Zulu (50th Anniversary) [Blu-ray]

An excellent treatise on prevailing against formidable odds.A small contingent of British troops maintaining a post in south africa as a Zulu uprising is takeing place.Grand cinimatography,, action, suspense, and, surprisingly both sides retaining some ration of respectability in the end. Good show.

Politically correct? No. Historically accurate? Not so much... lots of propaganda here. But it's still one of the great movies of all time! Introducing Michael Caine, indeed! What an introduction!

Zulu released in 1964 was another one of those epic war movies released in the 1960s and 70s. One of the main formulas for success for these films was huge sweeping battle scenes and Zulu provides that.Things start with the Zulu defeat of the British at the Battle of Isandiwana in 1879 in South Africa. The dead soldiers are seen spread out while the triumphant Zulu warriors take measure of what they had accomplished. Two European missionaries hear of the battle and go to warn the British at Rorke’s Drift. That’s where the heart of the movie takes place as the British there face thousands of Zulu warriors attempting to overwhelm the camp.The European’s racist view of the Zulu was highlighted while the missionaries witnessed a mass marriage at a Zulu camp. The daughter is repelled by the naked women, doesn’t understand why the marriages are taking place and has a general disdain for the local culture. That racism is repeated while the British soldiers prepare their battle positions at Rorke’s and one calls the Zulus savages. It was that attitude that led the British army to underestimate their foes.The film featured Michael Caine in his first starring role as Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, the second in command at Rorke’s Drift. He starts off as a prissy young officer. He commanded the unit at Rorke’s, but was outranked by a visiting engineer officer Lieutenant John Chard played by Stanley Baker. The two have a prickly relationship at first because Baker has assumed control of his unit, but soon form a grudging respect for each other.The heart of the movie was the battle. Things start off slowly as the British build a wall and barricades at Rorke’s Drift and Caine and Baker get into petty arguments. The tensions eventually build when a group of farmer-soldiers comes by and refuses to help the detachment out of fear of the Zulu. Then the Zulus’ pounding on their shields can be heard in the distance. Eventually hundreds of warriors appear on the hilltop above Rorke’s in an intimidating display. The scene is impressive because it was made with no special effects. Then the first wave of Zulu fighters approaches the British making war chants and pounding on their shields. The shifting shots between the Zulus and the British show that the two sides were both organized military units with discipline and strategy.The film was noteworthy because it was filmed in South Africa and most of the Zulus were real Zulus. It also pays tribute to the fighting spirit and tactics of the Zulus. For example before the attack upon Rorke’s Drift a Boer officer explains the strategy of the Zulu using a buffalo head formation. The Zulus attack Rorke’s from two sides attempting to stretch the British defenders. They spot riflemen on a ridge to pin down one side of the camp while they attack another, etc.Overall, great war movie you just don’t see anymoreC

This is a great movie! Can you please make it available to own?

Clear,clean no distortion..

I like the movie as far as it goes b ut it does not tell the complete truth for that get the book the washing of the spears a very good historic and accurate book

Delivered quickly and in great condition as stated. Thank you!

super movie

I have seen this film more that a few times across the years in the cinema and on TV but this 50th Anniversary release makes one realize with all its extras how much more important it was both then and since.The box front cover only mentions Caine's name which is a real travesty! While he may have got his big break by late casting in an untypical upper class officer role, he does not feature in the Extras interviews for this release plus it is clear both in re-watching the film and the Extras included, this is Stanley Baker's magnum opus and personal great leap in film making from his then reputation of being a hard guy actor. Baker was the one who in addition to being the lead role in the film, identified the story and script writer; helped get the finance from an American producer who admired his work; and then not only starred brilliantly in the film but produced it. As the Extras interviews included cover this was not an easy task, especially given the difficult South African location and a domineering Afrikaner government involvement, shortly after the Sharpesville Shootings.I also appreciated more than I ever did after seeing all the Extras interviews and how the film was made, what a brilliant job Baker with his friend US film director Cy Endfield, (who had directed him in "Hell Drivers"), did in bringing the story to life plus ensuring an Apartheid bias was avoided in the film.Many of the other Amazon reviews comment on the acting in the film - especially for me Nigel Greene who was chosen as the RSM because he could act an older person though he was only 38 years at the time - plus the Blu Ray transfer quality, which are all spot on.I now realize how important this film is to 60s British cinema history but also saddened that the early death of Stanley Baker in the '70s (his widow's interviews included are very insightful on the man as well as the film) robbed us too young of a real entrepreneur film maker and outstanding actor.

What more can one say, other than excellent, about this epic re-creation of the historic battle at Rorke's Drift on the 22nd January in 1879 between totally outnumbered 150 British Soldiers and an insurmountable 4,000 Zulu Warriors.The sound quality is excellent and the picture quality reproduced from, I believe, the original 70mm print is crystal clear.Michael Caine is "introduced" in his first starring role in this movie having played minor uncredited roles in previous movies. Also starring is Stanley Baker who also co-produced the movie.A little insight to this historic battle.According to the historians most of this battle was done at night. However only one short scene in the movie was shot at night.Of the total of 1365 Victoria Crosses that have been handed out over time, 11 of these were awarded in the battle of Rorke's Drift.

Bloody fantastic looking transfer of a classic film. Puts all prior commercially available transfers to shame.. The reds are searing and the skies are so gloriously blue I swear I caught a tan just watching this movie.An epic film of the old skool variety and anyone that knows and likes it owes to themselves to pick this up.

Had never actually seen this before, though had heard of it (who hasn't?) now finally recognise the music Top Gear used in Africa as well.Nicely told story, with non of the guff modern films that tell stories seem to need, no forced 'romantic sub plot' for example.Also you are pretty much right into it, the characters are introduced briefly and when you meet them naturally, not as a forced setting near the beginning, there is enough of an intro to set the scene but then you are right there at Rorke's Drift, and you stay there for the rest of the film covering that day, night and the following morning.Just couldn't see something like this being made today, well worth the price and even more worth spending the time to watch

Just received this ex Amazon USA[same version] .It is by far the best of the multiple versions I have bought over the years. I played this in my Panasonic 4K bluray player and the picture definition was amazing for a 50 year old film. Sound seems slightly better than previously but not obviously up to DTS or full surround sound unfortunately which would have been the icing on the cake . Just sit back and enjoy a great old fashioned boys own true story with great acting by Stanley Baker and introducing Michael Caine . My wife has often struggled to see the benefit of bluray or 4K on old films has acknowledged this one really stands out as a success. Ron