Pirates

Starring:Pirates
Studio: Echo Bridge Home Ent
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

An action movie to top the rest
Captain Jack Sparrow The Flamboyant Pirate.
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Aar ye mattes
Ahoy Mates

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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Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
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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:

An action movie to top the rest.......2007-06-27

The first time I watched this I fell asleep...so I didnt watch it for about 2 years then my fiance made me again and I loved it. I guess I aquired a love for pirates in the two years :). This movie takes you on a wild ride on various ships until leading up the black pearl. There were twists and turns the whole way with alot of subtle details thrown in there. All three of the main actors acted beautifully. Johnny Deep played a good role as aiding in much comedic relief. All in All a great buy.

Captain Jack Sparrow The Flamboyant Pirate........2007-06-25

I am one of those rare folks who didnt get around to seeing this movie until years after it came out. Being as the name of the movie is Pirates of the Caribbean I was expecting tough guy pirates stealing and plundering and having sword fights. I did not at all expect Captain Jack Sparrow to be a flamboyant and quite amusing pirate. Johnny Depp completely made this movie for me. His acting is fantastic and so weird you just can't look away. The story line was well thought out and the special effects are fabulous. I highly recommend you check this movie out even if you think you might not like it.

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition).......2007-06-09

Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)~ Johnny Depp is a truly grand adventure/fantasy/pirate movie. Johnny Depp is amazing in the part of Jack Sparrow and he is the best and wackiest charachter in the entire movie. The special effects are right on the money and the action scenes are filled with loads of fun. The script is well-written and the movie never drags and one is not left with meaningless scenes that could have been removed. I love this movie and I can not wait to see the sequell.

Aar ye mattes.......2007-06-08

Once started out as a ride at disney world now became a hit movie. Which in my oppinion is an awesome movie. This is a movie the whole family will enjoy.

Ahoy Mates.......2007-06-02

Love Johnny Depp in this movie, what a hottie. Great special effects. LOVE IT. Funny, Entertaining, Great for the family.

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

awesome movie
Another great movie to add to your collection
Stands alone!
With a yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum - this show's a lotta fun!
Not As Good As The First But Still Fun To Watch.

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Orlando Bloom , and Keira Knightley
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JP0F
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Amazon.com

Take the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, add a dash of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a lot more rum. Shake well and you'll have something resembling Dead Man's Chest, a bombastic sequel that's enjoyable as long as you don't think too hard about it. The film opens with the interrupted wedding of Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), both of whom are arrested for aiding in the escape of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in the first film. Their freedom can only be obtained by getting Captain Jack's compass, which is linked to a key that's linked to a chest belonging to Davy Jones, an undead pirate with a tentacle face and in possession of a lot of people's souls. If you're already confused, don't worry--plot is definitely not the strong suit of the franchise, as the film excels during its stunt pieces, which are impressively extravagant (in particular a three-way swordfight atop a mill wheel). It may help to know that Dead Man's Chest was filmed simultaneously with some of Pirates 3, so don't expect a complete resolution (think more The Empire Strikes Back) or the movie will feel a lot longer than it really is.

Bloom shows a tad bit more brawn this time around, but he's still every bit as pretty as the tomboyish Knightley. (Seriously, sometimes you think they could swap roles.) Bill Nighy (Love, Actually) weighs in as Davy Jones and Stellan Skarsgård appears as Will's undead father. But the film still belongs wholly to Depp, who in a reprise of his Oscar-nominated role gets all the belly laughs with a single widened eyeliner-ed gaze. He still runs like a cartoon hen and slurs like Keith Richards--and he's still one of the most fascinating movie characters in recent history. --Ellen A. Kim

More Pirates at Amazon.com

Johnny Depp DVDs
Buy Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Buy the Soundtrack

Description

Charming rogue pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back for a grand, swashbuckling, nonstop joyride filled with devilish pirate humor, monstrous sea creatures, and breathtaking black magic. Now Jack's got a blood debt to pay -- he owes his soul to the legendary Davy Jones, ghostly Ruler of the Ocean Depths . . . but ever-crafty Jack isn't about to go down without a fight. Along the way, dashing Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and the beautiful Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) get caught up in the thrilling whirlpool of misadventures stirred up in Jack's quest to avoid eternal damnation by seizing the fabled Dead Man's Chest!

Customer Reviews:

awesome movie.......2007-07-02

awesome sequel to the first one! i love the special effects in this one with Davy Jones and the Kraken! also, jack sparrow was hilarious as always! :D

Another great movie to add to your collection.......2007-06-27

This movie had me sitting on the edge of my chair throughout it. Once again, all of the cast plays an outstanding role. The whole object of this movie is to get the keys from Davy Jones to get to Dead Mans Chest. Its an awesome movie. I recomend it to everyone.

