Rating: 
Summary: Historical accuracy is no substitute for storyline
Review: Brilliant depiction of life in the British army during the era of Victoria and Albert presented in bits and gobbets that meander and eventually coalesce in a big field somewhere in Crimea.
I enjoyed the historical accuracy as background information to things I have read--particulary the presentation of the minutiae of a typical soldier's daily life--but it seems as if the direction and production teams never really decided if they were doing drama or documentary. The final result is something akin to your first Hong Kong kung fu movie experience: a mish-mash that will frequently leave you saying "hunh?" The animated interruptions are interesting (particularly now, as our government is working the jingoism to get us mentally prepared for a second war with Iraq), but offer no 'glue' to hold any semblance of story together.
Rent it: you'll only need to see it once.
If you want the same level of historical accuracy, but you feel the need for plot, character, and humor, I recommend reading the early volumes of the "Flashman" series by George MacDonald Frasier.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing spectacle with strong social and anti-war commentary
Review: This movie ranks at the top of any war movie list. While climaxing with the legendary charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimeran War, the movie also provides an illuminating look into many aspects of Victorian military life and society. The costumes are just unbelievable. There are literally thousands of actors and extras in the movie, all in historically correct livery. The battle scenes alone are worth the price of the DVD. I marveled at the attention of detail and huge spectacle displayed on the screen. On the other hand, movie is a bit heavy handed in its treatment of the politics of the period. For example, there are several sections where the action switches to animated sequences. These segments both explain some of the overall political situation while providing a simplistic, but biting satire of the whole colonial British ambition. The attitudes and behavior of the British Officer corps and upper class in general are savagely treated. Scene after scene depicts British upper class stupidity. From the officer who insists on finishing his soft boiled egg instead of leading his troops at a critical point in battle to Lord Cardigan's kinky one night stand with a junior officer's wife on the eve of the battle, the movie goes to great length to destroy the credibility of the British officer class. With such petty buffoons running the show, it's hard to imagine how the British built such a vast and wealthy empire.
Rating: 
Summary: Good film, bad sound
Review: The 1936 Warner Bros. "Charge" is a much more satisfying film. However this more modern version includes spectacular, beautiful ingenious animated sequences (including main title) by Richard Williams of Pink Panther fame. However again (!), the soundtrack of the film is shamefully shabby. It's tinny and bass-less. It sounds like it was recorded over the telephone. Those of us who invest a ton of money in home stereo systems for our DVD's deserve much better sound quality. This is APPALLING.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Try and All That
Review: As an historical documentary this film suberbly recreates the atmosphere of a mid-19th Century British Cavalry regiment at home in the UK (only in the last third of the film does the scene shift to the Crimea). As a movie, however, it fails to engage the casual viewer, who will undoubtedly prefer the ahistorical 1937 US version, for the simple reason that the latter tells a story while the former tries to give a history lesson. There is little here to stimulate the emotions and interest of non-historians; even the few action sequences, staged in a very accurate manner and with great attention to detail, are murky and uncompelling. For the historical buff, the film does have spot-on characterizations of Lord Cardigan and Lord Raglan, and it does an admirable job of actually depicting what the Battle of Alma looked like. But the animated 19th Century political cartoons, a good idea in theory, actually disrupt the gritty realism of the rest of the movie, and give an anachronistic Monty Python overtone to the whole film. It makes you wonder if perhaps these sequences were added in post-production, in an attempt to give some unifying clarity to the string of disjointed episodes that mark the real-life scenes of the movie. The DVD edition of this film is "bare-bones"; the case contains only the disc, no printed material, and there are no special features worth mentioning.
