Rasputin 1932 vs 1965 vs 1996

 I watched three films about the Russian monk Rasputin and I want to rank them from worst to best.

             

Rasputin and the Empress 1932. Firstly, what did I like about the movie? Even though it was in black and white the visuals and costumes were impressive and no rouble was spared to make the film look authentic. The film tried to depict historical facts so I appreciated that. What didn't I like?  The character of Rasputin was a cardboard villain who had no redeeming qualities. The plot meandered and the film felt like it was 10 hours long. I lost concentration a bit and was bored at times. The dialogue was not very entertaining or funny. I would give it a 5/10.

Rasputin the Mad Monk 1965. I really wanted to make this film number 1 but I will put it on number 2. It was very entertaining from the first scene until the last. The plot is well structured and the dialogue is captivating. The Rasputin in the 1965 movie is a lovable villain. He is cunning, hilarious and devious. Rasputin the Mad Monk is not historical at all and takes liberties in the narrative. The movie seeks to entertain first and foremost, historical facts be damned. I would give this movie 9/10.

Rasputin : Dark Servant of Destiny 1996 is a perfect movie. It is thought provoking and emotionally compelling. I almost cried at the end. Rasputin in the 1996 film is a complex character. He is not a cut out villain. He has good intentions but is a flawed individual. The film gives Rasputin a back story. It has the Prince Alexei narrate the film from beyond the grave. The dialogue was engaging. At one point Rasputin said, 'Our souls belong to God. Our flesh belongs to us!' Then Rasputin said to a doctor who said he never saw a soul when he did surgery. Rasputin replies, 'Did you see any memories?' You cannot help but fall in love with this Rasputin. Alan Rickman nails this performance as Rasputin and Ian McKellen plays a good natured but stern Czar Nicholas. The film mixes fiction and facts beautifully. I will give this movie 10/10. And better yet it is free on Youtube.

Random thoughts

Rasputin reminds of Jesus. Both were known as drunks and gluttons who hung around unsavoury characters. Both were from rural back waters. Both were holy men. Both were miraculous healers. Both were killed by the elite. I think Rasputin is probably what the real Jesus was like before the gospel writers distorted history. Did he bring down the Romanovs or could he have saved them from destruction? Was he devious schemer or was he a misunderstood holy man? Was he a charlatan or a saint? These are questions that film makers and writers have grappled with. Rasputin has been immortalised in film and literature. Many books and films have been made about Rasputin and many more will be created as people try to figure out who and what Rasputin was. 

The moral of the story

No good deed goes unpunished. Rasputin healed the Russian prince and got a bullet in the head for his efforts.

Buy my book

I wrote a book that deals with a religious man who sees visions and infiltrates the royal palace. The book is called The Milvians. You can purchase it on Amazon. Link below.

https://www.amazon.com/Milvians-Mark-Anderson/dp/B0CRLD7YS9

Zulu 1964 and Zulu Dawn 1979

 

1964

1979

Zulu and Zulu Dawn were great movies. Compelling, exciting, emotionally thrilling. Zulu was released in 1964. It is about the battle of Rorke's Drift. Zulu Dawn is about the battle of Isandlwana and was released in 1979. They dont make movies like this anymore.

But the one thing I never understood are the titles of the movies. Why did they give them those names when the film is about the battle between the English and the Zulu? Zulu should have been called Rorke's Drift and Zulu Dawn should have been named Isandlwana. Just my two cents.

Another great movie about battles between precolonial Africans and Europeans is Shangani Patrol about Alan Wilson's last stand against King Lobengula's Ndebele warriors. It is free on Youtube.

If you are interested in war stories also check out The Fighting Men of Rhodesia on Youtube.

The moral of the story

The first lesson is that never underestimate an enemy. In the film Zulu Dawn the mighty British empire went up against a Zulu army who mostly had spears and cow hide shields at Isandlwana. Never could the Europeans imagine that they would be defeated on the battlefield. And in the movie the Shangani Patrol, Alan Wilson and his men face death at the hands of the Ndebele warriors. And yet a seemingly inferior opponent toppled the vastly equipped British military. The classic tale of David and Goliath. Ever since the battle of Isandlwana many military leaders have made the same mistake. Hitler and the Nazis underestimated the Soviets. The Americans underestimated the Vietnamese and the Afghans. Underestimating an enemy seems like a mistake humans will make again and again.

