The Four Feathers

The loved-up "Harry' (Heath Legder) does the unthinkable and resigns his military commission just as his regiment is about to go into action in North Africa. He thinks of his motives as thoroughly honourable - staying to be with new affianced "Ethne" (Kate Hudson). Sadly for him, though, just about everyone else thinks he has gone a bit yellow and deliver him the ultimate symbol of cowardice - a single white feather attached to their card. It's only his friend "Jack" (Wes Bentley) who has some sympathy but when the soldiers leave, "Jack" is completely ostracised - even by his love. He isn't a coward though, and determines to follow his colleagues, incognito, and as the story develops they can all be glad that he did. I really enjoyed the 1939 version of this, and to be fair this isn't an half bad remake. It's a bit long and flighty at times, and the supporting cast of largely British actors doesn't really add much to the sense of menace the soldiers face on their desert battlefield with the fearsome Dervishes bearing down on them relentlessly. The combat scenes are quite well put together and there are plenty of them as his tortuous challenge reaches it's conclusion. It's really just a camera-friendly vehicle for a charismatic star who looked like he was enjoying himself amidst the stiff-upper-lip Victorian military environment where pride quite literally went before a fall. If you enjoy a solid, boy's-own style of adventure movie then this entertains easily enough for a couple of hours of colourful derring-do.