Entertaining, but not too historical

Rating: 8/10 (15 January 2003)

This is great to watch for a couple of hours, but don't use it in your history course.
Bromhead and his company were sitting on the supply dump because Bromhead was deaf as a stump. He and Chard were very well aquainted when the attacks started, and there was no question of seniority. Bromhead's family was actually less prominent than Chard's.
The Zulus that attacked actually didn't hit Isandhlwana ("Zulu Dawn"), that was a different impi. Besides, when they crossed the river to attack the mission station/supply dump they were in violation of Cetewayo's orders.
Private Hook, a malingering barracks lawyer in the film, was detailed to the hospital as a cook, not a patient.
The Zulu attacks ended after about 20 hours (sometime during the night) and did not continue into a second day.
Other than those major gaffes, the film was vastly entertaining.