People are voting emotionally.

Overrated

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

I really liked this film the first time I saw it on its original release. It has only improved with age. David Hemmings is terrific as an idealistic young officer railing against the awfulness of the soldiers treatment. Trevor Howard is truly hateful as Lord Cardigan refusing to allow any way but his own cruel, bullying ways as the best incentive for encouraging his men to fight. A towering overblown egoist.Sir John Gielgud is marvellous as an almost permanently confused upper class twit and he steals every scene he is in. A well scripted and wonderfully directed piece of work.

I was really looking forward to this film but it was a major, major disappointment. In fact, I utterly despised this film. I thought that it was absolutely dreadful from start to finish. It was incredibly boring and horrendously written. I understand what they were going for in (accurately) depicting the British military establishment as an overly bureaucratic, incompetent mess which seemed to think that they were still fighting Napoleon but not one of these scenes - or any other scenes in the entire film, for that matter - were in any way interesting. As with "Battle of Britain", I had no interest in any of the poorly written, distracting, clichéd, melodramatic "romantic" stuff. The fact that the people involved were real didn't make these scenes any more bearable. The Crimean War does not even begin until almost a full hour into the film. Admittedly, the details of the war are not as popularly known as those of the two world wars but it still seemed excessive. 20 minutes would have been more than enough.The film is almost as big a mess as said military establishment. There is no flair or energy in Tony Richardson's direction and it is not a particularly good looking film. It has a great cast such as John Gielgud, Vanessa and Corin Redgrave, Trevor Howard, Harry Andrews and T.P. McKenna but it takes more than good acting to save it a film this bad. Conversely, David Hemmings is not a good leading man as Captain Louis Nolan. I'm a leftie pacifist so I certainly agreed with the film's anti-war stance and it was likely intended as an anti-Vietnam War allegory but I would have preferred a good film over...this. If you want an excellent anti-war film, watch "Oh! What a Lovely War" (which also features Gielgud and the Redgraves). If you want an excellent film about a failed military operation, watch "A Bridge Too Far". Both of those films are directed by Richard Attenborough, probably the best British director of his generation.The only thing that I really loved about the film were the "Punch"-esque animations. Actually, I not only loved them but I adored them. However, they took up about three minutes of a well over two hour film. Let's see. Besides that and some of the acting, what else did I like about the film?....Um, there were some nice dogs in it. I love dogs. Yeah...At one point, Nolan says, "I had such hopes of this war, Morris." I know how he felt. I had such hopes for this film! Out of a grand total of 430 films since January 2014, I was more disappointed with this film than any other. Even "Excalibur", yet another Corin Redgrave film. However, there were a few - though only a few - which were worse.The only reason that I didn't stop watching after about 40 minutes is that I promised myself that I would watch every single film from beginning to end no matter what. In retrospect, I sort of wish that I had as 2+ hours of this awful rubbish was a very painful experience. If it were not for the talent or at least basic competence of most of the actors involved, I would give it a lower score. To coin a phrase, someone had blundered. On the bright side, I have not gotten this much pleasure out of writing a scathing review in about three years!

This is a superb account of the tragic charge of the Light Brigand during the Battle of Balaclava. It is a fine x-ray of the abusive British military and class system and a thoughtful and colourful exposure of the propaganda of war.I recall as a teenager reading Cecil Woodham Smith's famous book "The Reason Why", which first acquainted me with the event. I have long considered the tragedy as what happens when military intelligence is flawed or lacking.The film has a sixties tone—long on detail, with side stories and colourful little touches like splendid Richard Williams's animations of British publications from the time of the event.I am not certain how well the film narrative corresponds to a recent PBS documentary on the topic. My memory is not that good. It seem that the role of Captain Nolan might have been other than depicted here. He did not have an affair with Captain Morris' wife. However, I think the film is not only accurate for the most part but depicts the moment in history vividly and with great feeling.This is a great movie, a masterwork. Watching it moved me.

*Spoiler/plot- The Charge of the Light Brigade, 1968, Mid Victorian England circa 1854 vividly contrasts the silliness of aristocracy and the squalor of lower classes. The film's bride innocently displays her primness and naiveté. Shows the context for the British empire in this time of that day.*Special Stars- Trevor Howard, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Harry Andrews, Jill Bennett, David Hemmings.*Theme- British army teamwork can conquer overwhelming odds. But sometimes the battlefield gives out no justice.*Trivia/location/goofs- British, 3500 historic uniforms made for this film. Clever use of animated news cartoons to tell the diplomatic & military positions in this story.*Emotion- A visually beautiful film of color, sounds, and action. Lead military men are driven by arrogance, ineptitude, and overzealousness. There is no humor or glory in the final charge that is a testament to military blind obedience and realism. Gives you more history on the famous poem of that Victorian imperial era. I got a chance to view this film just recently. I had not known about it before this date. I fully enjoy these types of films, costume dramas within a historical background. I liked Micheal Caine's first film, "Zulu". I am a history buff of the Napoleonic Wars like the TV show "Sharpes' Rifles" and "Horacio Hornblower". This lush and colorful film is wonderfully casted by the English movie greats. Today we will never see the likes of this film casting again. The history of this film might be somewhat trivial but the drama of the war's situations is tragically shown in this film. I enjoyed it. The tone of this film is seen as 'anti-war' with it's playing up the absurdities of Victorian culture over the back drop of the seriousness of war.