i havent been here for too long! my headline said `10 days until Japan` and I`ve been here nearly 10...
i havent been here for too long! my headline said `10 days until Japan` and I`ve been here nearly 10 weeks...
Member since:12.05.2001
Reviews:32
Members who trust:17
In a recent discussion about films with some friends I said that this probably my favourite of all time. A friend of mine said in some surprise 'You can't like Zulu, you're a Liberal Democrat!' And it's true that Zulu is about imperialism and slaughtering the natives but it's also about the true heroism of those who didn't choose to invade another country but were just doing their job. And of course it's also a very very good film. If you don't know the plot a) Why not? b) In 1879 4000 Zulus have attacked and massacred 1500 British Soldiers at Isandlwana and then set off to wipeout a Mission Station and Hospital at Rorke's Drift held by only 136. The 136 held out for about 30 hours until relieved and won 11 Victoria Crosses, the most ever won in a single engagement. This is the story of that battle.
I LOVE THIS FILM! One of the greatest War movies of all time for several reasons 1. It's based on a true story: You watch the film, you think 'how on earth could this happen: how could 130 men defend against 4000?' and then you remember that it really happened - it's adds so much poignancy to the film. It should be said though that whilst the names of the Soldiers are the same as in real life there are some changes in details. (e.g. some of the characters are depicted as much older or younger or different in character etc. to reality). Some aspects of the plot are also fictional such as the Zulu's saluting the British and the end and the singing of Men of Harlech.
2.The acting. Michael Caine (in the film that really set off his career) is exceptional as the British Officer originally commanding. He gets the arrogance of the professional just right. His interaction with Stanley Baker as the Engineer who takes command is superb - 'Are you questioning my right to command?' 'Oh not your right old boy'. Which leads me on to
3. The quotes: Zulu has some of the best quotes of any war film I've seen, which is quite a lot. "That's a bit of cheek: our own bloody rifles!" and "He's a peeler 593, come to arrest the Zulus" being 2 of my particular favourites.
4. The action sequences and choreography: The fighting is excellently choreographed and kept me glued to the screen particularly the hand to hand fighting in the compound and in the hospital. The choreography of the mass Zulu wedding near the beginning of the film is also very good. This was probably helped by the fact that the Zulus in the film were all played by their modern day descendants (led by Chief Buthelezi later a Vice President of South Africa). In fact if you look very closely in some of the scenes you can see the Zulu warriors wearing the watches they received in part payment!
5.The song - Even though it's entirely fictional the singing of Men of Harlech by the men behind the barricades is a masterpiece of filming - it almost makes you want to jump up and start repelling Zulu's yourself
If you like War Films or Historical Films or just damn good films then watch this, you won't be disappointed.
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Production Year: 1995 - Action/Adventure - Director: Tom Clegg - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Sean Bean, Daragh O'Malley, Allie Byrne, Oliver Cotton, Emily Mortimer, Michael Cochrane
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1996 - Action/Adventure - Director: Tom Clegg - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Daragh O'Malley, Oliver Cotton, Jason Durr, Sean Bean, Allie Byrne
You seem to like this alot. How can 130 defend against 4000? ... Well.. Rifles helped abit. This is indeed a great film and a nice review, It pointed out the same feelings I had towards it too. Nice job
chunka 09.05.2002 00:16
Geat film! great script...um... oohwa, oowha, chichi, chi, banban! Ooowha von Chunka!
One of the last of the classic-era widescreen epics,Zuluwas also one of the last war ... more
movies to celebrate the virtues of the famous British stiff upper lip. At Rorke's Drift in 1879 a handful of British soldiers, hopelessly outnumbered by 4,000 Zulu war...
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![Zulu [1964] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78540596.jpg "Zulu [1964] [DVD]")
May 16th, 2001
(May 6th, 2002)
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