Rating:
Summary: Supurb Remake of the Charge
Review: The late 1960s saw some of the best period costume war movies ever made. This re-make of the old 1936 Errol Flynn classic bares little resemblence, but is more historically accurate. For background sets, unifroms and period feel this movie has few equals. Only the 1968 Waterloo movie can compare with its sets and costumes. The historical accuracy of these sorts of things is what maks this movie a visual treat. The storyline itself is a little hard to follow at times. Depictions of regimental life in the cavalry is excellent, but the Britishisms of the actors are also hard to understand. The story provides striking contrasts between the upper and lower classes in Victorian England, but the droppy romance between Captain Noland and Captain Morris's wife seems contrieved. Although both actual characters, I doubt they knew each other so well, as they were both in different regiments. The adulturous affair is added for plots sake. Lord Cardigan is brilliantly played by Trevor Howard, although a number of his famous controversial "Black Bottle" scenes have been combined and attributed to Noland and him. Again this didn't happen, but it is a minor alteration for plot and it does not hurt the movie. It allows us to still see the characters of Cardigan and Noland accurately within the context of the film. Lord Raglan in all his feebleness is also wonderfully portrayed by Sir John Gielgud. The movie accurately shows the Victorian mindset of the British army which was shockingly conservetive but incredibly brave. More details on the battle of the Alma as as well as the events leading up to the Charge at Balaklava would have been nice. Perhaps the editing axed out the Charge of the Heavy Briagde and the 93rd Highlanders Thin Red Line. These episodes would have placed the Light Brigade Charge in better perspective. Still, the depiction of the charge is extremly good and must rank as one the best shown on film. The fact that the director actually used 600 men and horses for the scene is an indication of how much detail was used for this film. This kind of production value is not seen much these days. Cinema and history buffs should love this movie. It deserves to be watched several times as dialogue and rich scenes should be savored over and over again. This movie is crying out for a directors cut DVD or VHS edition as there must be a lot of footage that was removed.
Rating:
Summary: Why Young Men Must Die.
Review: I remember seeing this film way back when. It is a military and political satire made on a great scale. You never know if it is pulling your leg or not. Young men do die. They die in graphic and bloody fashion. It really makes you wonder who is running the show. I would say after seeing this, that the idiots are in charge. Yes, proud thick-headed idiots. That was my reaction all those years ago. Tony Richardson must have really believed in this project because it is one very lavish production. Every detail is in place. There has never been a film like this one.
Rating:
Summary: Great Use of Contemporary Propaganda
Review: Having seen this film as a supplement to my European History AP class this year, I was absolutely delighted beyond reason by the wonderful animated interludes that take engravings from Punch and other period publications and turn them into Gilliam-esue surveys of the folly of war-lust and the spectacle of empire. Brilliant concept, I think; and hilarious, especially the unabashed tilt of the cartoons (the English lion assuming a Marquess of Queensbury stance and bloodying the snout of the Russian bear to save poor, frail, "sick man" Turkey; or an armada sailing out from under Victoria's petticoats at her imperial command). This one has some great historical flavor, if not accuracy.
Rating:
Summary: Must have
Review: This is one of those must-have movies. You need to include this title in your collection because is enjoyable, very well made and it has to be preserved, alive, viewed and remembered for what it is. We can't allow for masterpieces to dissapear from mankind memory as we occupy 'that' place in our minds with irrelevant, superficial, low quality "things" (most eveything that hits you in your everyday life, cheap expressions of lack of imagination and/or talent, messages pushed to you so you buy, etc.). This is art, an historic event, a fresh look at human stupidity, rigidity, conventions, mindless repetition of obsolete formulas and set ways.
Rating:
Summary: Oddball History of the Crimean War
Review: An oddball, slightly silly, complete with cartoon segments, production apparently intended to demonstrate (1) the futility of war and (2) the overconfidence and incompetence of the British military during the 19th century. The specific setting is the Crimean War. The movie also contains interesting subplots, including a drunken sergeant major who receives a savage flogging, and a young officer who questions the system.
Rating:
Summary: I Could Have Been More
Review: A dramatic moment confused with press gangs, snobbery, brutality, cuckholding, and rakish behaviour. The costuming and equipment account for the three stars. It is a shame a good book turned into a bad screen play and a dis-jointed movie. It just does not know what it wants to be, Sir John's abilities were better used in 'Arthur'. SAVE your money
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