The second lesson is to never back down or give up. Even if your opponent is stronger and numerically superior you must fight. King Cetshwayo could have given up believing that the Zulus were not match for the British. But he did not cower and run away. The Zulus fought and prevailed. Likewise at Rorke's Drift the British dug down and fought against a more numerous foe and won. Even if the odds are stacked against you, fight! 

The third lesson is that some defeats are as glorious as victories. Even though the British lost at Isandlwana and Alan Wilson and company died at the Shangani river they are still lionised to this day. There is nothing quite as valiant as dying on the battlefield in service of your nation, especially when you are defending your land like the Zulus at Isandlwana. I am sure war is not as glamorous as depicted in the movies but one cannot help but envy brave men who put their lives on the line for the country and their flag. 

My favourite memes

 Memes that made me laugh and memes that made me think.

The Great Road : the King Mzilikazi movie

King Mzilikazi was a legend. He was a warrior and nation builder. Books have been written about him. But there has never been a movie or documentary about him. His life story would make an exciting film. And he is not the only one. There should be films about Moshoeshoe, Dingane, Sekhukhune, Hintsa and other great African kings.

If I were to create a film about King Mzilikazi I would call it The Great Road. Using the seven part screenplay story structure this is how I would do it. Bear in my this is fiction and not historical facts or a documentary. It is meant to entertain so there is creative licence to bend the truth.

The Hook, Set up and Exposition

The Great Road starts Nompethu and Mashobane get married. Nompethu is the daughter of Zwide chief of the Ndwandwe clan. Mashobane is chief of the Khumalo clan. That night after the marriage Mashobane and Nompethu make love. Nine months later Mzilikazi is born at sunrise. His grandmother Ntombazi who is Zwide's wife acts a midwife. Ntombazi gives Mzilikazi his name because as a prophetess she can see he will travel a great road in the fuure. The film looks at Mzilikazi's upbringing. He herds cattle and meets a young and beautiful girl named Nyamazana. They go swimming and make love.

The Inciting Incident

Mzilikazi's grandfather Zwide calls his Dingiswayo chief of the Mthethwa clan and his general Shaka Zulu to a feast. Dingiswayo arrives early but is killed by Zwide. Mzilikazi's father Mashobane then sends his son Mzilikazi to warn Shaka not to come to the feast. Mzilikazi goes and warns Shaka to stay away. When Zwide finds out Mashobane warned Shaka, Zwide kills Mashobane. Zwide wants to kill Mzilikazi too but his grandmother Ntombazi and Zwide's wife stops him from killing Mzilikazi. Ntombazi gives Mzilikazi a magical spear that will make him invincible in battle. She tells him to run away because Zwide will kill him. Mzilikazi leaves during the night and goes to Shaka. Shaka remembers that Mzilikazi warned him about the trap. So Shaka and Mzilikazi unite to defeat Zwide. They begin training and planning for the war.

The Turning Point

Mzilikazi and Shaka get their warriors and fight and defeat Zwide. Zwide is killed in battle and his warrors like Zwangendaba, Nxaba and Soshangane run away. Shaka declares himself king and sends Mzilikazi to raid cattle. Mzilikazi goes to war with Chief Ranisi, gets the cattle but refuses to send them to Shaka. Shaka sends an army but Mzilikazi defeats them. Then Shaka allows Mzilikazi to leave. Mzilikazi leaves and travels north with his warriors and families. During the journey Mzilikazi fights many battles and he gathers outcasts and runaways and creates a mighty nation, the Ndebele. He settles in what is today Pretoria and rules over a large land.

The Mid Point and change of strategy

The Afrikaner Boers enter Mzilikazi's land and he fights them. At the same time Dingane the new Zulu king sends an army to kill Mzilikazi. At the same time the Griqua attack Mzilikazi. Mzilikazi and his brave warriors fight a war on three fronts and are defeated. The Ndebele nation splits into two. One group led by Gundwane Ndiweni crosses the Limpopo and enters present day Zimbabwe. The other group led by Mzilikazi goes into Botswana. Mzilikazi travels around meeting people and fighting off rivals.

The Crisis

Mzilikazi gets lost in the desert but finally makes to the mountain Ntabazinduna. While he was away Gundwane has crowned Mzilikazi's son Nkulumane the king. Gundwane is a schemer who wants to rule through the young prince Nkulumane. When Mzilikazi meets Gundwane, Gundwane tells Mzilikazi that he is no longer king and now Nkulumane is the king. Gundwane and the rebels blame Mzilikazi for their defeat and reject him as king. Mzilikazi doesnt want to fight his own people but he has no other choice. Mzilikazi declares war on Gundwane and the rebels.

