Shaka Zulu - Complete Mini Series DVD Restored Edition

Shaka Zulu is a great movie I like it because it is a movie that depict the bravery of the Zulu nation under the leadership of Shaka to stand up against their enemies. The British Empire is known to swallow up smaller nations that are unable to defend themselves against its military might and experience. When I see a small and a supposed insignificant nation stand up against the mighty British Empire I am happy. Shaka was not taking no for an answer and he was prepared to engage any nation that dear to threaten their way of life. I love Shaka Zulu way of training his men to ignore pain and whatever they encounter in battle to ensure victory. Shaka was a military genius, he knew how to strategize. I love the way he trained his warriors how to encircle the enemy and fenced them in for the kill. I am not a blood thirsty person but I enjoy seeing the good guys but an end to the bad guys. The only problem is the nudity but that is ok I am not bothered by that.I want to encourage everyone out there that have never seen Shaka Zulu to see it for themselves and make their own assessments.

I saw this series twice before when I was younger. The second time parts were taken out of it. The series should consist of at least 500 minutes don't except less. It's about a great warrior in Africa and it is worth seeing. I would highly recommend it. All the black people in the movie are real Zulu African people. I would recommend that you get Blue Ray and it didn't cost that much more. The picture & sound are very, very good. At the end of the movie there is a short review on why the movie was made. Great Buy

I remember seeing this series years ago when it aired on television and I wanted to refresh my memory as i did like it all those years ago. It still is, in my opinion, a very good movie, even though it is very bloody.

There are very few actors in the history of filmed entertainment to equal Henry Cele for sheer charisma. From the time the mature Shaka first appears until the moment he is assassinated by disgruntled family members ,Cele dominates the screen. He moves with authority. He glares with unsettling authority. He fights with authority. He kills with merciless authority."Shaka Zulu" bears a warning label "M' (recommended for mature audiences), but be not afraid. While the violence is copious, it is mostly suggestive rather than explicit. Opposing warriors are surrounded by those of Shaka . The next moment, they are piles of bodies covering the ground. Numerous characters are speared to death and others are impaled and raised up on poles to serve as examples of what happens to those who defy Shaka or his goals. The impalement scenes are strongly reminiscent of the crucified rebels in Stanley Kubrick's "Spartacus" which were less stylized. Thematically, we have Africans slaughtering Africans as the Romans did their rebellious slaves almost 2000 years before.The historical ambition of "Shaka Zulu" is apparent in the dialogue between the British military man (Edward Fox) and the Irish doctor (Robert Powell) whose almost series long conversation includes comparisons between Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, on the one hand, and Shaka Zulu on the other. These references come almost as a relief after the weakly satirical opening scenes which include a harumping Trevor Howard as the Capetown colonial governor spewing racist invective.Shaka is portrayed as not only a fierce warrior but an intellectual quick study capable of engaging his Western guests in debate about the Bible, Christ and the nature of His life and ministry. Shaka's relationship with his mother, Nandi (Dudu Mkhize), the central one among the African characters, also has echoes of Alexander the Great's relationship with his mother Olympias. Both mothers were alienated from, and disrespected by, their respective husbands, and proved to be the formative influence on their warrior sons.Some of the territory encompassed by "Shaka Zulu" (1986), a very long (8 hour40 minute ) South African series ,had been covered by Cy Endfield's "Zulu" (1964), which was told almost completely from the English perspective."Shaka Zulu", which is most alive when Henry Cele is on screen, had left an indelible impression on me when I first saw this series on videotape 35 years ago. I remember the battle scenes as being vividly photographed (yes, even on videotape) and choreographed. This bluray version is definitive and beautiful to behold, but, truth be told, Henry Cele is the reason to see, and to keep "Shaka Zulu".

This is a region B, South African TV series production centered in the Zulu controlled area of Natal of what is to become South Africa in the first quarter of the 1800's. The drama, and I do mean drama, concerns the effort of small party of primarily Englishmen to make contact with the native leader Shaka during the rise of Shaka (Chaka) of the Zulu nation. Great photography and engaging story telling. The portrayals are very realistic to my western eyes and contain some very hard edged brutality yet done as a legitimate part of telling this complex story. Clothing is time period correct with women bare breasted and men in loin cloths.

Very enjoyable and Henry is a sight to behold. He’s glorious as Shaka and dominates every scene he’s in. Plus he’s incredibly handsome.

The story is spellbinding and filled with irony. The characterization shows the good and the bad in humanity on all sides. It is a compelling tragedy. While the video quality has been restored, making the images in this series sharp and clear, the sound leaves much to be desired. The audio is not impossible to work with; one can still appreciate the story. Nonetheless, the sound quality is noticeably poor.

My first experience in watching this was in my teens and I remember how my parents tried to record it on VHS. As powerful now as it was then, Henry Cele's phenomenal performance as the legendary Zulu King, Shaka (Chaka) Zulu will forever be imprinted in your mind. Dude Mkhize as Nandi and Conrad Magwaza as Senzagakona are exceptional. The soundtrack especially the theme song, "We Are Growing" by Margaret Singana and "Nandi's Theme" by Mallie Kelly are addictive and you'll probably catch yourself singing "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom" unawares. MUST BE PUT ON YOUR MUST WATCH LIST AS ONE OF THE BEST MINISERIES OF ALL TIME!!