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Amazon.co.uk Review
The seventh filming of AEW Mason's classic 1902 novel, this near-epic production of The Four Feathers looks great, sounds great and feels rather average. It would be difficult to diminish the rousing adventure of Mason's novel and director Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth) certainly gets more bang for his buck, with massive battle scenes and rugged, sun-baked harshness enhanced by Robert Richardson's masterful cinematography. Kapur preserves the universal appeal of the story, set in the 1880s, in which a promising soldier (Heath Ledger) resigns on the eve of battle in Britain's Sudanese campaign, is labelled coward by his fiancée (Kate Hudson), and redeems himself by posing as a Muslim warrior to rescue his best friend Jack (Wes Bentley) from certain death in the desert. For all its heroics, however, the film seems oddly passionless; Djimon Hounsou is excellent as Ledger's desert guardian, but these young Hollywood stars lack the authenticity of Zoltan Korda's 1939 film, which remains the definitive version. --Jeff Shannon
DVD Description
Exciting young stars Heath Ledger (A Knight’s Tale, The Patriot, 10 Things I Hate About You), Kate Hudson (Almost Famous, About Adam) and Wes Bentley (American Beauty) shine in this thrilling, epic saga of heroism, loyalty and romantic rivalry. When a British officer (Ledger) resigns his commission on the eve of a battle against Sudanese rebels, he is presumed a coward and given four symbolic white feathers by his friends and fiancée (Hudson). As an act of redemption, he exposes himself to extreme hardship and incredible odds while disguised as a Sudanese in a bold attempt to aid his besieged comrades. Based on the novel by A.E.W. Mason, this stirring adventure will sweep you from within the grand walls of the English aristocracy to the austere beauty of the Moroccan desert as it vividly illustrates man’s indomitable spirit.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I found this effort sadly disappointing.I thought it a pity that they decided to mess around with the dating and set the story apparently in the 1880s rather than the 1898 Omdurman Campaign in which Mason placed his novel. It wasn't clear to me whether the British unit involved was meant to be infantry or cavalry - one moment they are on foot with bayonets fixed, the next careering around on horseback brandishing full-length Martini-Henry rifles - not the most effective weapon in a cavalry charge! All in all it was too politically correct and redolent of early 21st Century attitudes for my taste.
I fear it must be added to the tally of "Four Feathers" re-makes which have failed to match the standard achieved by Korda's 1939 version.
At least the 1950s attempt "Storm on the Nile" had the good sense to use some of the 1939 film's combat footage!
I fear it must be added to the tally of "Four Feathers" re-makes which have failed to match the standard achieved by Korda's 1939 version.
At least the 1950s attempt "Storm on the Nile" had the good sense to use some of the 1939 film's combat footage!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a great story of Victorian action. The original film by Zoltan Korda was one of the great epics of all time. The follow up
'Storm over the Nile' followed the same story and even used the same battle scenes and so was adequate. This is a politically correct piece of rubbish - although four feather are featured!
The one battle scene is well done but as for the rest....!!!!
Avoid and buy the original
'Storm over the Nile' followed the same story and even used the same battle scenes and so was adequate. This is a politically correct piece of rubbish - although four feather are featured!
The one battle scene is well done but as for the rest....!!!!
Avoid and buy the original
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Very disappointed with this re-make.
The book and original film were boys own, stirring adventures. This was an angst-ridden politically correct movie, too slow and too concerned with exploring motivation. An adventure movie should be just that, lots of action, adrenalin, rousing and not slow and tedious. That being said the acting and production was first class.
The book and original film were boys own, stirring adventures. This was an angst-ridden politically correct movie, too slow and too concerned with exploring motivation. An adventure movie should be just that, lots of action, adrenalin, rousing and not slow and tedious. That being said the acting and production was first class.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
ouch
I approached this adaptation with high hopes and found that there are equal measures of enjoyment and disappointment. The opening scenes of rugby were an inspiration. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Merlin's Owl
Heath Ledger is brilliant
never mind the mix up with the dates and whether or not it is true to the novel or earlier versions. Heath ledger's acting is brilliant. Read more
Published 5 months ago by K. Platt
Very Let Down
I was looking forward to this movie, being a lover of a good yarn and a bit of 'boys film' action. The latter 'sort of' happned with lots of thrust and cutting, but for all the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Susan Spain
Very atmospheric
This story has been made several times, but for me, this is the most enjoyable. Set during the heady days of the British Empire in 1880s. Read more
Published 23 months ago by escole1
Four Feathers Ledger
The best of all versions of this film.Sensitively told and less of the "derring do" of previous versions.Well done to the makers and screenplay
Published on 2 May 2009 by Neb
Not read the book nor seen any of the originals
I came at this film with no prior knowledge that i was indeed a novel, nor that there have been several filmings of said novel before this one. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2007 by Andrew Kyle
All Rather Confusing and Not Very Convincing
Lots of spectacle and nicely shot so good from that point of view but it veers away from the original story in which Harry Faversham had to pass as a mute, as well as adding... Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2007 by spinner
The four feathers
First class from start to finish.
EXCELLENT RE=WORKING OF A CLASSIC ADVENTURE.
EXCELLENT RE=WORKING OF A CLASSIC ADVENTURE.
Published on 22 July 2006 by H. V. Lewis
Curiously relevent.
"The Four Feathers" is a great yarn spun from the 'Boy's Own' stuff ofheroic empire. This film is inferior to the 1939 Korda - but whatinterests me most about it are the parallels... Read more
Published on 22 April 2004 by C J KENNEY
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