Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]

Average customer rating:

Buy the DVD version instead - until Disney re-release it.

Buyer beware! Heads lopped off!

Misframed for 10 min

Big framing problem on Blu-ray version

Problems with Playback

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl [Blu-ray]
Starring: Lee Arenberg , Johnny Depp , Trevor Goddard , Kevin McNally , and Jonathan Pryce
Director: Gore Verbinski
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]

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ASIN: B000N6UERA
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Product Description

Disney Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (Blu-ray)
From producer Jerry Bruckheimer("Pearl Harbor") comes "Pirates Of The Caribbean:The Curse Of The Black Pearl," the thrilling high-seas adventure with a mysterious twist. The roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow's (Academy Award(R) Nominee Johnny Depp) idyllic pirate life capsizes after his nemesis, the wily Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), steals his ship, the Black Pearl, and later attacks the town of Port Royal, kidnapping the governor's beautiful daughter Elizabeth (Keira Knightley). In a gallant attempt to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl, Elizabeth's childhood friend Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) joins forces with Jack. What Will doesn't know is that a cursed treasure has doomed Barbossa and his crew tolive forever as the undead. Rich in suspense-filled adventure, sword-clashing action, mystery, humor, unforgettable characters, and never-before-seenspecial effects, "Pirates" is a must-have epic onthe grandest scale ever.

Customer Reviews:

Buy the DVD version instead - until Disney re-release it........2007-09-08

Disney will be re-releasing this version as it contains 9 minutes of incorrectly framed footage. In this Blu-ray version people are being decapitated, and not by pirates! For those 9 minutes, the framing is about 12% lower than it should be.

The DVD version is framed 100% correctly - so buy that one until Disney issues a new Blu-ray release of this title.

Buyer beware! Heads lopped off!.......2007-09-05

There is a serious framing problem for 9 minutes of the movie, where the frame is lower than it should be. So you will be looking at groins and torsos instead of full faces.

Misframed for 10 min.......2007-09-03

About 9 or 10 min of this film is framed incorrectly. The sequence in question is the sword fight between Jack Sparrow and Will Turner in the blacksmith's shop. The image is shifted down so at some points the actors are actually delivering dialog with their heads cut off. I would avoid ordering this title until Disney issues a corrected version.

Big framing problem on Blu-ray version.......2007-08-30

Disney made some mistakes on the Blu-ray release and some scenes are misframed. The original film was shot using the Super 35 process (1.85:1) and cut to a 2:35:1 ratio for theaters and home release. Some scenes that required framing at the top of the film image were center cut instead, so heads are cut off, and there are numerous revealing mistakes such as exposed floorboards when they should be fighting on rafters 10 ft off the ground! I would wait for a corrected version.

Problems with Playback.......2007-08-25

I have a Samsung BDP 1000 - in the BD package from Disney you get 2 disks, one special features and the game and the movie itself. The movie is unplayable even with the latest firmware update for the player but strangely the Special features disk is fine. Unfortunately I am returning these 2 disney Pirates BD's

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

A nice popcorn film
sounded like a bad idea
Depp's big payday
Great Movie
Best pirate movie of all time??

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Johnny Depp , Geoffrey Rush , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , and Jack Davenport
Director: Gore Verbinski , and Hamilton Luske
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JM5E
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Product Description

From producer Jerry Bruckheimer (PEARL HARBOR) comes PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, the thrilling high-seas adventure with a mysterious twist. The roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow's (Academy Award(R) Nominee Johnny Depp) idyllic pirate life capsizes after his nemesis, the wily Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), steals his ship, the Black Pearl, and later attacks the town of Port Royal, kidnapping the governor's beautiful daughter Elizabeth (Keira Knightley). In a gallant attempt to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl, Elizabeth's childhood friend Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) joins forces with Jack. What Will doesn't know is that a cursed treasure has doomed Barbossa and his crew to live forever as the undead. Rich in suspense-filled adventure, sword-clashing action, mystery, humor, unforgettable characters, and never-before-seen special effects, PIRATES is a must-have epic on the grandest scale ever.

Amazon.com

You won't need a bottle of rum to enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, especially if you've experienced the Disneyland theme-park ride that inspired it. There's a galleon's worth of fun in watching Johnny Depp's androgynous performance as Captain Jack Sparrow, a roguish pirate who could pass for the illegitimate spawn of rockers Keith Richards and Chrissie Hynde. Depp gets all the good lines and steals the show, recruiting Orlando Bloom (a blacksmith and expert swordsman) and Keira Knightley (a lovely governor's daughter) on an adventurous quest to recapture the notorious Black Pearl, a ghost ship commandeered by Jack's nemesis Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), a mutineer desperate to reverse the curse that left him and his (literally) skeleton crew in a state of eternal, undead damnation. Director Gore Verbinski (The Ring) repeats the redundant mayhem that marred his debut film Mouse Hunt, but with the writers of Shrek he's made Pirates into a special-effects thrill-ride that plays like a Halloween party on the open seas. Aye, matey, we've come a long way since Jason and the Argonauts! --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A nice popcorn film.......2007-09-08

