Review of Zulu (1964) by Yogesh R — 24 Sep 2007
Okay, the post-colonial politics are a bit screwy (I was rooting for the Zulu), but there's some great acting here.
Hawkins, normally a bad-ass, is oddly passive, and his character seems to function mainly as a bizarre kind of comic relief. Caine does his best to hide his Cockney accent while playing an upper-class character; apparently the American director did not do his homework. Baker, also a producer, really pushes the "Welsh pride" angle, what with Emmanuel singing "Men of Harlech" and Burton doing the narration.
I normally find all battle scenes boring, but the ones here were staged with a clear sense of choreography and strategy, and the characters were well-defined. There's a nicely revisionist feeling of cynicism hanging over the whole thing, and a very British sense of gallows humor (esp. Magee's one-liners).
A must-see for anyone who wants to experience the old-fashioned sense of British national character.
This review of Zulu (1964) was written by Yogesh R on 24 Sep 2007.
Zulu has generally received positive reviews.
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