It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

English Lancers Charging (1900)*** (out of 4) War picture from Edison lasts just over a minute but we get some great action in that time. The Boers are seen closest to the camera and appear to have the British Lancers held back but soon they advance and take over the battle. This film doesn't contain any trick shots but instead the camera just stays in one place and picks up all the action. This is an extremely well done piece that really does look like something Griffith would be doing a decade later. The action scenes are extremely well done, effective and they never stop. This is the type of early film that you could show anyone and they could get a real kick out of it. This is perhaps one of the most action packed films from this era so it's well worth watching.