Zulu

Rating:
Summary: ZULU
Review: This was another one sided attempt at promoting white/Europeon supremacy. I realize that the film is old and the screenwriter was not thinking of historical or political correctness, but of a "feel good" movie for white folks. As an African American, I feel it was degrading to Africans because it, as with most films, failed to properly develop the them as characters, human beings and most of all soldiers. Sadly another opportunity to tell a true story was missed, and the medium had its own message.

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Summary: Still a magnificent tale
Review: I first saw this as a young boy, spending his pocket money on films. Somehow, the feeling of bravery and manly quality stayed with me. I do not know how I have not seen it in nearly 40 years. I must be one of the few. However I have just bought and watched the DVD version. The feelings came flooding back. Natal was once more a real - and beautiful - country in front of me. The young Michael Caine was again both young - and expressive - clearly destined for stardom. I have since read the true story, and whilst not quite the story shown on film, the film nevertheless gives the feeling of heroism that those Welsh soldiers clearly diplayed that day at Rourke's Drift. I am not an accomplished critic of films. I simply enjoyed the film immensely.

Rating:
Summary: Not Entirely Accurate - But Who Cares?
Review: Things Right: The general trend of events and course of the battle are dead on. Things Wrong: Gonville Bromhead (what a name!) was not a young officer but verging on middle age, as was Chard. There is no evidence of any tension between them, (but that wouldn't have made for a very interesting movie would it?) and seniority was settled well in advance of the battle when their CO went off to Natal or wherever leaving Chard in command. Both men seem to have been very average officers but there is no question they rose magnificently to the occasion when disaster struck. Commissary Dalton is often given credit for directing the defense, if true Chard and Bromhead deserve credit for acting the advice of an old soldier. The missionary and his daughter are entirely fictional, (but good characters anyway). The real Private Hook was a model soldier and teetotaler yet! After the battle, when they got around to distibuting a much needed grog ration, everybody was astonished to see Hook get in line with his cup. "After all that," he explained, "I feel I need a little something."

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Summary: Men of Harlech onto glory/This shall ever be your story . .
Review: What more can you say about a film so good that it has had over 85 reviews on this web site? My wife and I have seen ZULU realistically about 20 times, but we make the point of its' worth by telling everyone that we've seen it 1,580,647 times. The casting was complete--everyone including the Swedish missionary--fit the role. I learned that the spears, medals, shields, and other accoutrements of the Rourke's Drift battle had been donated by survivors and relatives to the Military Museum in Brecon, Wales. I spent a day there eyeballing everything. Missing, of course, were the lyrics sang by the Welsh troops, eg., the curdling, " . . . stop your dreaming/Can't you see their spear points gleaming." Until a month ago, we were not able to locate those complete lyrics written especially for the film. Now I have them. I'm ready now to join the chorus of Welshmen who would not yield. Good Movie? No! Excellent Movie? AND HOW!

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Summary: Movie version of history?
Review: Overall, this is a great movie. And by comparison with some more recent movies, pretty historically accurate. It has great atmosphere, terrifying battle scenes and marvellous singing by both sides.

There are a number of useful books on the Zulu War that might be interesting for viewers. One is Donald Morris' "Washing of the Spears" which is a fairly traditional historical account and the other is "Like Lions They Fought" by Robert Edgerton which is written with the Zulu perspective in mind.

For the record, in real life Chard and Bromhead were both much older than they are played (oh so unflappably) by Michael Caine and Stanley Baker in the movie and although individually very brave (as was expected of British officers of the time) were both basically incompetent as military men. As their subsequent records show, neither distinguished himself any further and both were regarded as idiots by their military peers (men who themselves took the definition of 'idiot' to new heights). The real hero of Rourke's Drift was Colour Sergeant Bourne who rallied the men, organized the defence, supervised the fighting and made sure his superiors looked good.

In reality, British casualties at Rorke's Drift were predominantly caused by rifle fire. One of the Zulu regiments had a large supply of British rifles (a portion of those taken from the dead at Isandhlawana) and ample ammunition. However, most of their fire went high because the Zulu riflemen were untrained in the use of the backsight. Had they been better trained, the Brits would have been blasted off the face of the earth in fairly short order.

All these points aside, the movie did give a wonderful impression of the battle. Certainly the 24th behaved remarkably well especially given the twits who were in command.