The first of the three Pirates movie was a nice summer popcorn film, which recalled not only the Pirates movies of classic Hollywood but also those great George Pal and Ray Harryhausen stop-motion monster epics of a later time. It wasn't until the second movie, when suddenly the filmmakers decided audiences had been taking Pirates seriously, did the story begin to get bogged down in complicated mythologies and convoluted sci-fi goofiness.

sounded like a bad idea.......2007-09-04

This movie was a nice surprise; any movie based on a Disney World ride is automatically suspect, but this one transcends its bizarre inspiration and ends up being a fun action movie, largely due to the strength of the performances of Depp and Rush. Unfortunately, the other actors in the movie are rather bland compared to those two and the movie feels kind of flat when they are not onscreen.

Ivan Rorick

Depp's big payday.......2007-09-04

I really enjoyed Johnny Depp's mid-1990s work, particularly "Ed Wood," "Dead Man" and "Donnie Brasco." Much has been made of his "Keith Richards meets Pepe Le Peu"-inspired riff in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, but the truth is that Depp is clearly slumming here (perhaps deservedly so after two decades of assiduously avoiding the big payday-style blockbuster).

A lot of other good talent is going to waste at the service of these amusement-park ride driven plots, particularly Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley (who, if she loses more weight, runs the risk of being mistaken for one of the skeletons on Rush's ghost ship).

Intermittently entertaining but ultimately unsatisfying.

Great Movie.......2007-09-03

The first installment of Pirates is a great movie full of adventure, romance, and wit. Several scenes recall memorable parts of the Disney ride and you might pick up something new with each subsequent viewing. However, I'd skip the 2nd and 3rd installments in the series which are overly long and overly violent.

Best pirate movie of all time??.......2007-08-28

When it comes to adventure-type movies, Pirates of the Caribbean takes the cake. With its quirky characters, great storyline, and realistic setting, it's no wonder why it spawned a sequel.

So what's this movie about? A pirate, Jack Sparrow, is on an adventure to take back his ship (The Black Pearl) after his nemesis Captain Barbossa stole it from him. Barbossa also kidnaps a woman named Elizabeth. Turns out, Elizabeth has a coin that Barbossa and his crew are after. Meanwhile, a man named Will Turner joins Jack in an attempt to get Elizabeth back home safely.

I truly can't think of anything negative about this film (hence the 5 star rating). The first thing I have to point out in terms of what's to like about Pirates of the Caribbean is the actors/characters. I truly feel that each and every actor that was cast in this film was made for the roles they were cast for. From Elizabeth's innocent yet strong personality, to Will's tough yet loveable side, and to Jack's overall sillyness, everyone will find something they like about the characters.

When it comes to pirate movies, there's only so much you can do with a storyline. So, of course, this movie's storyline has to have something dealing with bad pirates as well as treasure. Although the storyline may seem typical, there's enough twists and turns to keep you watching. Aiding the twists are a generous amount of jokes and humor to keep the whole family entertained. Additionally, the setting and props and costumes are incredibly realistic. So much so that I *wish* I could be there with them.

After you watch Pirates of the Caribbean-The Curse of the Black Pearl, you'll be rearing and ready to watch the sequel. I just can't get enough of this movie.

The Threepenny Opera: Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Please Buy This
The Musical Production that Changed the World

The Threepenny Opera: Criterion Collection
Starring: G.W. Pabst , Lotte Lenya , and Rudolf Forster
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000SFJ4KE
Release Date: 2007-09-18

Description

The sly melodies of composer Kurt Weill and the daring of dramatist Bertolt Brecht come together onscreen under the direction of German auteur G.W. Pabst (Pandora's Box) in this classic adaptation of the Weimar-era theatrical sensation. Set in the impoverished back alleys of Victorian London, The Threepenny Opera follows underworld antihero Mackie Messer (a.k.a. Mack the Knife) as he tries to woo Polly Peachum and elude the authorities. With its palpable evocation of corruption and dread, Pabst's Threepenny Opera remains a benchmark of early sound cinema. It is presented here in both its celebrated German and rare French versions.

Customer Reviews:

Please Buy This.......2007-08-28

I saw this on an obscure VHS tape. Fantastic. Never had I seen Brecht done so well. Smooth and Jagged. This film was haunting me for years. Never thought that I could see it again. Wham!!!! Criterion does it again. I am sure that the picture will be great. I have yet to purchase on dismal video image from Criterion.

Thank you Criterion for making this fantastic film for sale.

moe armstrong

The Musical Production that Changed the World.......2007-07-23

The year is 1928. Artists had already broken the conventions of painting. Symphony composers had altered the structure of classical music. Jazz was coming into its own. So two men in Berlin, Kurt Weil and Bertolt Brecht, decided to reinvent musicial theatre.

Rather than give the audience pleasant songs or catchy tunes, they turned to the dirty streets of Victorian England to weave a tale of beggars, whores, and thieves. And what kind of music do we hear? Earthy, jazzy, even irritating at times...and the crowd loved it.