Stands alone!.......2007-06-27

FUN! I always look at sequels from at least two angles: as a sequel and as a movie without a predesessor. This movie can easily stand alone.

With a yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum - this show's a lotta fun!.......2007-06-26

I finally sat down and watched this DVD - I have no idea why I waited so long, I'm a Johnny Depp fan and love the way he lives and breaths his characters. He is especially believable as Jack Sparrow - lovable despite his tendency to think predominantly of his own well-being or how to line his pockets.

A good bit of time has passed since the previous movie and the East India Trade company has moved into the area; bringing with it the detestable Lord Beckett, who has Will arrested on his wedding day and drags him to the site - where Elizabeth forlornly sits in the rain, in her wedding dress - in chains. And proceeds to arrest Elizabeth as well. What does he want? He wants Jack Sparrow's compass and he's willing to make a deal to get it - he will send Will out to find Sparrow and get the compass in exchange for a pardon for Sparrow and leniency for Will and Elizabeth.

The movie has amazing special effects - like the first movie, the crew of the antagonistic ship is completely crewed by "monsters," requiring extensive special effects. Personally, I liked the special effects in this movie better - I was fascinated by the constant movement on many of the characters. The kraken was also pretty cool, especially toward the end where you get to see the main body and mouth of the "beastie," as Jack puts it.

This movie does end on a bit of a cliff-hanger, with a bit of a surprise thrown at us right at the end that I certainly didn't see coming. I will definitely be looking forward to watching "At World's End" once it is released to DVD. A recommend from me for anyone who enjoys a good adventure flick, some fun sword fights (love the water-mill scene - shades of a hamster wheel, anyone??) and terrific special effects. Not for the people who prefer to be intellectually challenged or go to "theatres" to see "films" - this is definitely a movie ;-) Get it, watch it, enjoy it!

Not As Good As The First But Still Fun To Watch........2007-06-25

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest is not as good as the first but still worth watching. The story is full of holes and slightly hard to follow at times but the acting is still great. I just cannot get enough of Johnny Depp's portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow as a flamboyant pirate. If you saw the first movie you need to see this one. If you havent seen the first yet, go back and view that one before this movie.

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

Average customer rating:

Way to go Disney!
Great movie!
Blu-Ray Heaven
Rate the movie, not your firmware
FIRMWARE UPDATE

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]
Starring: Christopher Adamson , Lee Arenberg , Josie Dapar , Johnny Depp , and Spider Madison
Director: Gore Verbinski
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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Similar Items:

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

ASIN: B000N6UERU
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Product description

Charming rogue pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back to wreak hilarious havoc on the high seas on Blu-ray Disc®! Also starring Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly, this swashbuckling joyride will amaze you as never before in this spectacular, "see-worthy" format! Jack's got a blood debt to pay: he owes his soul to Davy Jones, ghostly Ruler of the Deep. Get caught up in the whirlpool of Jack's misadventures as he schemes to avoid eternal damnation by seizing the fabled Dead Man's Chest. Thrill to the nonstop action, devilish humor, monstrous sea creatures and breathtaking black magic presented in astonishing 1080p and thunderous 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio. Experience oceans of fun with Blu-ray™ High Definition.

Customer Reviews:

Way to go Disney!.......2007-07-02

The picture quality and sound quality of this movie are amazing on Blu-Ray! Way better than I had hoped, I show it to anyone who does not know what Blu-Ray is or ask me is there a difference on Blu-Ray!
The Uncompressed audio track is a Hundred times better than Dolby Digital, the movie comes alive!

Great movie!.......2007-07-01

I must say I like the second part better than the first one. The story and characters were amazing. Uncompressed sound is heaven so use a surround sound system! The graphics were pretty good and overall it's a great movie to watch and to collect on Blu ray.

Blu-Ray Heaven.......2007-06-30

The video transfer on this BD is definitely one that would be classed as reference material. I have watched it a few times now with my PS3 set to 1080P feeding my JVC HD1 1080P projector and the picture quality is the bees knees.

Even with my ageing Denon AVR-2802 I can quite clearly hear the quality of the audio. I am expecting to take delivery of the new Onkyo 875 in the next few weeks which I am sure will give me a better idea of how good the audio transfer really is. Suffice to say that with my current equipment I believe the audio transfer is up there with the best available.

Rate the movie, not your firmware.......2007-06-26

This movie is stunning, If you need a firmware update, do it, it's easy and free. Then rate the movie. The 2 pirate movies are outstanding. Disney did an excellent job and I can't wait for pirates 3!

