Faced with 4,000 Zulu soldiers, 139 British troops managed to fend off the natives, holed up in a small thatched-roof hut with a little fence. It helps that they were armed to the teeth while most of the Zulu just had spears and shields -- and that the Zulus didn't even do much with those spears, preferring instead to run up to the fence, wave their weapons, yell, then retreat. Whether you find this racist and jingoistic or a dead-on accurate portrayal of a real battle that occurred in 1879 (in many ways, the British version of the Alamo) probably depends on your heritage and your opinion of British imperialism. As for the movie, though, there's an awful lot of lounging around in the hut and a lot of buildup to the battle itself, which doesn't get underway for more than half the film.
On DVD
Newest
Oldest
Most Replies
Most Liked
About This Film from the AMC Movie Guide
Don't Miss
- Chronicle by Bill Gibron
- The Innkeepers by Chris Cabin
- The Grey by Sam Kressner
- Crazy Horse by Chris Cabin
More from AMC Sites
- How Well Do You Know Director Kevin Smith? Play the Ultimate Fan Game to Find Out
- Have a Question Kevin Smith's Comic Book Men? They May Answer Online on Their Podcast
- Six Things You Didn't Know About Stephen King
- Breaking Bad Season 4 Interviews With Vince Gilligan and A Couple Members of the Crew
- Prep for Fashion Week With Style Tips From the Mad Men Blog