The director, G. W. Pabst, has preserved the German production as close to the original as possible. He gives us moody cinematography, volcanic characters, dreamlike sets. As in all his films, the women are the stars...and this time Lotte Lenye sizzles the screen.

Welcome to a new world where the established values of contemporary urban society are turned upside down...welcome to the Threepenny Opera.

Average customer rating:

The greatest pirate movie EVER!
One of the greatest epic films ever made!
Make Sure you Read the Book
Captain Blood
Errol Flynn at his Best

Captain Blood
Starring: Errol Flynn , Olivia de Havilland , Lionel Atwill , Basil Rathbone , and Ross Alexander
Director: Michael Curtiz , Joseph Henabery , and Lloyd French
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B00005JMR7
Release Date: 2005-04-19

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The swashbuckler had been around long before Errol Flynn drew a cutlass, but the Tasmanian-born bit player reinvigorated the genre with his mix of dashing good looks, haughty insolence, and alluring confidence. Adapted from the novel by Rafael Sabatini (who also penned The Sea Hawk), this rousing adventure chronicles the travails of Peter Blood (Flynn), a righteous doctor unjustly sold into slavery for treating the wounds of rebels, a kind of British Dr. Mudd. Sent to a Jamaican plantation where he toils under the brutal whip of Lionel Atwill and seethes with passion for his fair niece (the astonishingly beautiful Olivia de Havilland), he escapes from bondage with his fellow prisoners and becomes the gentleman rogue pirate of the Caribbean. Director Michael Curtiz builds from one set piece to another, including a nimble beachside sword fight with pirate nemesis Basil Rathbone and climaxing with a grand sea battle that belies the film's modest budget. Flynn's bravado and charisma are apparent from his entrance, but once he leaps into action he takes command of the picture, overcoming his still-green dramatic skills with sheer personality. Captain Blood made stars of Flynn and de Havilland and catapulted Curtiz to the top ranks of Warner directors. The three reunited for some of the studio's best-loved adventures: The Charge of the Light Brigade, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Dodge City. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

The greatest pirate movie EVER!.......2007-08-09

Rafael Sabatini wrote a range of heroic characters in high adventure stories from Scaramouche to the Sea Hawk and Captain Blood. Any one of those stories are superior to the Pirates of the Carribean. The problem with remaking them is we don't have any living actor who comes close to Errol Flynn or even Stewart Granger. So, I highly recommend going retro and watching anyone of the three. I'd start with Blood first.

One of the greatest epic films ever made!.......2007-07-25

The first great feature of Errol Flynn and (at least to my mind) the role of his lifetime as well as the supreme beauty of Olivia de Havilland make of this movie a singular and reference movie in this decade.

Captain blood is one these unforgettable epic tales based on Sabatini's novel about a doctor who is forced to become a pirate. But along the story is showed, there will be many chances to know him, his real nature as human being who seriously wishes by all his means, to avoid to be considered a slave, he will the intellectual leader for the escape and will assume the authority delineated by a sort of statement of Principles among the members under his command, in order to avoid a supposed mutiny inspired by the greed or any other motive.

The admirable duel with Levesseur and his formidable audacious to undertake and even save the honor of the English Army when they are besieged in Port Royal will deserve not only a sudden achievement in his life, but besides he will find the love of his life as you and me are aware from the firsts shots.

Michael Curtiz was the same director of the charge of the light brigade so it's not unusual to think he his preferences for the epic genre.

Make Sure you Read the Book.......2007-07-20

This film, being the better part of a century old and still watched today, might technically qualify as a 'classic,' but I personally disliked it strongly. This is likely because I first read the Rafael Sabatini novel of the same title, on which the film is based, and utterly loved it. In fact, it is one of my absolute favourite books.

The novel is an emotionally gripping, powerful story populated by realistic characters, people with real feelings and personalities. This film, however, is just a quick, cheap Hollywood action flick, the 1930s version of today's flashy and mindless shoot-them-up movies. The plot of Sabatini's book has been changed and, in some scenes, totally reversed to turn Captain Blood from a realistic, passionate, deep character into a two-dimensional macho action hero. Obviously any book must be cut to be changed into a film; but Captain Blood was not merely simplified but simplified -in spirit- for this production.

The most enjoyable part of this movie, for me, was watching the old-fashioned special effects, with all the pretty model ships.

Go read the book instead -- odds are, you'll love it regardless of whether you liked or hated this movie.

Captain Blood.......2007-07-12

This is a marvelous DVD, a beautiful reproduction of a classic film with many great extra features. The documentary on the making of the film is wonderfully done, and makes the movie more memorable viewing.

Errol Flynn at his Best.......2007-07-10

As a fan of swashbuckling and pirate films since childhood, I highly recommend Captain Blood with that charming rogue, Errol Flynn. I'll watch anything with Errol, especially the movies he made with Olivia DeHavilland. Great chemistry there. Pirates, pretty ladies, sword fights and beautiful Caribbean scenery - what else could I ask for . . . except maybe some rum.

