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Created Jun 22, 2013 06:12PM PST • Edited Jun 22, 2013 06:12PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   I’d call Zulu Dawn “the Little Bighorn of South Africa.” If ever there was a cause more unjust – it was the British attempt to oust the Zulus from their territories in South Africa – despite the fact they were honoring an agreement to stay away. And, as this is a true story, I’m not spoiling anything by saying – they “get what’s coming to them.” The British colonial army is shown for all its pomp and circumstance accompanied by the gritty subversion of African slaves – promoting both a bonding with the British bad guys, but a sympathy for the native people who prove to be a bit harder to overcome than the inflated British egos thought. And as for the Zulu’s, they are depicted as kind of a mass attack of hardened warriors that just keep coming. Almost like a South African zombie apocalypse. Bottom line is this is a great old-school war movie with dramatic flair and great action.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   Zulu has a heck of a cast: Burt Lancaster pours on some accent that tries to be Scottish or English – but not quite, and in general struts about like the star he is. Peter O’Toole and Peter Vaughn had the elder statesmen parts and plaid the colonial bit quite well. It was a treat to see a young, brash Simon Ward as Lt. Vereker – he was hardly recognizable he was so young. And it doesn’t stop there, some great appearances from James Faulkner and others were classic.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Good 3.0

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.6

17. Sex Titillating 1.6

18. Violence Fierce 1.6

19. Rudeness Salty 1.6

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.3

23. Biological Glib 1.3

24. Physical Glib 1.3