History must be kept alive by any means possible, for if we forget then we will make the same mistakes as before.
You can teach history in a classroom to children until you are blue in the face, and only part of it will seep in if they do not have an active thirst for it, but show them the smoke and thunder of a 'safe' battlefield, it will drive home the awesome spectacle and hopefully inspire them to learn more.
Of course, it's a thin line between creating a spectacle and glorifying war, but equally, if you suppress it all then you will learn nothing.
With that little ramble aside, what a fantastic display, I love the idea of the local news station doing a rolling news report on it, as though it was taking place in the modern era.
Some of the finest armies in Europe took part in that battle, all of them in fact, and it shows in the casualty count.
Oh, and Rod Steiger is best Napoleon:
Except perhaps the opening to NTW:
Sends chills down my spine every time I watch it.