However, my vote for courage bordering on insanity goes to the Zulus (many of whom were actually middle-aged men) who repeatedly charged a well-disciplined, well-supplied enemy armed with breach-loading rifles who were behind fortifications. Zulu accounts repeatedly mention British bullets smashing through several men at a time and the wounded almost always died from the massive injuries caused by the .45 caliber soft lead slugs. There were at least three charges during the course of the battle and Zulu assaults stopped because the men were too exhausted physically and emotionally to mount another attack. The whole battle was a very near run thing for everyone.

As a final historical note, the Zulus were able to inflict serious losses on the Imperial Army on two subsequent occasions. Mostly by taking advantage of broken ground and poor co-ordination between units that were supposed to be supporting one another.

The final set peice battle at Ulundi was a foregone conclusion however: British troops were arrayed in a massive square on flat, open ground with artillery, machine guns and cavalry support. There was no opportunity for Zulu troops to outmanouevre the Brits and surprise an unprepared encampment as they had at Isandhlwana, and the ammunition wagons were close by the British firing lines to avoid the problems with re-supply that may have also contributed to the earlier British defeat.

Zulu generals had implored Ceteshwayo to withdraw but he insisted on fighting for political reasons, probably also knowing that his men stood little chance against massed rifles. The flower of the Zulu army was decimated in the initial attacks and organized resistance to the British invasion collapsed soon after. The battle of Ulundi was remarked upon by several British and other observers as sheer slaughter, but was served up hot to a British public eager for revenge for the humiliation the Zulus had inflicted on them at Isandlhawana the previous year.

Rating:
Summary: Great Film, Awful DVD
Review: An excellent film that I have seen many times on TV in widescreen. Unfortunately I bought it on DVD without checking it out first (that'll teach me). The main problem is the picture and sound quality which in DVD format I'd expect it to be better than video which this DVD certainly is not. It looks like it has been filmed with a cheap webcam infront of a TV. The moral of this text is don't waste your money on this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Review of the DVD
Review: Brilliant Film! Awful DVD. I have seen this film in the cinema and on the TV and the DVD destroys the brilliant photography of the original. If you like stilted jumpy action and reduced bandwidth sound which make the DVD almost unwatchable then buy this! This looks and sounds as if it was processed using a 486 computer!

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Summary: a british classic
Review: This is the type of classic film only the Brits can make.The true story of the Welsh regiment tasked to protect the small outpost "RORKES DRIFT" in Natal,South Africa,who despite being heavily outnumbered by a fearless Zulu army,stood their ground and beat off attack after attack until reinforcements arrived and the Zulus retreated to fight another day.The films two main stars,Stanley Baker and a young Michael Caine give great performances as the two junior officers who take charge and lead by example,fighting off waves of Zulu warriors.This film is regulary shown on British T.V. and is regarded by viewers in the U.K. as one of the best British films ever made.A must have for every collection.Eleven "VICTORIA CROSSES"..Britains highest military decoration for bravery were awarded to the defenders..the highest number every awarded to troops involved in a single action.

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Summary: Strength and Honour
Review: Zulu captured me as a child and has remained my constant favourite ever since. I was 7 when I was introduced to that film. Anyone who has seen it will know that it is not the kind of film that parents want their children watching... I felt that the British were portrayed as they were and are. They are a brave elite fighting force that proved how much they were worth. Imagine facing 4000 Zulus and knowing that there were 40 Zulus to each head on your base. I think that the film shows this well and the Zulus on the hillside is effective. I didn't like the missionaries. And the lady could have had a good time, if she was nice to the men. The medical conditions were shocking, imagine having one doctor for all the wounded. The men were very brave and I feel that anyone that speaks against this film, is speaking against what they know deep inside as true.

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Summary: Widescreen DVD is a bargain!!
Review: There are evidentally two DVD versions of this movie, one of which is an earlier made unauthorized transfer and has incurred the rath of many purchasers. I bought the "Widescreen Version" (same as the one Amazon is selling) before I read the dismal reviews of the DVD on this site. I played it last night fully expecting the worst and was very pleasantly surprised!

Quality is not spectacular but it's still quite good. Certainly as good or better then most VHS videos. Did not notice any pixelation, dropouts or other problems. No added features on the DVD and only 4 scene selections but for six bucks it's a bargain!!