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It is hard to put a finger on it other than to say that somehow
the main point of the story - a man fearing being a coward
becomes a hero - has been warped into a coward becoming a
hero with more than a tinge of modern wussy PC-ness.
If you haven't seen The Four Feathers (any version)
then let's give a quick overview.
It is the tale of Henry Faversham (Heath Ledger in this instance)
who resigns his commission to marry his girl (Kate Hudson)
just before his regiment is about to sail off to the Sudan
and either rescue or avenge the death of General Gordon in
Khartoum.
He taken for a coward and is given four white feathers as
a mark of being gutless. Three are from brother officers and
one is from his fiancee with whom he wants to stay.
So to win back his name he goes by himself to the Sudan,
follows the British army and saves his brother officers who
have found themselves in mortal danger.
Now the Korda version had several really classy moments to
it. The boring old general C. Aubrey Smith talking about the
Thin Red Line ad nauseum, the main character giving himself
a feather from his girlfriend because that's what she thinks
but won't say, he bravely allows himself to be branded on
the forehead while hiding as a native, and his blind best
friend doesn't know who rescued him until right at the end
in a hugely emotional build-up to the story. And let's not
forget the great act of bravery that allows Faversham to return
the feather to his lass.
In the latest version there is little secrecy in anything
- it's all handed to the audience on a plate and while the
action is great and the fight scenes terrific, it's the lack
of emotional tension that in this less-than-humble opinion
hamstrings it.
And I think Ledger has made Faversham into too much of a
modern man rather than a gentleman officer in Queen Victoria's
army.
The stiff upper lip was not fable, but real and those chaps
in the red coats would rather die than show fear in front
of those they considered beneath them. The scene where Ledger's
Faversham starts crying rather than showing steely disposition
and toughness almost got my TV screen broken!
Anyway, those moans aside this modern version of The Four
Feathers is still well worth watching.
Ledger is very good (modern man moment excepted), Hudson
is gorgeous and regal, while Wes Bentley is super as the best
friend who is in love with Hudson but won't betray his mate.
Djimon Hounsou is tough and brave as a slave guide for the
young British officer and adds a new dimension to the yarn.
As said the transfer is as close to perfect as you are likely
to get and the sound will bring joy to your ears.
"We are soldiers of the Queen, my lad..."
Conclusion: Movie 80% Extras: 60%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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