FIRMWARE UPDATE.......2007-06-24

Well the second disc was reconised but the first one got stuck at 0:00,
All the other blu-ray movies I have did have no probs except this one............Sorry one star
I got the sony blu-ray player BWU-100A

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

Average customer rating:

Awesome!
Good Blu-ray
Must Have on Blu-ray!
Amazing picture and sound quality
Disney Obviously Loves Blu-ray and So do I

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

Action & Adventure | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

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Comedy | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000N6UERA
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Product description

Set sail for adventure with Disney's Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl on Blu-ray's high definition disc. This revolutionary new format brings the thrilling tale of the high seas to life like never before! Legendary pirate Captain Jack Sparrow and young sword-maker Will Turner join forces to rescue a governor's daughter from a band of bloodthirsty fellow pirates. Only Jack knows the dark secret the crew of the Black Pearl harbors. See the glint of each sword in eye-popping 1080p, and experience every cannon blast with spectacular 5.1 48kHz, uncompressed audio. It's entertainment quality so intense, you'll almost feel the sea mist in the air with the magic of Blu-ray high definition.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome!.......2007-07-02

The last time I saw this was when it first came out on DVD. Bought the Blu-Ray and all I can say is Wow!
The clarity of the picture along with the Uncompressed Audio track, I now use this Movie to show off my Home Theatre!

Good Blu-ray.......2007-07-01

This is a pretty good movie to start the Pirates series. I did notice that this movie was a little grainier than the second part since I own both movies. So as far as the graphics go, it's not too bad, but still a bit grainy. The uncompressed sound is always amazing, and will really rock if you have a surround sound system. By far, it's a collectible movie...so it's in my books.

Must Have on Blu-ray!.......2007-06-27

I scooped up this and PoC:Dead Man's Chest right before PoC:At World's End was released in theaters and WOW! The movies look fantastic Johnny Depp is great as Capt. Jack with all the oddities. Geoffrey Rush is brilliant as Capt. Barbosa. Keira Knightley is just stunningly gorgeous 1080p.
As stated before this blows the dvd away.

Ignore the low rating given by the other reviewer and his "hectic weekend" get a firmware upgrade if you need it and buy the movie.

Amazing picture and sound quality.......2007-06-26

Even if you own this movie on DVD, sell it and get this blu-ray disc! If you need a firmware upgrade on you BD player, it's easy and free to download and install.

This is by far one of the finest HD transfers to date. Thank you Disney, and I can't wait untill the Pixar movies start to show up.

I don't understand the person that gave it a low star rating, your rating the MOVIE not your player.

Disney Obviously Loves Blu-ray and So do I.......2007-06-11

Holy cow! What a release! Even for those like me who have seen this movie a dozen times, Disney found all kinds of new ways to make the movie fresh again.

First off:

Awesome Picture - one of the best I've seen on Blu-ray and I have at least 20 in my collection.

Awesome Sound - The foundation of my house was shaking!

Really cool special features! My favorite was the choice to have pirate facts pop up as you watched the film, and some of the facts could be banked so that at the end of the film, a documentary (that you have created by banking the facts you are interested in) plays. I mean, getting to custon make your own documentary? Only on Blu-ray my friends.

My family and I had a great time watching this film and I highly recomend it!

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Widescreen Edition)

Average customer rating:

awesome movie
Another great movie to add to your collection
Stands alone!
With a yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum - this show's a lotta fun!
Not As Good As The First But Still Fun To Watch.

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Johnny Depp , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , Jack Davenport , and Bill Nighy
Director: Gore Verbinski
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Cars (Widescreen Edition)
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
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Ice Age - The Meltdown (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000I0RQVI
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Product Description

Amazon.com

More Pirates at Amazon.com

Johnny Depp DVDs
Buy Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Buy the Soundtrack

Customer Reviews:

awesome movie.......2007-07-02

awesome sequel to the first one! i love the special effects in this one with Davy Jones and the Kraken! also, jack sparrow was hilarious as always! :D

Another great movie to add to your collection.......2007-06-27

Stands alone!.......2007-06-27

FUN! I always look at sequels from at least two angles: as a sequel and as a movie without a predesessor. This movie can easily stand alone.

With a yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum - this show's a lotta fun!.......2007-06-26

Not As Good As The First But Still Fun To Watch........2007-06-25

Average customer rating:

Great movie
Insanely great!
Decent TNT original movie, nice brief stroll through computer history.
good but not accurate
Good unbiased information

Pirates of Silicon Valley
Starring: Noah Wyle , Joey Slotnick , J.G. Hertzler , Anthony Michael Hall , and Wayne Pére
Director: Martyn Burke
Manufacturer: Turner Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Made-for-TV Movies | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs as Low as $7.49 | The Big DVD Sale | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0009NSCS0
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Product Description

The revolution came when we weren't looking. It happened in a garage. In a dorm room. In countless hours of effort, imagining and intrigue. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates were changing the way the world works, lives and communicates.

