Zulu (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] [2015] [Region Free]

'Zulu'(1963) is one of my favourite films for a variety of reasons: The brilliant photography bringing out both the magnificent South African scenery and the literally cut-and-thrust of close hand fighting; the taut script and expert direction; the BASIC historical accuracy of the film; the respectful portrayal of the Zulu nation, especially in recreation of rituals and manoeuvres; the use of sound - Zulu advances, gunfire and voices. My favourite scenes are the opening wedding ritual, the mechanism of British rifle-volleying tactics, the struggle in the sick-rooms and the choral battle at the end. For myself a minor blemish in the film concerns the family of Otto Witt (1840-1923), a Swedish missionary, whose wife and three children, had fled before the Zulu's arrived. So he never had a daughter there to provoke a soldier's lust nor did he possess the English accent as employed by Jack Hawkins. In reality, he may not have been an alcoholic but he was a liar who made money out of false reports of the conflictThe film opens with the destruction of the British force at Isandhlwana (22 January 1879) - with excellent commentary by Richard Burton. Then it proceeds to the royal Zulu kraal where Christian missionaries observe a mass-wedding ceremony to rival that of the Moonies. Note Christianity had made extensive progress under Cetshwayo's predecessor, Mpande (1840-72), and one reason for the war was Cetshwayo's mistreatment of converts. The film transfers to the missionary post at Rorke's Drift (never explaining its vital strategic role in the defence of Natal) where Lt. Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine does brilliantly in his first major role) quickly finds himself 'outranked' by Engineer Lt. John Chard (masterly performance by Stanley Baker). 24th Foot 2nd. Battalion B Company is introduced via various characters, some soon to die and others to be awarded one of the 11 VC's won in the fight. Then the Zulu forces of two impis (4000 men) arrive and are resisted by a force of about 120 men. Both sides demonstrate bravery, the leaders show tactical skill and, to apply Wellington's comment on the battle of Waterloo, it was 'a close-run thing'.A couple of final points. The prequel, 'Zulu Dawn' (1979), is no match for this epic, chiefly because it tackles a subject of much greater scale and so the direction cannot overcome confusion. When you've seen either film go to the accounts of the real history, either online or in book form - I'd recommend 'The Washing of the Spears' by D. Morris (1965) or (for the wider picture) 'South Africa' by D. Troup (1972) - both old but also sound. In such accounts you may pick up odd details - e.g. Witt unsuccessfully sued the UK government for the loss of the post's bridge; the defenders used 20,000 rounds of ammunition and killed about 400 Zulus; both Bromhead (despite being almost stone-deaf) and Chard were promoted to Brevet-Major but Bromhead missed his interview with Queen Victoria; and Henry Hook, originally detailed at the a post, a teetotal and previously award a Good Conduct Medal) finished up as a guard in the British Museum. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.Easily worth 5 stars

Historically inaccurate. Unsurprisingly, Brits lost largely due to incompetence of commanders and poor logistics. Not because troops lacked the munitions.But otherwise a good action movie.

This has to rate as one of the best battle epics ever so I was pleased to see it out on BD and bought yet another copy of it to go with my earlier DVD editions. As everyone probably knows, the basic story is one of the battle of Rorke's Drift on 22-23/1/1879 where 140 British soldiers and officers plus 14 natives defended the outpost against some 4000 Zulu warriors.The film belies that fact that even at the time in the early 1960s it was low-budget (cut down to under $2 million from an original budget of $2.6 million).The cinematography and locations are beautiful, as is the colour, in typical early 60s style with the British red uniforms and white pith helmets and webbing absolutely glowing.A plethora of contemporary actors all give sterling performances, including Jack Hawkins, Stanley Baker, James Booth, Nigel Green, Patrick Magee and a young Michael Caine (who the film company wanted sacked and replaced with Terry Stamp), whilst Richard Burton reads the dispatches.Made with between only 240 and 500 (depending who you believe) Zulu extras and saving money by having the internal shots filmed in the studio in London (hence no expenses to send some of the actors out to Africa) and the soundtrack with an orchestra in a masonic hall on Bayswater Road, it's amazing that the film ever got made at all, never mind that it was so good. It was also shot in the daytime using artistic license, as in fact most of the real action took place at night.Apparently the African Government wouldn't let the Zulus be paid the going rate so Baker (star and co-producer) gave them 40 head of cattle (the ones seen in the film presumably) and the buildings, which were very well made and turned into a school and hospital.I do have some criticisms. Firstly, it's a crime that the stereo soundtrack was not given a 5, 6 or 7.1 remix and secondly the package is still somewhat light on the extras front, with nothing new being added to those from the 2002 and 2007 DVD editions. Oh and of course the constant criticism that the more expensive BDs do not include the booklets or chapter lists nearly always present in DVDs. So it's 5* for film and picture, 3* for sound and extras.

This film is a true example of the best of British Cinema. A gripping masterpiece - not always historically accurate - is a brilliant depiction of the colonial difficulties faced by the British Army during the late 19th Century. It is set on the Anglo-Zulu Battlefields of Isandlwana, where the army had been routed by the Zulus a few days before, and Rorke's Drift, where an heroic group of 130 soldiers defended the outpost against three to four thousand Zulus. It is senseless to go through all the magnificent individual performances of the cast to create this film of high tension and its fascinating outcome. The action does celebrate the courage and fortitude of these soldiers - but also casts more than a nod to the futility of war. A must see to enjoy an unusual event in history.