Average customer rating:

Not quite as vivid as "Captain Blood", Sabatini's other pirate tale...
Great film, transfer not up to other Fox classics
Johnny Depp...eat your heart out...
The Black Swan
Maureen O'Hara and Tyrone Power - who could want more?

The Black Swan
Starring: Tyrone Power , Maureen O'Hara , Laird Cregar , Thomas Mitchell , and George Sanders
Director: Henry King
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
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ASIN: B000FFJ83A
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Description

With a clanging of swords, thundering cannons and lots of bravado, TYRONE POWER stars in this swashbuckling classic that won an Oscar for its color cinematography.

Customer Reviews:

Not quite as vivid as "Captain Blood", Sabatini's other pirate tale..........2007-08-16

The very fact that Rafael Sabatini's tale is the source for this swashbuckling pirate adventure makes one wish it had the more vivid storyline and qualities of his more famous epic, CAPTAIN BLOOD. But Fox, although they've lavished color and pretty costumes and sets on THE BLACK SWAN, failed to invest it with the same witty script and believable situations.

The performances are all bigger than life, as they should be in this sort of thing. TYRONE POWER makes a dashing figure of Jamie, the pirate seeking to avenge the villainous Leech (an almost unrecognizable GEORGE SANDERS in heavy beard and wig). MAUREEN O'HARA is so authentically feisty in opposing Power's advances that one wonders whether they can ever make up in time for a happy ending. Nevertheless, hers is a one-dimensional role and she gives it no added dimension of warmth but remains an ice princess throughout, much to my disappointment.

The acting is uniformly competent--nothing more--and the entire tone of the more serious moments in the courtrooms makes you wonder whether to simply suspend disbelief or accept it as a tongue-in-cheek pirate adventure. LAIRD CRAIGAR makes an interesting buccaneer but chews the scenery with a vengeance. His energy gives the part believability most of the time but his actions are none too convincing in the final battle scene. THOMAS MITCHELL seems a little out of place as a fellow pirate.

TYRONE POWER and MAUREEN O'HARA make delicious eye candy as a couple, but something in their chemistry is missing. Perhaps they're too combative throughout before the final clinch in the sunset--and that, of course, is the script's fault for providing a somewhat contrived happy ending.

Summing up: Admirers of pirate films will certainly enjoy the ride.

Great film, transfer not up to other Fox classics.......2007-05-31

Irresistible hogwash from the golden days of these swashbuckler films. In many ways, more satisfying than "Pirates of the Carribean" since this film is slightly more grounded in a recognizable reality, and is therefore somehow more accessible. The Technicolor photography, which was one of the film's many asstes, receives much attention on this DVD, with Maureen O'Hara's commentary discussing the technique and the film's use of it. But the transfer here isn't up to snuff: some scenes are soft, and the color is subdued and muddy ocassionally. It's not a bad transfer, but certainly not as sharp as Fox's "Leave Her to Heaven," or "Blood and Sand". Still, for fans of Power, O'Hara, or the underrated Laird Cregar, an entertaining and physically lavish production worth more than one viewing. Old Hollywood the way it used to be, when opulent production values and sincere casts made such nonsense a real treat.

Johnny Depp...eat your heart out..........2007-05-29

Old school pirate movie...just as good as newer Pirates of the Caribbean...Tyrone Power swashbuckling his way throughout...if you like pirates and old films...this is a movie for you.

The Black Swan.......2007-05-20

Ecxelent Adventure. Tyron Power at his best with the gratest Maureen Ohara. Full of ecxitement, great for kids.

Maureen O'Hara and Tyrone Power - who could want more?.......2007-05-15

I mainly purchased this because Maureen O'Hara did a commentary track for this picture. Since she is a favorite of mine, I wanted to hear some of her stories and insight in working with Tyrone Power and on this particular film. I only wish that the other commenter would have had more information about the film (or 20th Century Fox) to speed up the dialog between them or to prompt Maureen O'Hara to say more than she did. As for the film, it's a classic tale of pirates and adventure. A good addition to any collection.

Average customer rating:

Thorpe's not Blood
Only missing ingredients: Technicolor and Olivia de Havilland...
A letdown for this Flynn fan. ----- Brenda Marshall!!???
Sea Hawks
Sail to adventure with the Sea Hawk

The Sea Hawk
Starring: Errol Flynn , Brenda Marshall , Claude Rains , Donald Crisp , and Flora Robson
Director: Michael Curtiz , Jean Negulesco , and Robert Clampett
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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ASIN: B00005JMR6
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Amazon.com

