Feathers Surprises
The Four Feathers
Cast: Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley, Djimon Hounsou, Kate Hudson
Director: Shekhar Kapur
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My husband and I are big movie fans. We prefer dramas and mysteries to comedies, and we go to the movies almost every weekend. We're always excited when something new and exciting is released. A few weeks ago we saw previews for The Four Feathers. To be honest, I wasn't blown away by the preview and figured that I could take or leave the film. My husband, though, was intrigued and wanted to see this movie, so yesterday we went to see an early showing. I'm glad that we did. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film, and if it's not a great cinematic masterpiece, it certainly provided two hours of good entertainment.
The Four Feathers stars Heath Ledger as Harry Feversham, a young officer in the 1898 British army. When Harry's troop is ordered to defend England in a war against Muslim radicals in the Sudan, Harry is frightened and does not want to fight. He resigns his post and goes to tell his new fiancee Ethne Eustace (played by Kate Hudson) that he will stay with her and that they can marry quickly. Harry tells Ethne that he only joined the army to please his father, General Feversham, and that he had planned to serve a few years during peace and resign. He never wanted to fight for England.
With him, Harry carries three white feathers. The feathers are symbols of cowardice, and were sent to him by three men in his troops. Ethne quickly calls off the engagement and presents Harry with a fourth white feather. This is too much for Harry to bear. Shunned by his fiancee, his friends, and his own father, Harry leaves for the Sudan in an effort to help his friends and prove his courage and loyalty.
The film has some beautifully photographed scenes in the desert. It effectively shows the difference between two cultures and two civilizations. Harry is suddenly in a world where he does not fit in, and where he does not know how to survive. Helped by an outcast warrior (played by Djimon Hounsou) Harry survives the harsh environment, and is able to help his friends. The most interesting story, however, is that of the bond that develops between Harry and the native warrior.
This is a story of friendship and betrayal, of courage and fear, of integrity and deceit, and of passion and restraint. There are beautiful scenery, brutal battle scenes, and exotic mystique. There was certainly enough to keep me engrossed and entertained for the duration of the film.
This film is based on a book by A.E.W. Mason. I have not read the book, so I can't comment on whether the movie is a good representation of the book, I suspect not. I also must admit that there are missing elements in the plot. The ending is somewhat unsatisfying, and while we are introduced to several characters, we don't get to really know them or understand their motivations.
This film will not win awards or be remembered as a great work of cinematography, yet on a pure entertainment level, I found it to be exciting and enjoyable. I would recommend this film to those who can forgive its faulted telling of history, and enjoy it simply as entertainment and adventure.
