saw the movie at a private screening in Warsaw and loved it. Some of the scenes were well done, some great.But the music....the music never leaves you. The variations on "Falcons" through the second half of the movie were wonderful. The scene on the river with the male chorus was haunting. THe music should have attracted more note than it did. But, not released in English, based on a super-nationalistic plot of dubious historic value, the movie was only going to appeal to a Polish audience, which it certainly did. (For those who have commented on its excessive pro-Polish stance, they would be surprised to hear that, in Poland, the criticism was that it was too nice to Chmielnicki. Some said that Hoffman's Ukrainian wife had too much influence.)The music is the lasting star of the movie. I have the CD and treasure it.

Hoffman, the director, is well-known in polish cinema for such movies like "Pan Wolodyjowski" or Oscar-nominated "Potop".These two movies were based on book by polish novelist Henryk Sienkiewicz. He wrote also "Ogniem i mieczem". Adaptation of this book was heavily commented in polish media. The expectations were big. And then came the premiere. Spotlights, well-known people from show business, politics, culture. And producers of course, this movie was the most expensive movie in polish history (now the first is "Quo Vadis"). All these people had to make the best of a bad business. Movie is boring, which is absolutely no acceptable for entertainment production. It doesn't have good plot, it is made from about 5 very light-related episodes (if you have seen "Hannibal" you know what I mean). The characters are or white like January snow, more saint then Jesus, or absolutely without expression. Whats more, their behavior is unlogic and unnecessary.Simply stupid. Battles, if you compare it with e.g. "Braveheart" or even others Hoffman's movies,, are childish (polish army consist of ten horses). In one word - disaster. Only music is good. If you want to see polish historical movie, go better for older Hoffman's work.