Great movie

Rating: Null/10 (15 December 2002)

Though I do not sympathize with the british. As a matter of fact, I was rooting for the zulu tribesman the whole time, even though I already was aware of the battle's outcome. It was funny, because in the very end when the british are being "saluted" by the retreating zulu horde, I thought to my self "they won. the freaking zulu won... yet they still retreat and spare the lives of these strawberry lookin' soldiers."
Now don't get me wrong, when it comes to survival - I have empathy for both sides. But when it comes to principle, the Zulu were fighting against invaders to who came to their land. Even today, because of colonization, those cultures are barely clinging by a thread. And the bias and dehumanization of the Zulu warriors was really offensive. However, there was one thing in the film that gave those tribesman more character and more presence than any intimidating force in film history - their music. The constant oscillating vocal harmonies and the gutteral rhythyms of the warriors was haunting, beautiful and fascinating. The song they sing preceeding their final march against the british made my heart sink and almost brought me to tears. It was empowering... and when the british started singing their stiff and uninspiring anthem over it, I cried "GO GET THEM YOU ZULU B**TARDS AND SHOW THEM WHAT FOR!" ... but alas.
Aside from my personal point of view regarding the way the film's bias was handled - the performances, cinematography and just the sheer scope of the film is utterly fantastic. Great acting, brilliant direction (the intimdation factor and the building of suspense is great.) This has gone down as one of my favorites of all time. Like I said, I'd watch this movie just to hear the Zulu umculo (chants) any day.