Five years after Captain Blood made him a swashbuckling star, Errol Flynn returned to the high seas as privateer Captain Thorpe in The Sea Hawk. Flynn plays the dashing gentleman pirate as dedicated patriot, looting Spanish ships for English coffers with the private blessing of Queen Elizabeth (Flora Robson, reprising the role from Fire over England). The film opens with a rousing sea battle: broadside cannon fire sends masts falling and splinters a-flying before Flynn's men take their Spanish quarry in a furious shipboard cutlass battle. The fearless fighter becomes a stumbling schoolboy when he falls for the Spanish ambassador's niece, but he's back in his element when he sails to the New World for treasure and lands in the middle of a deadly conspiracy. Big-eyed beauty Brenda Marshall stands in for Flynn's usual love interest Olivia de Havilland, and the film misses the latter's sass and spirit, but it's a minor shortcoming. Claude Rains plays his usual smoothly conniving villain, and hearty Alan Hale returns as Flynn's loyal sidekick. Michael Curtiz proves once again why he was Warner Brothers' top director with a handsome, action-packed film that mixes intrigue and suspense with grand set pieces, concluding with a rousing series of escapes, chases, and a runaway sword fight. Classic Hollywood swashbuckling at its best. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Thorpe's not Blood.......2007-06-18

Korngold is still Korngold, but Brenda's not Olivia, and Daniell is definitely not Sir Basil. Although Flora is much better than Bette. All the old ingredients seem to be there, but somehow the cake isn't quite up to snuff. Curtiz seems a little exhausted, in spite of the standard trademark shadow-sword-swashing; perhaps it's just that Flynn can't quite take it seriously enough any more. Four swords against one is maybe a trifle over the top. Also, the film was over-budgeted, and the model ships still look like model ships. There are some interesting extras from the pundits on this disc, and Flora's message at the end comes across with some punch, but the reality of the Battle of Britain remains more vivid than any Hollywood hokum. Sorry, folks: I have to dock a star.

Only missing ingredients: Technicolor and Olivia de Havilland..........2007-06-04

When Warner Bros. substituted BRENDA MARSHALL for Flynn's usual romantic interest they made a big mistake. Certainly she's pretty (in a remote sort of way with a facial expression carved in stone), but there's none of the usual back and forth wit and spirit that OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND always shared with Flynn. In other words, the spark of chemistry that made them such a memorable love team is completely missing here.

So is Technicolor. Hard to understand why the studio didn't back this investment (which cost a hefty sum at the time) with color photography which would have added so much richness to the story. As it is, the crisp B&W photography is handsome enough but with all those gorgeous sets and costumes, color is an ingredient that should have been seriously considered.

The story has its points of interest but exists mainly to showcase the athletic abilities of ERROL FLYNN and, presumably, most of the vigorous male cast. All with the exception of HENRY DANIELL who, although a fine screen villain, was not up to the requisite swordplay and had to be doubled for all the long shots. Basil Rathbone, where were you???

Capping the whole thing is a majestic score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold that is worthy of a far better film. But sea tales don't get much better than this and the studio backed their production with a wonderful ensemble cast that included WILLIAM LUNDIGAN, ALAN HALE, CLAUDE RAINS, FLORA ROBSON, JAMES STEPHENSON, UNA O'CONNOR and many, many more.

Summing up: It's a lusty tale of piracy on the high seas and lots of treachery afoot so that Errol Flynn can swing into action and save the day for God and Queen. Smooth sailing.

A letdown for this Flynn fan. ----- Brenda Marshall!!???.......2007-04-29

As someone who greatly respects Errol Flynns work, I must say I was disappointed in this movie. A year before in 'Dawn Patrol' I thought Flynn gave a great performance as a hot shot fighter pilot, who when given Command must accept responsibility for the lives of his men.

Critics have said that Flynn's 'Sea Hawk' role is a mature performance, to me it's a dull turn by Flynn. He is not helped at all by a clunky script and a stunningly bad performance by Brenda Marshall. She brings NOTHING to her roll as the female romantic lead. A truly terrible performance by this young lady.

In Captain Blood (his American debut), Flynn has verve, enthusiasm, amazing charisma, he rightly became an overnight star with that performance. But, he looks somewhat bored in this film. It is an OK, 3 star film, but please don't mislead people and compare this movie to 'Robin Hood', or 'Captain Blood', or the terrific 'Charge of the Light Brigade'.

Sea Hawks.......2007-03-16

I love the movie. It had plenty of sword fights & action in it .

Sail to adventure with the Sea Hawk.......2007-02-21

Errol Flynn was in his home element as the captain of a privateer in the service of Queen Elizabeth. A true swashbuckler, this is alot of fun. The story is full of intrigue, action, humor and romance. The production values were high for this movie. Add to that a cast that included Brenda Marshall, Flora Robson and Claude Rains. Also look for some of the best character actors of the day, like Alan Hale, Donald Crisp and Una O'Connor to round out the movie. See sea battles and swordplay aplenty to make for a rousing good time. One note, this was made early during the second world war. The final scene with the queen was added as a morale booster for the audience in England.

Warner Brothers did this up right with this release as part of their Warner Night at the Movies. Dvd comes with Newsreel, Short, Cartoon and trailers. As included is a featurette about Flynn and this movie. You got to get this one!