The event-packed saga of the quirky visionaries who jump-started the future unfolds with exhilarating, cutting-edge style in Pirates of Silicon Valley. Noah Wyle (ER) portrays Jobs and Anthony Michael Hall (The Dead Zone) portrays Gates in this chronicle of the fierce and often humorous battle to rule the fledgling personal computer empire. "The story is almost Shakespearean... it's a tale of lust, greed, ambition, love and hate," writer/director Martyn Burke reflects. And it's a success story unlike any other.

Running Time: 97 min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

This dramatization of the tangled history of Apple Computer and Microsoft, based on a book by Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine, hits enough of the right notes to make its failures all the more frustrating. The script follows the entwined paths of Apple's Steve Jobs and Microsoft's Bill Gates with a pointed sense of the cultural divide between the hip, self-absorbed Apple cofounder and the brilliant alpha geek behind Microsoft's eventual software empire, contrasting the Mac's countercultural underpinnings with the PC's more strait-laced origins. But Pirates of Silicon Valley seemingly can't decide whether it wants to be a serious-minded history of these key figures in the personal computer revolution or a trashy wallow in the more ignoble foibles of its principals. As a result, it falls short of exacting history while never achieving the guilty pleasure it might have.

If Gates has become synonymous with corporate conquest at its most striking, Pirates' interest lies more with Jobs, given a nervous energy and flashes of adolescent selfishness by Noah Wyle, who benefits from a reasonable physical resemblance to the Apple chief. Eyewear and a comb-over do nearly as well for Anthony Michael Hall, who also grafts some of Bill Gates's better-known mannerisms onto his performance and renders Gates as a smart if socially maladroit entrepreneur who, like Jobs, provides the ambition and business savvy to exploit his partner's computing talents. There are a few fanciful touches (Ballmer and Wozniak become Greek choruses, addressing the viewer as they comment on the principals), but the story plays out in straightforward fashion. It's tantalizing to consider how the Apple/PC melodrama might have fared with an edgier, more openly satirical script. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Great movie.......2007-06-29

This movie was very inetersting. It shows how the modern personal computer industry started.

Insanely great!.......2007-06-04

Hugely enjoyable and quite accurate (by most accounts) telling of the rise and ultimate clash of two modern tech titans, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Canadian Martyn Burke deserves great credit for both writing and directing this gem. While made for television, this is better by far than most made-for-theater Hollywood productions. The 70's and 80's music fits especially well; tremendously appropriate songs and soundtrack for the story. And the use of the famous Apple "1984" commercial, compared with the vision of a huge, televised Bill Gates hovering over a humbled Steve Jobs is absolutely brilliant.

The dual narration is brilliant too, using the Steve Wozniak character to narrate the Apple story, while the Steve Ballmer character narrates the Microsoft side of things. Sure, there are major oversimplifications of many characters, and while a Paul Allen character is an active presence here - we learn virtually nothing about him as a person. But so what? As the commentary on the DVD points out, there's an almost Shakespearean feel to much of this. The focus is on the events surrounding the ultimate clash for PC superiority between Apple and Microsoft, and on Jobs himself, to a lesser extent on Gates. With no attempt to fully flesh out the other players (and none needed, in the particular story that's being told/dramatized). A few weakish scenes are included, but not many; virtually every scene adds a dimension to the plot and to the ultimate conclusion. The pace is very good, very strong. Noah Wyle gives a terrific performance as Steve Jobs; Anthony Michael Hall is also excellent as Bill Gates. And the DVD has a brief but interesting and entertaining introduction by Wyle; be sure to view it.

As to any "inaccuracies", from what I can tell those are very, very minor. Those interested may want to check Steve Wozniak's website, a section (in "letters") discusses his take on this movie. In a nutshell, Woz was not consulted for the movie, and was flattered by the way he was portrayed. He seemed to feel the movie was accurate or portrayed accuracies; he mentions a few things such as they weren't allowed to wear the "Alice in Wonderland" costumes home, but changed out of them before leaving the performance - personally I thought it was a nice touch to have them walking home while still in costume. Also there's some obvious dialog added for humorous or dramatic purposes; for example, in one scene the Gates character tries to connect socially with women by complimenting their "bandwidth" and by attempting to imitate John Travolta's disco moves while on rollerskates - funny, almost believable, but not likely strict reality. Or when both Jobs and Gates quote the Picasso line about "...great artists steal", but Gates (unlike Jobs) doesn't really care which artist said it. Minor stuff like that should be treated as artistic/dramatic license, not absolute reality. It's a movie (or docudrama), not a strict documentary, yet still manages to make a great story while still being essentially true to the reality of the events. (By the way, "Insanely Great" was of course an Apple marketing phrase for the Mac, created by Steve Jobs himself; so I'm not meaning to infringe on any copyright there!).

Decent TNT original movie, nice brief stroll through computer history........2007-05-31

The computer revolution has change everything over the past 30. I hope someday a good documentary will be available. This film is so far the only thing I have noted along the way that even tried to touch on the computer wars at the beginning. TNT produced this film back in 1999 as one of its first original movie shows. Its good drama, and really got me interested in looking at the interesting history of computer development. Yes it's kinda nerdy, but hey, I think everybody has to admit it, Apple/Macintosh has always been a more reliable/stable system, very hard to crash. Why the heck then did the IBM/microsoft platform take off as it did? Well, this movie only touches on it. Noah Wyle plays the outlandish Steve Jobes, who was co founder of Apple with Steve Woznyack. This movie illistrates his control in the company, but only touches how Apple's priprietary protection/isolation killed its strong foothold on the market, while the IBM/IBM clone market skyrocketed secondary to competition keeping computer price and software down while Microsoft, the little program maker, rake in the money from lisencing it's software. Is this really how Steve Jobes and Bill gates (anthony michael hall) are in real life, I don't think so, but hey, its still a decent movie. Check it out if you like this kind of history.

good but not accurate.......2007-05-21

the movie paints a good picture of the people in the movie, and touches on a lot of realistic events, but is not totally accurate

Good unbiased information.......2007-05-18

My wife and I enjoyed this film alot. It's cool to see how all of this computer stuff began, and how stupid the big companies were early on. It's interesting because they still are slow to react and a little stupid most of the time. It really shows the truth of what Bill Gates did, and has continued to do, which is be dishonest, cheat, steal, AND make really low quality products. But it is not biased as it shows the downfalls of Steve Jobs and Apple in the early days as well. Get this movie!

Pirates of the Golden Age Movie Collection (Against All Flags / Buccaneer's Girl / Yankee Buccaneer / Double Crossbones)

Average customer rating:

Pirates of the Golden Age Collection
Sometimes Silly, but Entertaining Set, with Flynn, to Boot!
Golden Age of Pirate Movies
As good as I remembered
Double rum matey

Pirates of the Golden Age Movie Collection (Against All Flags / Buccaneer's Girl / Yankee Buccaneer / Double Crossbones)
Starring: Errol Flynn , Maureen O'Hara , Yvonne de Carlo , and Donald O'Connor
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Tyrone Power: The Swashbuckler Box Set (Blood and Sand / Son of Fury / The Black Rose / Prince of Foxes / The Captain from Castile)
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Unconquered (Universal Cinema Classics)
Literary Classics Collection (Madame Bovary (1949), Captain Horatio Hornblower, The Three Musketeers (1948), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 and 1952 Versions), Billy Budd)
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ASIN: B000N3T0GO
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Description

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime with four swashbuckling films in the Pirates of the Golden Age Movie Collection! Join unforgettable shipmates Errol Flynn, Maureen O'Hara, Anthony Quinn, Yvonne DeCarlo and Donald O'Connor as they take to the high seas in search of boundless excitement and glorious treasure. Including the classic favorites Against All Flags, Buccaneer's Girl, Yankee Buccaneer and Double Crossbones, this is one must-own collection that will have you wanting to set sail again and again! AGAINST ALL FLAGS A British naval officer (Errol Flynn) is unjustly condemned for desertion and finds redemption with a rascally pirate captain (Anthony Quinn) and a beautiful buccaneer (Maureen O'Hara). BUCCANEER'S GIRL Love walks the plank when an ambitious New Orleans entertainer (Yvonne DeCarlo) discovers that the aristocratic playboy she's fallen for has a secret identity as a legendary pirate. YANKEE BUCCANEER "X" marks the spot where a U.S. commander (Jeff Chandler) must secretly infiltrate and stop a Caribbean colony of pirates and privateers before they send him plummeting to the depths of Davy Jones's locker. DOUBLE CROSSBONES When a bumbling shopkeeper's apprentice (Donald O'Connor) finds himself unfairly accused of a crime, he joins a motley crew of pirates and finds his true calling on the South Seas.

Customer Reviews:

Pirates of the Golden Age Collection.......2007-06-13

I love old movies! What more can I say. I love the fact that they have taken these old classics, cleaned them up and released them to this current generation. I have a 14 year old and a 10 year old and they love these classics. They would not have a clue to all the wonderful movies that were made in the hey day if I as a parent did not show them.
This collection is wonderful and eventful. Lots of action & adventure. We love Donald O'Connor, so to see Double Crossbones clear and in color was a real treat. We had seen the black & white original and the sound quality was bad. But now, boy oh boy. We love it.
I would highly suggest this collection to anyone who loves the older movies and pirates.

Sometimes Silly, but Entertaining Set, with Flynn, to Boot!.......2007-06-11

Universal may never have had the prestige of an MGM, but it knew how to make a rousing genre picture (NOBODY did classic horror, better!), and these swashbucklers are great fun...with Errol Flynn providing a first-rate entry in the collection!

