I’ve heard Scott cut like an hour and a half for the theatrical release, that will be added back in for the streaming release.
So maybe it will get better with the cuts added back in. Maybe not. Ridley Scott’s batting average ain’t great lately.
The credits show actors cast for roles that are not played on screen - Marshals Ney, Soult, Davout, Bessieres, etc., and others. In the movie they may be present in the background or may have been a rather random line without being identified. The longer cut may give more of a role to these.
I saw the movie with an old friend who is a West Point graduate. Between us, we complained of numerous omissions as to the military action, with the hope that they would be part of the longer version. Moreover, there was little sense as to why Napoleon was so effective as a commander and political figure.