Average customer rating:

Slightly Pedantic, but Fascinating story
The best version of all "Bounty" movies...
Mutiny on the Bounty
Swashbuckling!
Bligh, what a meanie

Mutiny on the Bounty
Starring: Charles Laughton , Clark Gable , Franchot Tone , Herbert Mundin , and Eddie Quillan
Director: Frank Lloyd
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00011D1OK
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Amazon.com essential video

The highlight of Mutiny on the Bounty is undoubtedly Charles Laughton's bracingly evil performance as Captain Bligh, a man so mean that he insists on having a dead sailor flogged. Bligh pushes his men beyond physical endurance, slashes their rations for his own profit, and drastically cuts down their frolicking time with scantily clad Tahitians. Finally, the moment everyone has been waiting for arrives: first mate Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) hits his limit and all hell breaks loose. Gable holds doggedly onto his American accent through the entire movie, but in a way it makes Christian come off as a Regular Guy in opposition to Bligh's institutionalized cruelty. Once you get past the hurdle of his diphthongs, Gable makes an excellent Fletcher Christian--strong, fair, and noble, and he effectively conveys the struggle of a man who loathes the idea of mutiny but can't stand see his men mistreated. And Charles Laughton is just superb. His Bligh is thoroughly appalling, yes, but it's far from a one-note performance--when he is cast adrift on the open sea in a lifeboat and tries to make an impossible journey to land, you can't help but root for him. Mutiny on the Bounty won the 1935 Academy Award for Best Picture and picked up a Leading Actor nomination for each of its male leads. Check it out or be tied to the mizzenmast. --Ali Davis

Description

First officer Clark Gable and tyrannical captain Charles Laughton powerfully clash in this vigorous retelling of a true historic incident about a British ship commandeered from its brutal master. Franchot Tone also stars in 1935's Best Picture Academy Award(R) Choice.

Customer Reviews:

Slightly Pedantic, but Fascinating story.......2007-06-09

It is a fascinating story, and the acting remains top notch even if the style of story telling is somewhat dated. At times the story telling boarders on being pedantic, a trend which starts right at the beginning with the opening prologue.

"In December, 1787, H.M.S. Bounty lay in Portsmouth harbour on the eve of departure for Tahiti in the uncharted waters of the Great South sea.
The Bounty's mission was to procure breadfruit trees for transplanting to the West Indies as cheap food for slaves.
Neither ship nor breadfruit reached the West Indies. Mutiny prevented it--mutiny against the harsh eighteenth century sea law. But this mutiny, famous in history and legend, helped bring about a new discipline, based upon mutual respect between officers and men, by which Britain's sea power is maintained as security for all who pass upon the seas."

Like a lot of old movies, subtlety is not always this films strong point.

The prologue pretty much spells out the films plot (which I guess we kind of knew already anyway from the title). And yet it is 1 hour 2o minutes into the film before the mutiny takes place. And during that time you are just patiently waiting for what you already know is going to happen anyway.

During the first 1 hour and 20 minutes the crew is given no lack of motivation to mutiny. In fact "The Simpson's" parody, in which Captain Bligh seems to almost want the crew to mutiny, isn't too far off the mark.

The last 40 minutes of the film, which deal with the aftermath of the mutiny, is in my opinion the most interesting part. And a good history lesson to all us Americans ignorant of British naval history (although there are some historical inaccuracies in the film).

The best version of all "Bounty" movies..........2007-03-22

Of the three films about the famous "Bounty" ship, this version with Clark Gable and Charles Laughton I liked the best. In this version my feelings never swayed as to whom I liked (Gable and the ship mates) and whom I despised (Laughton).

Clakr Gable's Fletcher Christian was a light hearted man who was a friend to all. His shipmates looked highly upon him, even though many had been forced to join the long voyage. He was sympathetic with the crew's plight and often times tried his best to protect them from the many vast punishments. When Christian is fully fed up with the majorly unfair antics of Bligh and his mission, he finally decides to take command the Bounty. Christian, once he is in command, never looks back and takes his followers back to paradise on an unknown and uncharted island to live the rest of his days.

Captain Bligh is a military man to the bone who demands respect from all, and achieves it through his rough tactics, stern discipline and often times uncaring ways. He leads his ship with the Navy War Rules Book in one hand and a whip in the other. His actions can most certainly be deemed unfair, unjust and most of all harsh. Bligh feels that fear in one's Captain is the only way to lead and earn respect. In a way he almost seems to relish finding ways to "push a man's buttons" so he can then take out his Navy Rules War Book and give reason for punishment. His sole reason of mission first, duty second no matter the cost to ones health or life leads to the eventual infamous mutiny.

Unlike the other 2 "Bounty" films whose Capt. Bligh's at times came across as too sympathetic; Charles Laughton's portrayal of Capt. Bligh came off more aggressive, uncaring and unlikeable. It was easy to hate him and cheer his eventual downfall. A great performance.

The other "Bounty" films are good and definitely worth watching (especially Marlon Brando), but the best of the lot is this great black and white 1935 version with Gable and Laughton.

