Caine and Sharif and burning witches! (The Last Valley (DVD))

Member Name: adambrown400

Product:	The Last Valley (DVD)
Date:	22/05/09 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: blood and guts

Disadvantages: some parts drag

The Last Valley is a film that seems to have been more or less forgotten by everyone who has ever seen it. Its no way near as famous as Zulu or Dr Zhivago, although its main players are in this film. Its epic in look, but for some reason it fails on many levels.

The Last Valley actually begins in quite an exploitative way, showing the raping and pillaging of a medieval village. After that it peters out a bit, with a large battle at the end. It mainly deals with superstition and religious hatred which can be a little heavy for the casual viewer. It hasn't aged particularly well, mainly down to the rubbish 70's blood that is used in copious amounts.

Michael Caine does much better with his mock-German/ Austrian/ South Lahhndon accent, which is much better that previous accents he's attempted. His character has much more depth than the other cardboard cut-out villages, especially the womenfolk who act like 70's glamour models in peasants outfits. For Caine, it's not a bad part, he aptly manages to be both brutal ('Take him to be castrated!') as well as warm and loving, trying to make amends with the townsfolk.

The supporting cast aren't that great, with the majority hamming it up big time. The valley's priest is definitely the worst offender with his cackling and grimacing antics that wouldn't be out of place in an am-dram production of The Tempest.

The Last Valley doesn't really know what it wants to be or say. Is it talking about the ridiculousness of organised religion or anti-war sentimentality.

Omar Sharif isn't too bad as the man stuck in the middle of the it all, trying to keep Caine's men happy and the villages who are suddenly under occupation. It's quite decent role to play, but it's overshadowed by some of the ridiculous acting from the supporting cast.

The Last Valley is usually available very cheaply from online shops; in fact I know its one of those films that The Daily Mail always gives away free on a Sunday.

It annoyed me a little bit that the DVD version was no different to the 'pan and scan' version that I used to have on VHS. Come on guys, you can do better than that! Theres some great scenery in the film that needs to be seen in glorious widescreen, but most of it has been apparently binned. Theres also some really annoying bits where the person that Caine or Sharif are talking to has also been cut out of the picture, making it a very confusing film to watch.

That said, there is lots to enjoy in The Last Valley. Its a decent history lessons, without the boring bits. Theres plagues, castration, burning witches and storming of castles. Great fun!

Summary: a decent, if bloody history lesson.