Film Zulu: Colour Sergeant Bourne: It's a miracle. Lieutenant John Chard: If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle. Colour Sergeant Bourne: And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind it.
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Posts : 30 Join date : 2016-07-21 Age : 72 Location : East Anglia
Subject: Shaka Zulu TV mini series Sun Jul 31, 2016 8:19 am
Sorry if this subject has already been done to death, but other than 'Zulu' and 'Zulu Dawn' this 10 part TV mini series circa 1986 is the only other film I have.
Would anyone care to comment on it? Good, bad or indifferent?
N.B.Forrest
xhosa2000
Posts : 1185 Join date : 2015-11-24
Subject: Re: Shaka Zulu TV mini series Sun Jul 31, 2016 1:38 pm
Good afternoon, N.B., Its all a matter of opinion!, i personally really looked forward to the production of this mini series..i am very interested in the early development and settlement of Natal and the interaction with the Zulu..it brought a little known epic story to the attention of a wider audiance, names i was well familiar with, were there before my very eyes..Farewell, Issac's, Gardiner, Bigger, Halstead, Ogle, cane, Fynn, Ross ect..
To see the whole of the Zulu Nation unfold before my very eyes was quite a thrill..but it was a commercial enterprise and used all the slick production values that were applied to many American mini series of that time..so it relied heavily on ' special effects ', and over reliance on the sub plot involving the superstition and overwhelming influence of one witch doctor which to my mind drew massively on Rider-Haggard..the story of the Zulu Nation needs no such embellishment it stands alone as a truly marvellous saga in its own right..that's is just my own view, there are other view's in this place each to their own.. i enjoyed it for what it is!. there is an overall grandeur to the piece which i think would be impossible to rep- licate today.
By the way there are a lot of obscure titles available on dvd today which was not the case even five years ago, all averaging about a tenner. cheers xhosa.
N.B.Forrest
Posts : 30 Join date : 2016-07-21 Age : 72 Location : East Anglia
Subject: Re: Shaka Zulu TV mini series Sun Jul 31, 2016 6:02 pm
Thanks Xhosa,
I have to admit that I am enjoying it, just wanted to know if the depiction of the Zulu in it is historically accurate or just Hollywood!
N.B.Forrest
John Young
Posts : 2837 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 67 Location : Слава Україні! Героям слава!
Subject: Re: Shaka Zulu TV mini series Mon Aug 01, 2016 6:02 am
N.B.F.,
A dear departed friend of mine appears in the series as an actor, he also wrote part of the script. As he would put it "The good bits." If it is on when I'm channel-surfing I'll watch it to see and hear him again.
There is no Hollywood depiction it was a South African production, with the director, Bill, raising most of the money himself.
It had the opportunity to be an epic, but in my opinion it falls wide of the mark. I agree with Les, the story didn't need the embellishment as the truth - as far as we know - was a far better story.
I also know that there were complaints that some of Zulu male costumes were a bit too skimpy, but that's a story all of its own.
John Y.
N.B.Forrest
Posts : 30 Join date : 2016-07-21 Age : 72 Location : East Anglia
Subject: Re: Shaka Zulu TV mini series Mon Aug 01, 2016 2:33 pm
Hello John,
Yes, I know it was not made in/by Hollywood; I just used the word as a symbolic metaphor for 'not real'!
A quick question though....how do current Zulus feel about the Zulu wars and what do they think of us Brits as a result?
John Young
Posts : 2837 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 67 Location : Слава Україні! Героям слава!
Subject: Re: Shaka Zulu TV mini series Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:42 pm
N.B.F.,
To my knowledge the British only fought one war against the Zulu.
Not being a Zulu I can only answer from personal knowledge.
The stance of His Majesty King Goodwill is that he is anxiously seeking compensation from the British sovereign and her Government for the wrong done in 1879. Despite the fact the war was started without the sanction of the British Government.
To my knowledge there are others who go out of their way to encourage reconciliation and respect between Britain and KwaZulu by encouraging joint ventures.
Personally I have only ever experienced a mutual respect and understanding between Briton and Zulu. Which is something I always attempt to encourage.