Best of British Part 2

15 July 2008

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In the second part of out Best of British we look at films six to ten and classics such as The Dam Busters and Zulu along with new hit s such as Atonement.

6.28 Days Later

Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later revitalised the horror movies genre within the British film industry that led to the release of The Descent and Dog Soldiers.

After breaking into a primate research facility, a group of animal rights activists discover caged chimps chained up before banks of screens displaying horrifying, violent images.

Ignoring the warnings of the terrified researcher who maintains that the chimps are infected, they begin to free the animals and are immediately subjected to a bloody attack from the enraged creatures.

Twenty-eight days later, Cycle courier Jim awakes from a coma in the deserted intensive care unit of a London hospital. He wanders out into a church where he finds dead bodies piled in heaps on the chapel floor.

A sudden explosion from a makeshift bomb heralds the arrival of fellow "survivors" Selina and Mark. They take Jim to safety and explain to him that this infection is transmitted by blood and overwhelms the infected victim with a murderous rage within seconds.

Britain has been overrun, and they have no way of knowing if it has spread worldwide. Their only hope of survival may lie in the hands of a Manchester group of soldiers, as they claim to have the "answer" to infection and invite any survivors to join them at their blockade.

Faced with no practical alternative, the group sets out northwards, unaware that the worst is yet to come.

What was so successful about this film is how rooted in reality the film was and how possible en epidemic like this could be, playing with everyone's fears of a man made uncontrollable infection.

7. The Dam Busters

Set during the Second World War The Dam Busters is based on the true story of the RAF's 617 Squadron and the development of the bouncing bomb.

The British are struggling to find a way of attacking Germany's dams, in hope of crippling their heavy industry until Dr. Barnes Wallis comes up with plans to bounce the bombs into the dams avoiding the torpedo nets that protect them, but the planes would have to fly low (150ft).

But when he takes his conclusions to the Ministry, he is told that lack of production capacity means they cannot go ahead with his proposals. But after a meeting with head of Bomber Command the Prime Minister authorises the project.

Bomber Command forms a special squadron of Lancaster bombers, 617 Squadron, to be commanded by Wing Commander Guy Gibson. He recruits experienced crews, especially those with low-altitude flight experience.

After several problems with getting the bombs to bounce correctly the mission goes ahead. Despite several Lancasters and their crews failing to return the mission is a success as the dams are destroyed.

This cult classic depicts a time of ingenuity and courage during a time of war and the lengths so many went to ensure victory.

8. The English Patient

Set in North Africa and Italy during the late 1930's and early '40's, "The English Patient" is an epic drama of two haunting love stories that unfolds against a background of international upheaval.

Beginning near the end of the Second World War the film follows a critically burnt man, who is slowly dying, and at first he is known only as 'the English patient'.

He is being looked after by Hana (Juliette Binoche), a French-Canadian nurse who lost her sweetheart in the war, in a ruined Italian villa.

Her patient reveals nothing about himself claiming to have no memory of events before he was found in the wreckage of a plane in the desert, not even his name.

Through a series of flashbacks the audience begin to see into his past.

More Best of British Part 2 on page 2