Zulu Time - Caspar Brotzmann & Page Hamilton

Advantages: Captivating, one of the best films ever made.
Disadvantages: None whatsoever.

...Zulu has to be one of my favourite films of all time. It was released in 1964 through Paramount Pictures by Diamond Films - a company set up by the well established actor Stanley Baker, who was looking to move more into the directing field. The film was directed by Cy Endfield, and co-produced by both Baker and Endfield, each with strong links to the story-line. Endfield was born in South Africa, where the events covered by the film took place, and Baker was born in South Wales, from where a lot of the soldiers involved in the battle were from, being the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot. I do not intend running through the story in depth but instead want to concentrate on some of the acting performances and parts of the film that make this a cut above the rest. The film, which makes it all the more compelling, is not fiction but fact... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great battle scenes
Disadvantages: few but old fashioned outlook.

...This is an amazing film and anyone who enjoys intense action or battle orientated films should buy this DVD. This classic film is an excellent portrayal of the battle where 100 redcoats stood against a force of 4000 Zulus in the Zulu wars of the 1870s. The battle scenes are inredible. With countless extras forfilling the role of the Zulus to create an enoumassly intimidating force. It is a shame that films like these are rarely made any more. It is very much a last gasp of British glorification of colonialism but maintains a deep respect for the Zulus whom the British were trying to subdue. It is the clash of cultures and the way in which this is portrayed which makes this film. From the philosphical outlook of a missionary and his daughter to the crude and coarse irreverant humour of the redcoats. This is a film worth... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A real page turner and an excellent read
Disadvantages: A bit drawn out in places.

... The story is told from the perspective of Terry, Cynthia?s husband, which I feel, detaches us a little bit emotionally from the main character herself, but this is slowly forgotten about the deeper into the novel you read. Terry is devoted to his wife and daughter and this shines through in his character, he works hard as a teacher and seems to care about the kids he teaches. He has stuck by his wife through the good and the bad and would ultimately do anything for her but there are times when her infatuation with finding out what truly happened to her family wears him down. Without giving too much away, I want to say that it is Terry that ultimately leads us to discovering the truth about Cynthia?s past as he takes us with him on his journey, which has themes of deceit, betrayal, manipulation, and tragedy spread throughout. Grace... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful