The Bounty
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Movie Reviews of The Bounty
Movie Review: A wonderful, classic movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a fabulous movie with a fantastic cast and story line. It is, of course, the story of HMS Bounty, and her ill-fated trip to Tahiti in the 18th Century. This version is closest to the interpretation of what happened there that most historians favor today. Bligh (Anthony Hopkins) is neither hero nor villain--merely a sea captain faced with the task of taking his ship on a two-year journey to the other side of the world--a journey that would roughly compare today with a space voyage to Mars. Bligh was picked to captain this voyage for the very good reason that he was reckoned at that time to be the best navigator in the British Navy. (Bligh had been Navigator for the great Captain Cook on that earlier voyage to the South Seas).This is an incredible story, done twice before of course. This version is far and away my favorite. There are no stereotype heros or villains in this telling. Gibson is simply wonderful as Fletcher Christian, Hopkins as Bligh rings true. The rest of the cast is similarly excellent.
As superb as the movie was, the best part of the movie is the outstanding theme music by Vangelis. The music is beautiful, haunting, and not to be forgotten. This is an example of how the musical score to a movie can really contribute to the overall experience.
I do not understand why this film was not a bigger hit. Gibson is a better Fletcher Christian than Brando, and Hopkins is perfection as Captain Bligh. ...
Movie Review: Excellent Movie Given a Bare-Bones DVD Release
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie is excellent, but that is all you get on the DVD. The only extra is a grainy theatrical trailer. There is an abundance of supplemental material that could have been included. I've seen several documentaries about the Bounty mutiny and Pitcairn Island that would have made great extras for the DVD. In particular is a New Zealand made documentary, "A Fated Ship," that shows the construction of the replica Bounty that was used in this movie. It is a fascinating story. The replica was built for a set of two movies that were to be directed by David Lean ("Bridge on the River Kwai" and "Lawrence of Arabia") and produced by Dino de Laurentis. Lean dropped out of the project and De Laurentis was stuck with a full-sized, completely accurate replica of the Bounty. This documentary is far superior to the short, publicity fluff pieces that pass for "documentaries" on too many DVDs. But nothing like that is provided.
There is so much history associated with story of the Bounty that the potential for special features is vast. I would really like something like "A Fated Ship" or the Australian documentary about HMS Pandora, the frigate sent to retrieve the mutineers. But even a commentary track or a "behind-the-scenes" featurette would have been better than nothing.
It seems doubtful, but perhaps "The Bounty" will get a decent DVD release someday with a suitable suite of extras.
Movie Review: A magnificient DVD with no extras
Summary: 5 Stars
Everybody knows already the story of The Bounty and how it ends. The battle of wills between Captain Bligh (excellent Anthony Hopkins) and Fletcher Christian (equally excellent Mel Gibson). What prompted me to write a review is another review, one from Mr. Stefan Schott from Germany (December 29, 2000), who gave the DVD one star! He said that the dialogues were so distorted that it is impossible to watch the movie and that image quality is below average.First, maybe the quality of the copy in Europe (Region 2) is different from the one that sells for Region 1.
I bought the DVD yesterday and watched it last night. This is a prime example of low price/high quality DVD. The widescreen is a perfect media to set off the visual quality of that movie. The sunsets are marvelous, the close-ups are stunning and the scenes filmed at the water's edge leave us breathless. As for the audio quality, I did not find any flaws. The sound is perfectly clear and the dialogues are all audible.
Obviously, Mr. Schott had a much different experience than I did with the DVD version of "The Bounty". I just wanted to bring that to the attention of potential American buyers so that they will not be put off by Mr. Schott's review.
The only let down of this DVD is that there are no extras. At that price though, the fact that the movie itself on DVD is exceptional is worth the price.
Movie Review: Great Reimagining of an Old Story
Summary: 5 Stars
Although this is not a new story on film, it is an excellent reworking of it. Mel Gibson and (pre-Hannibal) Anthony Hopkins are excellent as Fletcher Christian and William Bligh. This version adds backstory: Bligh and Christian were friends before their tragic journey that would leave one on trial and one marooned. The story is told via flashbacks by Bligh in front of a court-martial headed by the legendary Lawrence Olivier. This is not your typical production of the Bounty story, this beginning proves it. Next we are shown something of Bligh: he is an aging, ambitious Navy man who wants to advance with this mission: bring bread fruits from Tahiti to the colony in the West Indies, where a famine is occuring. After accomplishing their mission, some sailors, notably Churchill(Liam Neeson, excellent), decide to stay on the island. Punishing them has detrimental effects for Bligh's popularity. Bligh soon is out of control, and it is time for Christian to stage his mutiny. Beautiful photography is just a part of its brilliance. Modern audiences will love this retelling of a classic tale, and it has a stellar cast, high production values, and has that sense of adventure that is essential. A great film.Movie Review: The Bounty
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this film about 12 years ago by accident on TV one Christmas. From the first opening credits picturing sunsets over South Sea Island Beaches with that haunting Vangelis theme, I was mesmorised. The flashback style of storytelling from Bligh's Court Marshal was an inspired piece of film making, and immediately got me into the film. Great acting as ever from Sir Anthony and a very fine Performance if slightly dodgy English accent from Mr Gibson. Other notable appearances are Liam Neeson, Daniel Day Lewis and then a little known Neil Morrisey as Quintel.I can thoroughly recommend this film as a captivating piece of cinema, and one which I regularly watch. Dispite what other people have said, I think the Vangelis sountrack helps lift the film above the norm, one particularly striking scene is punctauted with a thunder like clap of sound when Bligh reduces Fryer in Rank in front of the crew - you can smell the tension!!!
A thoroughly underated and undeservedly ignored film, which I believe deserves the badge of 'Cult Classic'.