"Against All Flags" (1952): Nearing the end of his WB career, Flynn was allowed an occasional freelance assignment...and Universal welcomed him with a first-rate comedy/adventure, 'A-List' co-stars (Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn), and a veteran director (George Sherman). While lacking the grace of his youth, Flynn has abundant panache and charm as an undercover officer posing as a pirate, and obviously enjoyed making this movie. A bit of trivia: Flynn broke his ankle filming a battle scene, and during his recovery, Universal (never a studio to waste money), utilized the sets to film "Yankee Buccaneer"! GREAT fun! (4 1/2 stars out of 5)

"Yankee Buccaneer" (1952): One of the two pictures in the collection directed by comedy and action veteran Fred De Cordova (later famous as "The Tonight Show" producer), this brawny B-adventure showcases two rising stars (Jeff Chandler and Scott Brady), and provides an early view of David Janssen, in a small role. While the plot (a U.S. Naval vessel poses as a renegade, to track pirate activities) is no great shakes, the story never drags, and the cast is enjoyable. (2 1/2 stars out of 5).

"Buccaneer's Girl" (1950): The second De Cordova-directed feature; while the title sounds like a typical RKO/Maureen O'Hara adventure from the '40s, this is, in fact, a light-hearted pirate yarn featuring Yvonne De Carlo as a misplaced Boston entertainer involved with dashing buccaneer captain Philip Friend (an attractive actor who never quite achieved major stardom). There's a lot of Lucille Ball in De Carlo's comic performance, and you may notice TWO of Errol Flynn's classic villains (Robert Douglas and Henry Daniell), on hand to provide mischief! Lovable pirates with hearts of gold, and good, clean family fun. (2 stars out of 5).

"Double Crossbones" (1951): Donald O'Connor, prior to "Singing in the Rain", shows his remarkable dancing skills in this often silly, but likable little family-friendly yarn. As a meek apprentice who accidentally becomes a pirate, the film's success relies on his charm, and for the most part, he delivers. You'll never see Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, or Captain Kidd more sweet-natured than they are portrayed here! Watch for Will Geer, James Arness, Charles McGraw, and Glenn Strange, in supporting roles...(2 stars out of 5).

These titles may not have you dreaming of running off to sea, but at this price, they certainly are worth a few evenings' worth of swashbuckling!

Golden Age of Pirate Movies.......2007-06-08

I enjoyd all of the films. Dated, but most enjoyable.

As good as I remembered.......2007-05-09

I also ordered this only for Against All Flags. The quality of this DVD was excellent. I received this set in the mail yesterday and only had the opportunity to watch Against All Flags, and the movie was all I expected and more with the great Technocolor and sound quailty, along with the original movie trailers. As is, this set was worth the money after just the first film, and I've got 3 more in the set to look forward to and enjoy.

Double rum matey.......2007-05-07

As most reviews have stated this set is worth owning if for no other reason to own "Against All Flags". I watched it for years on TV and waited anxiously for it to come out on DVD. When it did not come out in the two Errol Flynn sets I was very disappointed. This is by far a favorite of most Flynn fans. Those of us that especially like "The Seahawk", "Captain Blood", and "The Master of Ballantrae" love it. A must have. The others in this Pirates set are mindless fun too, just not inspirational enough to have me want to see the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" or go to Disneyworld to go on the ride as much as "Against All Flags". One other thing, the DVD is clear and sharp and the color in "Against All Flags" is so clean it looks like a new print.

Average customer rating:

Treasure Island
Classic
Disney Classic Inspired by Stevenson's Great Novel
Great one
The best adventure film for a kid ever! And us kids at heart.

Treasure Island
Starring: Bobby Driscoll , Robert Newton , Basil Sydney , Walter Fitzgerald , and Denis O'Dea
Director: Byron Haskin
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000089G5L
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Amazon.com

Strap on your pantaloons and prepare to travel with Jim Hawkins and Blind Pew to one of the most famous fictional islands in history. Walt Disney's 1950 adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's swashbuckling masterpiece has held up extremely well, with action and characterizations that feel freshly minted (although it's unlikely that the Mouse of today would sanction the high level of booze flowing throughout the picture). Great fun, with nary a wasted frame and, in the character of Robert Newton's much-imitated Long John, one of cinema's most boisterously crowd-pleasing villains ever. (Proving that you can't keep a good--er, bad man down, Newton would return with director Byron Haskins for the enjoyable sequel, Long John Silver.) Watching this classic is like having a flashback to some perfect Technicolor childhood. --Andrew Wright

Description

Ahoy, mateys! Come aboard the good ship Hispaniola and set sail in search of buried treasure in one of Disney's most critically acclaimed adventure classics -- presented in its original, uncut theatrical version! In his first all-live-action feature, Walt Disney has vividly brought to life Robert Louis Stevenson's timeless tale of buccaneers and buried gold. Authentic locales, rich color photography, and musket-roaring action set the stage for the stouthearted heroics of young Jim Hawkins (Bobby Driscoll) -- and the skullduggery of that wily, one-legged pirate of all pirates, Long John Silver. Aye, for the kind of excitement that only treasure and treachery can bring, there's no better destination than TREASURE ISLAND!

