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Zulu

Zulu

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Rivetting, heroic action
Review: Zulu keeps you glued to your seat. Set in 1879 South Africa, 95 British infantry face off 6000 Zulu warriors at the mission at Roarke's Drift. Both sides prove heroic and the last hour is non-stop action. END

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Basically an Anti-War Movie
Review: Zulu is basically more of an antiwar movie than an action adventure flick. War is not glamorized in Zulu and it is shown in all its horrific repulsiveness. Nor for that matter are there any heroes in Zulu for nobody acts heroically. The officers and soldiers know that its likely that they will die defending their isolated frontier outpost against the Zulu hordes and they are bitterly resentful of that fact.

This makes Zulu an original and different movie. However, the quality of the acting is generally low, although Michael Caine delivers a splendid performance. The script, direction and special effects are also deficient. Zulu was made on a low budget and it shows.

Zulu is an example of how a great idea does not necessarlily result in a great movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So where's Zulu Dawn?
Review: Trying to find this movie and it's only available in Region 2. What gives?

Is it coming to the US soon?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Battle at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa
Review: January 22-23 1879 will go down as one of the greatest and bravest days in British military history.

The battle at Rorke's Drift, or as the Zulus called it "Jim's Place" is magnificently portrayed in this 1964 epic filmed on location in Natal.

Michael Caine perfectly plays the part of Lieutenent Gonville Bromhead, a gentleman and professional soldier who along with Lieutenent John Chard of the Royal Engineers (played by Stanley Baker) masterminded the defence of the small missionary station at Rorke's Drift.

80 men of the South Wales Borderers 24th Regiment Of Foot defended the missionary station and it's 36 wounded men in the hospital against 4,000 zulu warriors.

The Natal scenery and costumes of both the British soldiers and Zulu warriors are a highlight.

The battle scenes were graphically ahead of it's time and the narration by Richard Burton (himself a welshman)certainly adds to the drama that would unfold.

One criticism is levelled at the characterization of Private Alfred Henry Hook, who in the movie is portrayed as a drunken malingerer. He was in fact a gentleman and small landowner who was a well regarded soldier. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in evacuating the sick and wounded from the burning hospital.

Overall, as an avid historian on the Zulu War of 1879, I found this a compelling movie classic which has been watched over and over again by me and my 3 brothers( Tom, Chris and Sam)

James Hulston from Sydney, Australia

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Zulu
Review: This is one of the best movies of the Zulu wars that I have seen
in a long time. It was very well made Though some things were wrong. Like the throwing of the spears. The Zulu spear was a short stabing spear used in close combat. It was not for throwing. But alround it is a great moving worth owning.
And the did have Martin Henery rifles at the battle. They got them from the men they killed at Isandhwana.



Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A wonderful film
Review: This is an extremely well done film covering how the British with a small number of men held out against overwhelming odds against massive attacks by Zulus in South Africa in the late 1800s.


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Militaria Cult Classic
Review: Zulu is now 41 years old & it still holds up as an exciting piece of film. Sure there are things from a historic perspective, uniforms, weapons & neither Stanley Baker nor Michael Caine look anything like the real Chard or Bromhead, BUT its still a great film. It may be of interest to know that Colour Sgt. Bourne was the last survivor of Rorkes Drift dying @ the start of World War II as a Col.. Also the Zulus did NOT have Martini Henry Rifles at this battle as depicted. I've seen this film over 50 times & HIGHLY recommend it to all!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: War is fought by men...
Review: This is one of the most impressive movies ever done of a historical battle. This film also manages to convey not only the tedium, the endless waiting and the buildup of fear the soldiers must experience while waiting for the eventual confrontation, but it also humanizes the enemy. It shows you the enormous differences between the two cultures, yet manages to portray both groups of soldiers as people, respecting each others abilities. I have read a few reviews by some stating there are a few inaccuracies with some of the characters, which is an unfortunate disservice to the audience. I will confess the my knowledge of the exact events at Rorke's Drift is limited so I can't nitpick at its shortcomings, but the intensity of this movie is just unsurpassed, that I have to give it 5 stars.

The Zulu warriors were magnificent, frightening, human and so utterly in contrast to the British, that you couldn't fail to question the relevance of these two peoples needing to confront in the first place. The anticipation of the coming battle kept me on the edge of my seat like no other movie has been able to do (amazing considering there was about an hours worth of daily military life, and updates on the advancing army). I think this is far superior to any of the newer war films in that it deals with real fear: the emotional tensions and the sheer ugliness, yet courage and duty in the face of all these things (not to mention the pointlessness and the lives destroyed).

The shinning moment in these events, as portrayed in the movie, is the Zulu chanting. To find such beauty in the midst of the battle is beyond comprehension. I'm sure it would be near impossible to duplicate in today's films, but I am grateful to the makers of this film to show us this part of Zulu culture. For anyone interested in war this is a must see.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Alamo, only done the British way...
Review: Aside from the 60's glitches this film is an ultimate classic. It is possibly the first film that aknowledges the fact the British have a truly proud and GLORIOUS military history, certainly out does our (U.S) military history by a million miles.

80 fighting fit British soldiers hold of a horde of just over 4000 Zulu's who have been trained in combat since birth. The true story has it that the commanding officers Bromehead and Chard were not actually in command, one of the inferiors took over but that's not the point. The fact is that this is a brilliantly cast film with a dialogue that beats the hell out of all the Hollywood films made today.

Meh, all I can say is GOD SAVE THE QUEEN! I want to become a British citizen.

Oh and just to get one thing straight, 3/4 of the British forces in the battle were English and 1/4 were Welsh.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A CLassic
Review: Zulu is one of those films that you will pull off the shelf at least once or twice a year. The battle scenes are rivetting. The setting is realistic. The acting is for the most part superb. Young Michael Caine is wonderful as are the other primary character actors. I've watched this movie literally dozens of times over the years and always enjoy it. Made in 1964, Zulu seems to have raised the bar for realistic depictions of war in film. The violence is tame relative to todays gruesome depictions but the tension of battle is palpable throughout. A great movie that has stood up well over time.


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