Kodie Bird True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

lolwe I saw the film around 1984/5 on video and had to keep rewinding.As an African I am sensitive to the subaltern roles played by African people in the cast and found some scenes not very convincing.What I found disheartening was the fact that the lions bar one only ate Africans!It was set in that big game safari framework that has long since disappeared and seems to have been made for Western consumption.I worked in the tourist industry in Kenya for some time and there is a sense in which the locals are part of the props!Two scenes that to me were not authentic: the young girl explaining how she got an American accent, and the widow merrily making eggs for breakfast the day after her unsuspecting husband comes out of his Mercedes and the lion pounces on him.Most white farmers rattled along the stony tracks on tinny Landrovers before the chunky 4wheelers came onto the scene and they wore shorts and bush jackets.The Merc would most probably be parked in the city where they'd have a townhouse in a more genteel setting!

arjun-6 I was six when this movie released in 1981. Despite the fact that my folks believed in taking us kids for wildlife movies, they decided to sit this one out for the violence quotient. I had earmarked it though for one of the movies I needed to watch once I grew. And grow I did but could never find the movie until last night. And I sat through the night watching it. First, it realistically conveys the picture of a white family in Zimbabwae (then Rhodesia) or some such place where white can afford to have plenty of black servants. I don't care if this is based on a true story, the movie was a series of howlers from the word go. I am truly amazed at the rave reviews the movie has been getting. First sign of violence, the black panthers, for Chrissake. Two of them surrounding the van when it broke down, so they are supposed to know its broken down eh? And then clawing their way through the metal body to get at the driver? Give me a break.Then the ridiculous scenes with the lions laying siege to the villa, climbing down the chimney I almost cracked my sides laughing. And despite all the shooting, the father son pair never seemed to hit a single lion. And what was the black maid doing using the term 'memsahib'. This was supposed to be Africa not India. Anyway it got so ridiculous that I saw it was pointless wasting my sleep further and switched it off. The same story, a lot of expendable black servants die and the white family escapes. There is of course some token arm wringing over some faithful childhood nurse being dragged away but nothing to lose sleep over.The lions were like overgrown kittens and stole the show with their cute tricks. Sorry they didn't scare me one bit and I feel sorry for generations of people thinking that's how lions behave.My final verdict, want to watch a lot of trained cute lions romping around with their trainers go for this movie. If you want to see a frightening movie about lion man eaters, go for for ghosts and the darkness.I give it 2 mainly because it was nice to see a period film depicting what people think life in white Rhodesia used to be like. Watch it anyway for the laughs and the nostalgia factor, though for some genuine nostalgia go for hatari. Much better movie with far better cast.

rgburns-2 I have been looking for a copy of this movie since I saw it several times during a cable-TV run.As is often the case I didn't know I wanted a copy until years had passed and I have been unable to view it or own it. I want to watch it with my grandchildren;to add it to the list of things I want them to know while I am still able to play the part of wise old grandad.I have enjoyed repeating one of the lines:" Mem-Saab said stay inside" to my sons who have seen the movie,as "We don't need no stinking Batches"et al.The movie I am sure will not disappoint my 'students" if I can obtain a copy and herd them into a viewing mood and room.The lion, victim interaction beats any other frightening movie of which animals are a prominent feature earthly or unearthly .

gwtank-1 I taped this movie years ago and wondered at the time how the lion scenes were produced. I watched it again today and am still perplexed. Was this filmed in Africa or in the US with circus lions? There was another film, "The Gods Must Be Crazy II" in which lions played a significant role. I'd like explanations.