Customer Reviews:

Treasure Island.......2007-06-27

Byron Haskin's definitive film version of Stevenson's salty tale stands out for Newton's glorious, scenery chewing performance as Long John, the most charming and devious cut-throat sailing the seven seas, and Driscoll also holds his own as Jim. The Disney studio spared no expense in bringing "Treasure" to the screen again (it was previously filmed in 1934), as both production design and color photography are first-rate. To would-be pirates of all ages, all aboard for this flavorful, exciting adventure.

Classic.......2007-06-27

Classic Disney import from England with excellent actors. A Treasure for everyone of every age.

Disney Classic Inspired by Stevenson's Great Novel.......2007-05-27

Disney has always called on classic stories for inspiration. Robert Louis Stevenson's great classic "Treasure Island" provided the inspiration for this Disney adaptation. The adaptation deviates from Stevenson's and becomes a classic separate from Stevenson's.

Young Jim Hawkins (the late Bobby Driscoll, who appeared in "The Fighting Sullivans," "Song of the South," "So Dear to My Heart," and was the voice of Peter Pan in the Disney classic) encounters pirate Captain Billy Bones. Bones is an imposing figure, and yet he is kind to Jim Hawkins. Soon, other, more vicious and threatening, characters appear on the scene, all looking for Billy Bones' treasure map, which is now in the possession of Jim Hawkins. One of those of these characters is Long John Silver (the late Robert Newton, who also played Mr. Fix in the epic 1950's classic "Around the World in 80 Days").

Jim Hawkins is now caught up in a series of events over which he initially has little control. A group of men decide to pursue the treasure shown on the map, and they decide to take Jim Hawkins aboard as a cabin boy. Jim is our observer throughout this tale, and we see many of the events that transpire through his eyes. Thus, we gain knowledge of an impending mutiny and come to realize how vicious the pirates masquerading as crewmembers are.

The excitement and action increase when the pirates mutiny and everyone searches for the treasure. Jim comes into his own as he realizes that he is the one person in a position to make thing happen, if he only dares. Though Disney modified many things from Stevenson's story in this adaptation, Jim Hawkins' coming of age story remains relatively intact. We also learn why Long John Silver is beloved by all who have seen this classic as we see his vicious side and the care and concern he has for Jim Hawkins.

I remember seeing this story decades ago as a young child. The violence in the movie (though there is minimal blood) seemed normal for a pirate movie. I also thought little of the drinking and smoking that occurred throughout the movie. Watching the movie as a parent, I was a little surprised at the violence, drinking and smoking that occur in this movie, but I also realize that I survived seeing all those things and, more importantly, I remember my enjoyment of the movie as a child; i.e., for those of you who think children should be protected from these images, get a life. Pirates drank, were violent and smoked. Disney managed to keep the rough stuff to a level that achieves a PG rating. If you object to drinking, smoking and violence in real life, then use this story to help explain why we do not do those things.

I do consider this movie a family movie, in spite of my comments above. You may wish to wait until the youngest in the family is 7 or 8 years old, just so that you can explain the effects of alcohol and smoking and that life in that era was very different from our life today.

Disney's version of "Treasure Island" is a grand classic. The movie does mute some of Stevenson's morality tale and does remove much of Stevenson's characterizations. These changes were necessary to adapt Stevenson's classic to a 96 minute film. In spite of those changes, "Treasure Island" survives as a marvelous coming-of-age story that is both entertaining and inspirational. My children loved this movie when they were in elementary school and I suspect yours will too.

Enjoy!

Great one.......2007-04-03

I bought this for my son because I wanted him to see the old classics instead of all that Nickeloden crap. It was a good one. We both enjoyed it very much.

The best adventure film for a kid ever! And us kids at heart. .......2007-01-19

Treasure Island has that magical touch to it Walt Disney was famous for. Treasure Island teachers one at a young age not everone is who they seem. Lots of good guys and bad guys and Pirate Treasure leads to a wild ride! This film should be required for all youngsters! There is a special place in my heart for this film. This was Robert Newton's finest hour playing Long John Silver!

Average customer rating:

Great Movies... that some kids won't understand
One of Miyazaki's best!
Deja Vu
The old good vs. evil in a new exciting setting
THE SHEETA IS FALLING! THE SHEETA IS FALLING!