Mutiny on the Bounty.......2007-03-08

#86 on The American Film Institute's Top 100, "Mutiny on the Bounty" is one of the few films to receive only the Best Picture Oscar at the 1935 Academy Award ceremony. It's a film that begins slowly and then slowly builds to becoming a great masterpiece of film with terrific performances by Charles Laughton and Clark Gable. This movie proves along with "Gone With the Wind" and "It Happened One Night" why Gable is one of the most remembered actors. His charm and likeability is in top form in this film. I'm not a big fan of movies that take place almost entirely at sea (even "great" films like Master & Commander didn't rub me the right way), but "Mutiny on the Bounty" is an exception due to the great performances and the fact that once it takes off, it's pretty entertaining. Gable plays first officer Fletcher Christian, who in the opening of the film gathers up people to go aboard a ship called The Bounty. There they will dedicate two years of their lives to the ships, whether they like it or not. Christian and midshipman Byam (Franchot Tone) are nice enough but it's Captain Bligh (Laughton) that makes the ship a living hell for everyone. Bligh is a fat, ugly, mean man who takes pleasure in flogging his crewmembers and accusing them of things they haven't done. When he's caught in a lie, he responds by having the "catcher" flogged. Christian is smart enough to know that he has no choice but to tolerate Bligh's abuse, but Christian's temper is just as bad as Bligh's. Finally, he snaps and mutiny occurs on the Bounty...Although, I'm sure you probably already figured that out. It's little wonder that Gable, Laughton, and Tone were all nominated for Best Actor (they all lost to Victor McLaglen) for the first and only time in Oscar history, although the Best Supporting Actor category did not yet exist. "Mutiny on the Bounty" is not, in my opinion, one of the best films ever made. It is a great film that has aged better than a lot of films that were made 20 years after it and for 1935, a lot of the special effects are well done. This film is probably one of the littlest known films on that top 100 list, yet it deserves more viewings than other films on the list like "The Jazz Singer" and, dare I say it, "Ben-Hur." It won't appeal to everyone, but it's worth seeing for the performances alone. Both Gable and Tone are very likeable and charismatic, while Laughton isn't a character you love to hate. You just hate the guy.

GRADE: A-

Swashbuckling!.......2006-05-19

"Mutiny on the Bounty" is the fictionalized tale of an actual event whose repercussions are felt to this day. Captain Bligh is charged with sailing the Bounty to Tahiti to harvest breadfruit plants for transplant to the West Indies - what should ultimately be a two-year mission. He is commander of a crew made up of both volunteers and those pressed into service by His Majesty's Royal Navy, the latter group being significantly less enthusiastic about their voyage. Bligh's discipline often crosses the line into malicious sadism and as the months wear on, many in the crew begin to contemplate a mutiny which they execute shortly after departing Tahiti. Bligh is put into a small boat with those of the crew who remain loyal and performs the amazing feat of sailing 3500 miles over 45 days with very little provision. He eventually returns to Tahiti, where first mate Christian and the rest of the mutineers reside along with some of the loyal crew who wouldn't fit on the boat. Capture, return to England, trial, and execution ensue for some of the mutineers.

"Mutiny" is great not because of the acting - Laughton is tremendous as Bligh, Gable is only servicable as Christian, and Tone is poor as conflicted midshipman Byam - but because of the characters that make up the story. Those performances which are less-than-great are swallowed up by the flow of the story which you can almost feel as an inevitable force driving them all to their fate. Bligh is to mean to die, Christian is too noble to die, Byam is to honorable to die. But each receives a very different reward for their actions.

The supporting cast is very solid and really conveys the sense of frustration and anger that builds as time passes on the Bounty. The shots of the Bounty on the open ocean are magnificent and are easily the equal of those from "Master and Commander". However, the obviously anglo "Tahitians" can be pretty distracting to someone who's grown up in politically correct America. Still, it's a minor point, especially in the black-and-white format.

A true classic. Highly recommend.

Bligh, what a meanie.......2006-03-23

Great movie, I felt it was a bit slow at times. The performances were outstanding. I enjoyed seeing Franchot Tone. My wife really missed Gable's mustache. I really enjoyed the trailer at the end showing the descendents of the Bounty's crew still living on Pitcairn Island.

Average customer rating:

The real pirate movie!
Treasure Island
Treasure Island
Classic Adventure (With Pirates-- ARG!)
Great, yet flawed...

