Thundering British Empire Epic

Rating: 10/10 (19 September 2009)

In an age when many historical epics are riddled with political correctness or blame everything that went wrong in the world on western civilization themes, it is refreshing to check out films from an earlier period with a very different perspective. Zulu, starring Sir Michael Caine and Stanley Baker, released in 1964, before the rise of the counterculture and long before pc, gives us a window into a time of unity and confidence in the West. We journey back to Rhorkes Drift Southern Africa, in 1879, when the British Empire was at its height.
One of the more striking differences between this film and something like the 2003 version of the Four Feathers is its depiction of Britain's army. The British commanding officers were depicted as essentially honorable men who although brave soldiers saw the devastation of war as "appauling". As Stanley Baker's character stated he came to Africa "to build a bridge." (The building of infrastructure in developing lands is often ignored in more recent films.) And Common British soldiers such as Henry Hook defended their post with great courage against continuous ongoing assault.
Another aspect of Zulu that makes the film timeless is the manner in which the action unfolds. The tension gradually builds. In the beginning, the soldiers can heard the Zulu hoards approaching "like a train in the distance." Throughout the battle, there are many twists in the plot as the Queen's army matches its skill against the African warriors overwhelming numbers. Never a dull moment.
Overall, this a very good epic although probably not for the pc brigade. Strongly recommend for those who prefer a more fair and balanced view of history.