Not realistic by modern standards

Rating: Null/10 (4 February 2004)

I enjoyed "Zulu." It is an entertaining 1960s film. But the battle scenes are largely silly when compared to modern film-making standards of realism. I'm speaking mainly of the absence of bullet wounds. It's funny to see the Zulu warriors briefly clutch their clean, smooth chests when supposedly struck by a high-powered-rifle bullet, then lower their hands to prepare to hit the ground, revealing the same unmarked, clean, smooth chest. I must admit, though, even modern blockbuster films are not entirely consistent in their realism. In "Gladiator," for example, you can watch at least one of the charioteers hold out his arms to catch and pull in the spear being "thrown" at him.
Another 1960s cliché in "Zulu": Stanley Baker spent entirely too much film time posing for the camera. But when you're the producer, you can take as much camera time as you like.