Zulu

Rating:
Summary: Video on DVD
Review: The movie itself is great, but the format is standard NTSC on dvd. Making the use of dvd a waste of effort. Just like wactching regular VHS video. That is the reason for the poor rating.

Rating:
Summary: An All-Time Great
Review: This is one of the most exciting movies I've ever seen. 4,000 Zulus, fresh off their stunning victory over British forces at Isandhlwana, converge upon Rorke's Drift. Here, about 100 British soldiers await the assault. (They did not flee, of course; the British Empire was not upheld upon the soldiers of cowardly men.) As the Zulus attack, the hallmark discipline of the British soldier saves the day. The Zulus, despite maniacal tenacity and tremendous courage, simply are no match for the well-drilled redcoats. After the battle, which covered two days, no less than 10 British soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross - the most for any single conflict in the history of the British Army. Considering the mighty achievements of this august body, that is quite an accomplishment indeed. Forgive me for appearing sympathetic to the British, but if you, like me, believe in the greatness of Western Civilization, it is hard not to offer a wry grin or even beam ear to ear when discussing the British Army. The British Army, perhaps more than any other institution, has been the catalyst for Western dominance in most parts of the globe. But back to the movie...I'd be lying if I said Nigel Green isn't truly memorable (and at times hilarious) in his portrayal as Colour Sargeant Bourne.

Rating:
Summary: good film
Review: this film was very well-done. It clearly shows true historical events. I saw this movie in Global Studies and fell in love with it. It shows how not Britain like very other European nation at this time the new imperialism which took place. Strongly recommended for Global studies teachers teaching the new imperialism topics in ther class. All in all very enticing war movie.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent widescreen DVD edition of Zulu
Review: To all of you who are trying to sort out which Zulu DVD to purchase, this is a good one. I, too, read the disheartening reviews of other versions which were either full screen or badly transferred, or both.
This version is a decent letterboxed transfer (In fact the transfer was superior to the big-studio DVD of South Pacific I'd watched the day before) with no artifacts whatsoever. Color was slightly faded and the sound is monaural and terrible (a shame as this is perhaps John Barry's best score), but this is a limitation of the original print. Until we get a Criterion edition of Zulu, this disc is as good as what most of the big studios put out and at an incredibly low price. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Men of Harlech onto glory.....
Review: 1964's Zulu is a dramatization of the Battle of Rorke's Drift, in Natal Province, South Africa, in January of 1879. There, 140 British soldiers, a quarter of whom were wounded or sick, fought off repeated attacks by more than 4000 Zulu warriors. The British, who were armed with nothing more than single-shot rifles and bayonets, repulsed every assault and every tactic the Zulus employed. In doing so, their survivors won 11 Victoria Crosses. The fact is, this British production, starring Michael Caine and Stanley Baker, is a story of race war in its most basic and compelling form. Hardly the kind of material that would be made in todays Politically Corrected world (unless the evil Whites were made to lose and the Zulus were heroic saints.) But that's not what we find here: Zulu begins with a mass wedding ceremony at a large Zulu village. Their chief sits in the place of honor, smiling down on the barbaric rites. Smiling along with him is the Rev. Witt (Jack Hawkins), a hopelessly liberal Swedish missionary, who has deluded himself into thinking these Hottentots are his "flock."

From there, the festivities are interrupted by a messenger bringing the good tidings that their brother Zulus have just massacred a column of 800 British troops. The chief immediately orders his warriors on the march to the church of the lunatic missionary, the one where they are "parishioners." The British are using it as a hospital, and now its garrison should be ripe for the picking. Of course Rev. Witt insists that the British troops will be killed by his "flock". Zulu shows a fine understanding of the suicidally crazy White liberal who preaches that it's evil to defend ourselves against the enemy. Soon, the fighting begins between the British and Zulus. The British hold them off with musketry and bayonets. During the fighting, Surgeon Reynolds (Patrick Magee) operates without stop on his White patients while guards posted in the windows keep the Zulus from killing him. This illustrates the savagery of race war -- no mercy is expected and none is given. Only White lives are worth saving here, the only treatment wounded Zulus receive from the Welsh infantrymen is a finishing thrust with a bayonet. During the course of the battle, many of the distinctions separating the Whites begin to fade. Aristocrat and soldier fight side by side. Wounded men struggle to assist those still able to fight. Hour after hour, long into the night, the pitiless battle continues........In the end, Zulu is a reminder of what courage and tenacity can achieve, and that is something we should never forget.

Rating:
Summary: Great movie--mediocre history
Review: This is one of my favorite movies, and I've watched it many times. But there are a lot of historical inaccuracies, exaggerations, and outright fabrications in it. In other words, it's like your usual Hollywood "true story."

If you want to see a good movie, by all means, watch Zulu. For what historical accounts of what actually happened, read "Washing of the Spears" or other historical works.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite movie
Review: There have been hundreds of war movies made. There is not a better one. Not only does it have the best battle scenes ever shot but it points to the simple bravery shown on both sides of the fence. The most amazing part of the movie is it is a true story (though the hook character in reality was no wasterl.)

From the color sgt. (Who as the last survivor of Rorke's Drift survived one day longer than Hitler's thousand year reich) to the
singing welch choir leader we see men that we can't help but like fighting, dying and surviving as best they can in an impossible situation.

Even though the movie is 20 years older than the days of political correctness (which I detest.) it passes that test too. The Zulu aren't shown as savages, (in fact when a soldier does refer to them as such he is rebuked by another.) they are shown as brave warriors with a sense of honor.

The only weakness to this movie is the minister's daughter who has no real place in the picture. She is just there for show and adds little or nothing. The acting in general is fine, but as every review of this picture correctly says, the battle scenes are the real stars of this film.

As far at it being my favorite this movie has an unfair advantage over every other movie I've ever seen. I used to watch it on Non Cable TV on fuzzy UHF channels whenever it was on with my big brother. We would park in front of the set with Italian Bread Roast Beef , Provolone and italian wine (or root beer in my case, I was a kid.) and indulge ourselves. Since in those days it was only on maybe once every three months we would view it as an event. (The dance scenes on regular Tv were of great interest to a pre-teen boy at the time as well.) Combine a great movie with great memories and no other picture can compete.

Rating:
Summary: Is there a Letterbox version of Zulu the DVD?
Review: I have the laser disc version and its aspect ratio is 2.35:1.00. Then I got the Diamond DVD version and its aspect ratio is 4:3. The DVD is DREADFUL and UNWATCHABLE. The figures are so grotesquely distorted you have to wonder what form of impairment effected Diamond's judgement. BTW, the running time is 138 on both of my copies.

I have tried to determine if either of the two Amazon offerings is letterboxed without success and this included a phone call. ... .

Rating:
Summary: How could you not like this film?
Review: I've seen this one lots of times. I believe it to be a true and accurate depiction of the settings and circumstances. Michael Caine does an outstanding job in his role.

Even though this is an older film, it still has appeal. Because of the place and time period, no special effects were required to film it.

Of all the Zulu films I have seen, including the recent mini series "Zhaka Zulu", I think this one is the best. And for this price, it's well worth the purchase price.

Rating:
Summary: We need a better version...
Review: While what is said in praise of this film is true, this version of it does not do it justice. The picture quality is blurred and pixelated, and the transfer just was not done well. It detracts immeasurably from the entertainment value of the film. Even though it's only 9 dollars, I think you would be better off with even the video version of the film than this one.