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Zulu

Zulu

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

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Zulu- A very enjoyable adventure
Review: Some war films are just plain boring, and others are way too graphic(personal opinions of course), but thank goodness that Zulu is neither of these. Based on actual events, this story of a British outpost surrounded by thousands of bloodthirsty warriors is beautifully filmed in the very picturesque, very deadly landscape of Africa. Stanley Baker, who helped produce the film, leads a cast of Britsh actors including first-time actor Michael Caine. Baker and Caine portray British officers who don't plan on leaving their position to the enemy, and in the process reenact one of the finest examples of military discipline in history. Don't miss it!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Zulu
Review: This is my favorite movie. I have watched it over and over again and it is the most exciting action drama I have seen. It is riviting to watch because it is almost too much to beleive as you watch the battle at Rorke's Drift unfold. They say that sometimes true history is more exciting than fiction. In the case of the stand by the British against the Zulus, it most assuredly true.
I am a history instructor and I have written several papers and delivered numerous oral presentations regarding this historical battle. Producer and star Stanley Baker has done his homework on this subject. The two hours you will devote to this epic tale will thrill and amaze you. Why? Because it is almost exactly depicted as it really happened in 1879.
In a period of about 30 hours on the 23rd and 24th of January 1879, 142 British soldiers held off over 4000 Zulu warriors in a battle for survival than will live forever in the annals of history. These few British soldiers killed or wounded approximately 2000 Zulus while losing only 17 of their own. There were eleven Victoria Crosses and three Distiguished Service Crosses awarded for this action.
The uniforms, weapons, costumes and even the location it was filmed at are true to fact. The story line follows the actual battle report made by the original participants almost to the letter. If you want to see a true life action filled history story on film that is actually factually correct, this is the movie.
Stanley Baker, Michael Caine and Nigel Green are perfectly cast as the main characters in this true story.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Zulu: Now my kids enjoy it
Review: OK, this is a guy flick. I was facinated by this tale a young teen and now my own son's, both in their teens enjoy it as much as I did. They even show it to friends who come over to "hang out" Why? They just don't make movies like this any more! A true epic tale. No detail nit-picking in this review, just a recommendation to pick this film up and start the popcorn.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good copy
Review: This review is simply to state that the current MGM DVD (2003) of "Zulu" will satisfy most of the people who have enjoyed this film. It is in wide-screen format (but can be played in box-screen if desired), uncut (not like a VHS copy I bought at Walmart!) and, yes, in monoral sound.

If anyone has a better copy available in VHS or DVD, please let us know...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great War Film Worth Repeated Viewings
Review: "Zulu" is one of those films that should serve as a model for all other films of its genre that follow, and, indeed, it seems to have done just that. If you watch carefully, you'll see images and concepts that reappear--albeit in adapted form--in such films as "Glory," "Starship Troopers," and "The Last of the Mohicans," even if "Zulu" itself will remind you of many "last stand" cavalry and Indian movies made in the U.S. What separates the film most from others is not the technical production, which is impressive, but the relative fairness of the portrayal of both the British and the Zulus. While the story of the battle of Rorke's Drift is told from the point of view of the vastly outnumbered British, the Zulus are never reduced to the often cartoonish level of villain so common in American films. Instead, they are intelligent, organized, and brave adversaries who are, in fact, trying to repel European invaders. (The film successfully avoids the politics of the situation, instead focusing on the plight of the soldiers themselves.) Stanley Baker is stalwart as Chard, an engineer who takes command of the outpost despite his inexperience in combat, and Michael Caine, in his screen debut as the upper-crust second-in-command, has hardly been better. But supporting actors Nigel Greene, as an old guard sargeant, Patrick Magee, as a humane surgeon, and James Booth, as a layabout with criminal tendencies, nearly steal the show. John Barry's impressive score adds just the right mix of African theme and British sensibility, and though there are a few moments that feel dated, the film has stood the test of time since its debut four decades ago. About the only thing to complain about is the barebones DVD, which offers little except a no frills widescreen version of the feature film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dwarfing The Mightiest! Towering Over The Greatest!
Review: Let me preface this review by noting that this refers to the movie itself, not the quality of the DVD/its special features or lack thereof.

The movie begins by showing the aftermath of a battle between Zulu tribesman and the British Army on the slopes of Isandwhana in the Natal province of what is now the Republic of South Africa, 1879. As Richard Burton narrates: the British were massacred by an overwhelming force of Zulu warriors in a trained and highly disciplined attack. The remnant of the British have retreated to a mission, while the Zulus prepare another assault.

