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Zulu

Zulu

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $11.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great Film
Review: Like so many other fans of this film, I fell in love with it as a kid. When I saw it again years later, I was amazed by how well it held up. The mostly true story of 140 British holding their own against 4000 Zulus is gripping, and the Zulus are both majestic and poignant, but the best thing about the film is its brilliant realization of some unforgettable characters, among them Nigel Green's unflappable Colour-Sargeant Bourne, Michael Caine's foppish Lt. Bromhead, and, best of all, James Booth's smoulderingly rebellious Pvt. Hook. Zulu is a funny, gritty, and intelligent portrayal of an amazing historical event. The spectacular displays of courage throughout the battle scenes, and the spirit of universal brotherhood evoked by the surprise ending, create a strong atmosphere of moral beauty, making Zulu an uplifting and inspiring experience.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good film bad DVD
Review: This is a great movie but the DVD does nothing for the film. If your thinking of buying this you should know the film is not widescreen also it looks like the transfer was done on a home PC. The quality of this release is little better than a video cd, the picture is washed out and really shows its age. There is no making of or special features which would add to this DVD. The price is cheap as is the quality, if you want a good copy of this film you will have to wait for the UK region 2 release.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very Good Film Making.
Review: Stanley Baker and Michael Caine star in this true story of small British Garrison that was able to defeat a large Zulu army in 1876. The last half of the film is scored by large combat between the British and the Zulus, and it's very well photographed and played out on film. Zulu Dawn was a "prequel" to this movie made some 15 years later.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Read carefully...
Review: The average customer review is based on all versions!

The film is incredible, but this (DVD) edition is appalling beyond words - the quality is about that of a pirated VHS film, a genuine VHS copy would be a much better buy.

Avoid it at all costs!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This is the finest depiction of British regulars on film
Review: If you do not get the widescreen version of "Zulu, do not bother watching this 1964 film. It is on television right now in Pan & Scan and it looks lousy. This is an epic action film with thousands of Zulu warriors running across large fields to attack those nice straight lines of redcoated British soldiers. This is not men trying to buy time ("The Alamo," "The 300 Spartans") or trying to hold a strategic position ("The Bridge at Remagen"). These are troops in the wrong place at the wrong time, fighting neither for Queen nor country, but to do their duty and save their lives.

If "Zulu Dawn" is about the arrogance of the British military than "Zulu" is about the nobility of its common soldiers. There is not a finer depiction of the British regulars in their resplendent redcoats in all of cinema. There are over 100 men from the South Wales Borderers 24th Regiment Of Foot at Rourkes Drift, a third of them wounded, under the command of Lt. John Chard (Stanley Baker) of the Royal Engineers, in charge only because he has seniority. On the other side there are 4,000 Zulu warriors who missed out on the glorious victory earlier in the day at Islandwana. This is Michael Caine's first film and it pretty much shows except when his dandified character is caught up in the actual battles. However, this is more than balanced by Richard Burton's solemn opening and closing narratives and the impressive collection of supporting players, particularly Nigel Green as the unforgettable Colour Sergeant Fred Bourne and Dickie Owen as Cpl. Frederic Schiess, NNC.

In addition to John Barry's stiring score, "Zulu" has a very interesting use of music in the film's best sequence. As the Zulu warriors begin singing before their charge, the Welshmen start singing their own song while manning the barricades. The counterpoint between the two songs, the two cultures, the two sides, is quite stirring, especially as the singing continues once the charge has begun. I never miss an opportunity to watch that scene.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This DVD Zulu is a Zero
Review: Having seen Zulu in the theater in wide-screen and also on a pan & scan VHS, I was happy to finally see it come out as a DVD. Sometimes great expectations lead to even greater let-downs and that is certainly the case with this DVD. Not only is it pan & scan instead of letterbox, it appears to have been mastered from an inferior video copy! Many of the scenes are marred by obvious pixelation. The overall image quality is mediocre, with subdued colors and annoying videotape glitches. It sells at a bargain price, but what you get is no bargain.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: NOT Letterbox
Review: This DVD does not do the movie justice because it is recorded in Pan and Scan not Letterbox. It is disorienting and ruins the movie

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Memorable Day
Review: This film captured me as a child and has remained my favourite ever since. I think the best part about the film is the character developement. You get to see the characters personal querks. It is the mark of good character developement when you can talk about a character as if you really know them. You can do this after you watch Zulu. The film is not biased as you see the Zulus and British points of view. I liked this as it doesn't label any party as being 'right' or 'wrong'. Zulu is filmed right on site and this adds to the fact that it is historically correct. When you watch a film such as this one. It always adds to the quality to see it depicted correctly. It is the same with the officers uniforms and the way the Zulus planned their attack. Zulu also show the stresses and strains of the battle. You see the intense bravery and courage of both parties. The human sacrifice is another factor. You see the way the soldiers think and it amazes you to think the British 'won' when it was 40 zulus to one Englishman. It makes you cringe at the thought. Overall, Zulu is a classic and should not be forgotten. A must for everyone to watch. I recommend it to all.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Though it is now thirty - seven years old this movie hasn'r aged. Yes there are small quibbles about some of the characters not being totally historically accurate, the officers are using Webley MK VI revolvers in the 1870's and they weren't introduced until WW1, some of the death scenes are overacted, but this movies was made in the early sixties. Nevertheless the movie does an excellent job of capturing the fear and courage of both sides. It captures the essence of being a soldier and the sheer desperation of the men involved in what seemed to be a hopeless fight. It's a classic and I highly reccommend it. I have no trouble putting it next to my copies of Spartacus, The Longest Day, Bridge Over the river Kwai, and Lawrence Of Arabia. Great movie from this time period.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Great Film, Bad DVD
Review: The transfer is absolutely the pits. This DVD is pan-scan BTW. Looks like it was mastered from VHS without any regard to varying the sample rate. When there is a lot of movement on the screen, I.E. the battle scenes, digital artifacting is out of control. Search for this title on VHS; wish I had.


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