The Climax

Mzilikazi then meets the girl from his childhood, the beautiful Nyamazana again. She is now queen of the Ngoni people. Mzilikazi tells her about the rebellion and together they unite and declare war on the rebels. Mzilikazi fights Gundwane in a ferocious battle. Gundwane is killed and Mzilikazi emerges victorious. Mzilikazi banishes his young son Nkulumane who returns to Kwazulu. 

The Resolution

After Mzilikazi and Nyamazana are victorious they get married. Then they rule as king and queen over their kingdom and live happily ever after. In this version Mzilikazi is still a young man in his late 30s when the movie ends.

King Mzilikazi kaMashobane by Nthebe Molope

 

A book I have been meaning to read is King Mzilikazi kaMashobane by Nthebe Molope. I had read Path of Blood by Peter Becker before. Path of Blood is a great book and a must read for anyone interested in the life of King Mzilikazi. Path of Blood is well written, it doesnt feel like a text book and is very vivid. However, according to Nthebe Molope it isn't very accurate. Nthebe says Path of Blood depicts King Mzilikazi as a savage primitive. Thus he wrote King Mzilikazi to give an African perspective of the life of the great king. Molope said, 'If you do not write your own history, someone else will write it for you.' And so Nthebe travelled far and wide, researching and conducting interviews as he followed King Mzilikazi's journey. I wish Nthebe had recorded his journeys and made it into a documentary. It would make very interesting viewing. I have watched many of his interviews and I highly recommend them.

https://www.youtube.com/live/v33ZgqxfR0s?si=WZWV1GgHzPj0cR-I

King Mzilikazi was undoubtedly a great man. He was a formidable warrior, visionary nation builder and an explorer. He is the founder of the Ndebele nation. He was a contemporary of Shaka Zulu, Moshoeshoe, Sebituane, Soshangane, Zwangendaba and all the other great African kings. So it is a travesty that there is no movie, TV series or documentary about Mzilikazi. Whilst South Africans have the Shaka Zulu TV series from the 80s and currently Shaka Ilembe, King Mzilikazi has no film or tv show about him. There is no photograph of the man so he will forever be an enigma to many. Like I said before Nthebe Molope should have created a documentary about his travels in search of the legend of King Mzilikazi. But it is never too late. Tomorrow is another day and there are always opportunities to tell the story of one of southern Africa's greatest sons. I hope one day there will be a movie, film or documentary about the great King Mzilikazi.

Finally Rich...the movie

 

Chief Keef aka Keith Cozart is a pioneer of the Drill music genre. He is as influential as Tupac, Rakim and NWA. He and his Chicago outfit has spawned a hip hop sub genre that is hyper realistic and hyper gangsta. Drill rappers make NWA seem like Catholic priests. Drill is gangbanging on wax. It is the voice of the voiceless. It is street journalism. Drill has now gone global. Some may argue that Drill throws gasoline onto the flames and makes the murder rate sky rocket. But that is a debate for another day.

When 50cent came out with Get Rich or Die Tryin' a movie of his life soon followed. Was it a great movie? No. It was okay. Back then 50cent was still green and hadn't honed his craft as a film and TV producer. With that said, Chief Keef also had a well received debut album in Finally Rich. So why didn't movie producers ever make Finally Rich the movie? Chief Keef's life is just as interesting as 50 cent. They both came from the trenches and escaped the violence of the surroundings. To amuse myself I thought what a Finally Rich movie would look like as a screenplay using the 7 part story structure, hook, set up, exposition, inciting incident, turning point, mid point, temporary set back, climax and resolution. The handy chart below will illustrate the story structure.

Now bear in my this is fiction and not a documentary. The goal is to entertain and not to educate. So the Finally Rich movie will have creative licence to bend the truth and exaggerate.

The Hook, Set up and Exposition

The movie starts of with Chief Keef's mother Lola having sex with his father. Lola is a teenager but the boyfriend is a bit older. The first minutes of the film will show their relationship and the rough neighbourhood they reside in. Anyways, Lola tells the boyfriend she is pregnant but he is not ready to be a father. He pressurises her to get an abortion. She hesitantly agrees. Lola goes to the abortion clinic and just before getting the abortion she changes her mind. She decides to have the baby. Lola has the baby who she names Keith and she drops out of school and begins working low paying jobs. Chief Keef's father wants nothing to do with her and the baby and vanishes.