Treasure Island
Starring: Wallace Beery , Jackie Cooper , Lionel Barrymore , Otto Kruger , and Lewis Stone
Director: Victor Fleming , John Farrow , and Felix E. Feist
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GRUQLA
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Amazon.com

For many people, this 1934 version is the definitive Treasure Island: the great chemistry between Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper, the rousing pirate anthems, and the stubborn parrot on the shoulder. The pairing of the actors was a cinch, coming three years after their tremendously popular teaming in The Champ. Cooper plays Jim Hawkins, the English boy who discovers a treasure map amongst the possessions of one Billy Bones (Lionel Barrymore in a robust extended cameo), a pirate visitor to the Admiral Benbow Inn. Beery, indelibly, is the one-legged, parrot-toting seadog known as Long John Silver, who joins up on the treasure-hunting expedition by pretending to be a humble cook--though the audience knows he is a fearsome pirate captain. Victor Fleming was just the right director for this manly voyage, holding the MGM luster at bay and allowing the crew of characters actors (among them Otto Kruger, Lewis Stone, and "Chic" Sale) to find their sea legs. At times, the relationship between Jim and Silver is closer to The Champ than to Robert Louis Stevenson's marvelous novel, but it's still true in spirit to the bond between boy and surrogate father. The story has been remade many times, notably in 1950 with Robert Newton as Silver, but this one inspires the longest memories. --Robert Horton

Description

Avast, mates, and heed a pirate's tale. Billy Bones, bless his cursed soul, has hefted his cutlass and grog for the last time, leaving behind scarcely a doubloon. Aye, but he has left a map to a fabled, buried treasure.... The unforgettable stars of 1931's The Champ reunite for a rousing adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's tale. Jackie Cooper is Jim Hawkins, a lad living the kind of adventure every child dreams about. Treasure map in hand, Jim and his backers set sail for realms and riches unknown aboard the Hispaniola. But beware, me hearties: Notorious, one-legged Long John Silver (Wallace Beery) has signed on to the voyage by posing as a cook. Will the treasure fall into his scheming grasp? Will the Hispaniola soon be a-flying the dreaded skull and bones? Drop anchor and watch. A pirate's life for ye!

DVD Features:
Other:Vintage Dramatic Short The Spectacle Maker Oscar?-Nominated Short Strikes and Spares Classic Cartoon Tale of the Vienna Woods
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

The real pirate movie!.......2007-06-09

This is the real pirate movie! Ever since I saw this film the first time a long time ago, this is what I think of when you talk about buccaneers. Here you can hear the whole piratesong: 15 men on a dead mans chest....And learn about the black spot. Things that has been an inspiration to the pirates of the carribeans films. Wallace Berry and Jackie Cooper does a great acting job. Long John Silver is the crookiest crook, but still charming in a ruff way and young Jim Hawkins can't help liking him. This film is from 1934, so the film is in black and white. A great movie, says I, says you, says.....

Treasure Island.......2007-05-17

Great Stuff for Adults who love the classics. Wallis Berry and Jackie Cooper do a great job of providing swashbuckeling entertainment. My 5 and 7 year old found it somewhat "boring" after seeing Pirates of the Caribbean more than a few times - although, my 7 year old has requested seeing it again and enjoyed it more the second time. You might have to turn up the sound on this copy as some of the old english may be hard to follow. Otherwise a very good buy. Enjoy!

Treasure Island.......2007-01-24

Lionel Barrymore is the standout in this movie. The best Treasure Island movie there ever was!

Classic Adventure (With Pirates-- ARG!).......2007-01-07

Treasure Island is one of the several films that the dream team of Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper made together. This one seems to illustrate their relationship off-screen much better than others in the past. Cooper plays the main character, a boy who works in his father's tavern. His life is changed when one day, a sailor called Captain walks in (Lionel Barrymore). His appearance sets off a series of events leading to pirates entering the area, leader of all being Long John Silver (Beery). They come to seek the treasure indicatd on a treasure map the Captain leaves at the tavern when he dies suddenly. However, the map is in the hands of loyal British subjects under the orders of an honest man (Lewis Stone), so the pirates have to resort to trickery to get their way.

What is disturbing about the movie is how evil one man can be to a boy who looks up to him as a friend and as a father-figure. One can only imagine that this was the way Beery really treated Cooper in life, especially from hearing Cooper tell how much he hated his constant co-star. This information makes the film all the more powerful and heartbreaking at times. Otherwise, it is a wonderful adventure story, something that never goes out of style.

Also included on the DVD is the trailer for the film and a few short subjects including an early color short.

Great, yet flawed..........2006-11-23

This 1935 version of Treasure Island has all the hallmarks of a cinema classic and yet is somehow not terribly engaging. The only aspect I can identify that stopped me from enjoying it to the fullest was the casting of Jackie Cooper as Jim Hawkins. His performance is stiff and quite two-dimensional. In later life the guy himself admitted that he really wasn't a very good child actor. Wallace Beery however is so incredibly effective in his role of Long John Silver that he redeems the film and makes it worth watching.
The picture and sound quality of this release are as superb as we have all come to expect from Warner Home Video releases of films of this age.

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (UMD Mini For PSP)

Average customer rating:

A nice popcorn film
sounded like a bad idea
Depp's big payday
Great Movie
Best pirate movie of all time??

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (UMD Mini For PSP)
Starring: Lee Arenberg , Johnny Depp , Trevor Goddard , Kevin McNally , and Jonathan Pryce
Director: Gore Verbinski
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: UMD for PSP