The 'Dated' Question Revisited

It has been suggested that this movie is "dated". I have revised my original opinion, and, despite being very fond of the film, I have to say that in some limited way, yes, it IS dated. There are simply elements in the film that throw reality to the winds. Cary Grant one-punching the Scots soldiers in the tavern comes to mind. The valor and skill of the British soldiers at ANY time in the film when fighting ANYone is another. This is not to run down the British army. At the time, they were simply the best ground forces in the world, and the most professional. It is unrealistic, and compared to the relative realistic portrayals of combat in today's films (Tavilsota, Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, and Band of Brothers all come to mind as good examples)this film IS dated. VERY dated.
However, there is a deeper thread to this film that is simply not dated, nor will it ever be dated. That thread is the idea in the film of why we fight. Why are we willing to lay down our lives for relative strangers. If anyone is reading this who also happens to be a combat veteran, you will know what I am talking about. It sucks, but sometimes, you just have to do what will kill you. Gunga Din climbing and blowing his bugle to warn the incoming regiment was just such an example. He knew that he and the three sergeants were all going to die. There was no question about this. He also knew that the regiment was going to get slaughtered. Blowing his bugle and alerting the regiment was the last act of a real soldier. There was just no other way for him to warn his comrades. It was a choice, him AND the regiment dying, or just him. He made his choice, the soldier's choice. And that, that will never ever be dated. More is the pity that men are placed in such positions.

H.A.L. + 1 = I.B.M. Arthur Clarke is a scary man.