The Set up and exposition 

Chief Keef grows up in the Parkway gardens surrounded by gangsters. He meets Lil Reese, King Von, Lil Durk and the gang. 

The Inciting incident

Lola is working two jobs but is still failing to make ends meet. The water and electricity gets turned off and they are about to be evicted from their home. Chief Keef realises he has to get money to take care of his family. Chief Keef drops out of school and joins the Black Disciples. He begins selling drugs, robbing people and hi jacking cars. As Chief Keef gets deeper into the gang world he has conflict with Gangster Disciples STL gang. There are numerous shootouts, fights and stabbings. During the gang wars, Odee Perry, T Roy and many of Chief Keef's friends die or go to prison.

The Turning Point

The first turning point is when Chief Keef commits his first murder. Obviously in reality that never happened but this is fiction. Chief Keef kills a rival gang member who killed his best friend Odee Perry. The rest of film is gang wars and street politics. Lola tries to get Chief Keef to leave the gang life but Keef doesnt listen.

The Mid Point and change of strategy

The mid point is the infamous shootout between Chief Keef and the police. Chief Keef is arrested for drug possession, having an illegal firearm and resisting arrest. He is placed under house arrest. It is when he is under house arrest Chief Keef sees that a life of crime will lead him to jail of the grave yard. He decides to try his luck at music. He realises the pen is mightier than the sword. Instead of fighting his enemies he will use music to fight them. He makes music and begins his music career.

The Crisis

Chief Keef is becoming more popular. His music is blowing up on Youtube and social media. Radios are playing his music. He is beefing with Jojo and dissing GD rappers. But then one night during a concert someone tries to kill Chief Keef. But his cousin Mario Hess aka Big Glo steps in front of Chief and takes a bullet for his cousin. As Big Glo dies in Chief Keef's arms, he tells Chief Keef to not try to avenge his death and to leave Chicago and the street life.

The Climax

Chief Keef leaves the gang life. He does not avenge Big Glo's death. Kanye West remixes Dont Like, Chief Keef gets a record deal and gets rich.

The Resolution

Chief Keef gets his mother out of the projects. He buys a new house in LA. He welcomes his first child. And the film ends with Chief Keef doing a show with thousands in attendance. The end.

Buy my book

I wrote a book that is about crime and drug dealing. It is called Fishers of Men : Street Gangs and Secret Societies. Link below.

https://www.amazon.com/Fishers-Men-Street-Secret-Societies/dp/B0CRQBNBQR

King Solomon's Mines 1950 vs 1985 vs 2004

My least favourite King Solomon's Mines is 1985. It might be entertaining if you are ten years old. If you enjoy explosions and gun fights where the hero has titanium plot armour then it is a movie you will enjoy.  I thought it was cartoonish and silly. And in this version the bad guys are the Germans and the Turks, how cliche. The Africans are the stereotypical primitive cannibals. The only thing I liked about King Solomon's Mines 1985 is Sharon Stone.

Number two goes to King Solomon's Mines 1950. It is way more mature than the 1985 version. There are lots of wild animals and African savannah if that tickles your fancy. And of course there are primitive African cannibals. In this version a wife goes in search of a missing husband and not a father. There is the map and the diamonds etc. It is not a bad movie though I did fall asleep somewhere in the middle. The whole scorpion and snake behind the bushes got a bit tiresome.

My favourite King Solomon's Mines is the 2004 version with Patrick Swayze. It looks better due to the improved technology. The story is way more developed and it is way less racist. There are no cannibal Africans in this version. Although the climax was a bit silly with the villain not shooting Alan but dropping the gun to fist fight. In this version the bad guys are the Russians and not the Germans. King Solomon's Mines 2004 free to watch on Youtube.

Moral of the story

I guess the moral of the story is don't be greedy especially for wealth you haven't worked for.

Final thoughts

I haven't read the King Solomon's Mines book but it does seem way more interesting than the movie versions. Apparently the book by H. Rider Haggard was based on the life of Frederick Selous.  King Solomon's Mines is a story about adventure and the pitfalls of greed. A similar movie that I really enjoyed was The Man who would be king. Like King Solomon's Mines it was also based on a book, that was written by Rudyard Kipling. 

Buy my book

I wrote a book that is similar to King Solomon's Mines. It also has a white hunter travelling through Africa encountering primitive African tribes. My book is called The Prophet Chaminuka. Link below.

https://www.amazon.com/Prophet-Chaminuka-Shona-Chronicles/dp/B0CRPLNNCJ