Made during the twilight of the epic film (when the studios were finally starting to realize they were going to lose the audience wars with television), this is a unique film that does not in any way say "Hollywood".

The picture is a British affair, and very anti-war. Much time is devoted to showing the pomposity and ignorance of the ruling class, who think that war is a wonderful enterprise full of glory and honor. More thought is given to not ruffling the feathers of political allies than it is to drawing up battle plans.

The film has a very strange atmosphere. It's part documentary, part soap opera, part auteur classic. The film has a hint of Peter Greenaway's work about it, with odd character interaction, and a strange voyeuristic feel. On top of that, there are odd animated segments sprinkled throughout the picture that express the patriotic fervor and thinking of the day. Now, all that may sound like a negative criticism, but the film, despite the stranger elements on display, is very compelling, and seems to be very accurate in regards to the events and atittudes of the men involved.

The highlight of the film is, of course, the Charge of the Light Brigade against heavily fortified Russian positions. The ignorance and incompetence of the commanders still persists even in the face of tragic disaster. The film is a very strong dissertation on the stupidity and the cause and effect of war, using the famous Crimean battle as a foundation.

And the charge itself? Brilliantly brought to the screen by director Richardson.

The costumes are just unbelievable. There are literally thousands of actors and extras in the movie, all in historically correct livery. The battle scenes alone are worth the price of the DVD. I marveled at the attention of detail and huge spectacle displayed on the screen.

On the other hand, movie is a bit heavy handed in its treatment of the politics of the period. For example, there are several sections where the action switches to animated sequences. These segments both explain some of the overall political situation while providing a simplistic, but biting satire of the whole colonial British ambition.

The attitudes and behavior of the British Officer corps and upper class in general are savagely treated. Scene after scene depicts British upper class stupidity. From the officer who insists on finishing his soft boiled egg instead of leading his troops at a critical point in battle to Lord Cardigan's kinky one night stand with a junior officer's wife on the eve of the battle, the movie goes to great length to destroy the credibility of the British officer class. With such petty buffoons running the show, it's hard to imagine how the British built such a vast and wealthy empire.