There are less than 100 British soldiers fit for duty, and 4000 Zulu. Moreover, some of the Zulus took firearms off the dead bodies of the British soldiers from the original battle to complement their sheilds and spears. Lt. Chard (Stanley Baker) an officer of engineers, overrides Lt. Bromhead (Michael Caine) due to less than half a year of seniorirty and comandeers the defense of the mission-turned-fort.

This is a truly great movie. While not flawless (it suffers from the historical errors commonplace to historical movies) it a superlative action/adventure movie, but is meritorious for one further, perhaps most important reason: It is almost entirely devoid of rasicm. This may not seem like much today, but in 1964 it was commonplace to portray the enemy, be they blacks, native americans, or Germans as mindless savages. Zulu, on the other hand, portrays the African Warriors as intelligent fighters and noble warriors, and the only person to make a somewhat racist comment is quickly shot down.

Even if you're not a history buff like myself, please do yourself a favor and watch this movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An historical and dramatic masterpiece
Review: Zulu is one of the finest historical dramas and war films ever made. With excellent performances by Stanley Baker, Nigel Greene, Jack Hawkins and (at the time) newcomer Michael Caine, you feel the anquish, fear, desperation and exhiliration of men thrust into the brutality of a hopeless situation yet emerging triumphant. The costumes and weapons for both the British and Zulu warriors are stunning and accurate and both sides are portrayed in very human terms. The locations are also quite authentic. The John Barry soundtrack, written before his later awesome soundtracks for the early James Bond pictures, is terrific and will carry you along, both up and down, with the action in the film. Richard Burton does the brief narration at the beginning and end. There are many exciting and dramatic scenes recounting true events from the battle of Rourke's Drift. The scene where the Zulus sing their battle song and the British respond by singing "Men of Harlech" as a sign of their own courage sounds stunning and is filled with real tension. You'll want to watch this one many times!!!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Not the origional: Edited out whole point
Review: This version of the movie misses the whole point.
In the origional, Chaca Zulu allowes the British to withdraw.
This was true to the origional history.
The editor of this version apparently feels that the film was about blood and gore, and skips the withdrawel of the Zulu forces out of respect for the British defence.

NOT TRUE TO FILM OR HISTORY.

THIS VERSION IS FIT TO BE USED AS FRIZBY ONLY.!!!!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great movie, but where's a good DVD?
Review: This is an excellent war film in many respects. It tells the tale of a British military hospital manned by less than a 100 men (some say less than 80) who are attacked by Zulu warriors for the sole reason that there are British people present there. With the healthy fighting at the walls with their bayonets and the sick fighting from their beds as the Zulus press their attack for nearly 24 hours, by the end of the movie every one is at the front giving their all. Half this movie is the action, and every incident of the battle is portrayed fairly accurately. When I first saw it I nearly died of suspense as the Zulus played waiting games with the defenders, and I was enthralled by the action in such scenes as the rooftop battle. Overall, this quickly won a place in my war film guru's heart.

I have a problem though - I have yet to find a DVD of this film that satisfies my needs. I bought a $7 DVD copy of this film earlier that was atrocious, with bad video, only 4 chapters (in a two hour movie that's a no-no), and a mono soundtrack. It was, to say the least, atrocious and I quickly sold it to a thrift store. This DVD I have yet to buy, as all I can see benefiting from this is more chapters and possibly, maybe better video. I currently own a VHS copy of "Zulu" that is widescreen, has crystal good video, and nice stereo sound. You would also think, since this is considered one of the best British films ever made, that they would have lots of extras, but when you have to watch the History Channel or Bravo to find out facts about this film, that is a sad thing for a DVD. I will wait before I decide on buying this DVD, maybe hoping for a Collector's Edition DVD.

By the way...learn the song "Men of Harlech." Download the Ivor Emannuel version (he's the same man who sings it in the movie). Get your friends to join in. It'll make you feel proud and pump you up. At least it does for me. Ahem...

Men of Harlech stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spear points gleaming?...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: excellent movie
Review: the two officers here, in real life were poorly thought of in military circles of the time, they where lieutenants at an advanced age and considered to be not too promising, however after this battle both men were promoted to major.
one major mistake in this movie was the portrayal of the priest, during the acual battle he was acually going around the troops giving encouragment and generally helping the cause. great movie of a great battle, ive seen an excellent documentary of the 'zulu dawn' portion of this battle, from both sides, VERY good.


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