One of the top three war movies

Rating: 10/10 (22 January 2006)

I don't think you can say enough good things about this movie. As a study of the British Army during the 19th Century, it is outstanding: The interplay between the officers, the sergeants and the foot soldiers is dead on. The sequence between Bromhead and Chard when they discuss seniority may seem petty, but it is true and even goes on today, unfortunately. Caine's performance and transformation is very believable, from a martinet to a true soldier.
I think the best sequence leads to the best line of the movie; the last line of defense, the three tiered barrier shows what this type of fighting truly is: Butchery. Nothing glamorous, not fighting for the King or Queen or whatever, simply fighting for survival. Chard puts it simply: "If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle." This is an important point for military historians and theorists that can be applied today. Unconventional warriors fighting a set piece battle against trained, disciplined, well equipped soldiers will lose. However, turn the tables around and the unconventional warriors will win every time. Had the garrison moved out as Bromhead suggests and met the Zulus in an open field, game over.