Castle in the Sky
Starring: Richard Dysart , Mark Hamill , John Hostetter , Cloris Leachman , and Michael McShane
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Kiki's Delivery Service
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Princess Mononoke
Spirited Away
Howl's Moving Castle

ASIN: B00005JKYG
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Amazon.com

Inspired by "Gulliver's Travels," the fantasy-adventure Castle in the Sky (1986) was Hayao Miyazaki's third feature, and helped to establish his reputation as a visionary in both Japan and America. The orphan Sheeta inherited a mysterious crystal that links her to the legendary sky-kingdom of Laputa. With the help of resourceful Pazu and a rollicking band of sky pirates, she makes her way to the ruins of the once-great civilization. Sheeta and Pazu must outwit the evil Muska, who plans to use Laputa's science to make himself ruler of the world. Castle echoes elements in Myazaki's earlier Nausicaä, and anticipates imagery in his later films, from My Neighbor Totoro to Spirited Away. Disney's new English dub, which features Anna Paquin (Sheeta), James Van Der Beek (Pazu), and Cloris Leachman (pirate matriarch Dola), is lively and close in tone to the original Japanese, if a bit talkier. The exciting flying sequences, appealing characters, and fantastic vision of a steam-powered future Jules Verne might have imagined make Castle in the Sky a must-have for fans of Japanese and Western animation. (Unrated: suitable for ages 10 and older: violence) --Charles Solomon

Description

The magic touch of master animator Hayao Miyazaki is visible from start to finish in CASTLE IN THE SKY -- an imaginative tale full of mystery and adventure. The high-flying journey begins when Pazu, a mining apprentice, finds a young girl wearing a glowing pendant and floating down from the sky. Together, they discover both are searching for the legendary floating castle, Laputa, and vow to unravel the mystery of the luminous crystal around her neck. Their quest won't be easy, however. There are air pirates, secret agents, and astounding obstacles to keep them from the truth -- and from each other. With spectacular animation, a fabulous musical score, and the voice talents of Anna Paquin (Sheeta), James Van Der Beek (Pazu), and Cloris Leachman (Dola), CASTLE IN THE SKY is an animated masterpiece you'll never forget!

Customer Reviews:

Great Movies... that some kids won't understand.......2007-04-30

I actually wouldnt recommend Castle in the Sky or Nausicaa for kids. when i say kids... i mean below 10 years old. They're too complicated and, i dont personally, but some parents might find the content a tad too violent. I wouldnt see any problem with 10 or 12 year olds seeing them as they could understand most of the concepts. I dont think these movies weren't really made for kids though. aside from Totoro, most of miyazaki's movies are made to appeal to either a certain group (Kiki was a message to the young women of japan), or to teenagers and young adults not because of violence, but because of concepts. Spirited away is an excaption to this in that it appeals to all ages young and old. If you want anime for children, some of that fake american made anime like Avitar: the last airbender or the french made Code Lyoko is a better choice. America hasn't really quite gotten the concept of making cartoon-style shows that appeal widely to adults and teenagers... so most of them are safe.

One of Miyazaki's best!.......2007-04-05

Pazu is a young boy who works in the mines of his town. One day he's going about his business as usual, when he sees a light above the large mine and runs to see what it is. To his surprise, it's a girl his age, with a crystalline pendant hanging around her neck!

This is the beginning of Castle in the Sky, an wonderful adventure with just the right amount of adventure and comedy. Pazu soon realizes that the girl, whose name is Sheeta, is being chased by a sort of FBI--bowler-hatted government agents who will stop at nothing to capture her. He finds himself on a rousing adventure, which culminates in the beautiful Castle in the Sky.

(A side note: I can't help but compliment Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame on his great voice acting here. He does a wonderful job on the head secret agent Muska, giving him a tone of very real madness. Great!)

Deja Vu.......2007-03-05

If you want to have an exciting time just as you see the films like James Bond movies, or Indie Jones series Miyazaki animation film as this one is just for you. Miyazaki often uses similar settings, ploys used in previous works and Castle In The Sky is no exception.

PAZU AND SHEETA
Pazu and Sheeta are the pairs exactly like his 1978 TV animation series Future Boy Conan. Pazu became less superhuman than Conan who has incredible power. Sheeta, however, is almost the same as Lana. It is bacause the basic movie plot was originally prepared for the sequel of Conan.

ECOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED
Most of the animation works he was deeply involved are themed with human and nature. Takahata's Heidi series in 1974 sets viewers closer to simple life in alps full of nature. Future Boy Conan in 1978 promotes ecologically friendly ideal community Highharbor. Naussica of The Valley of The Wind finds the heroine who stands between the antagonistic nature and human world. Castle tries to conclude that civilization who forgets firm soil withers away.

BOND FILM LIKE ACTION
That's what the movie is all about. Miyazaki's animation is vivid with action and each action seem so real we are enchanted instantly.

LAPUTA SO DISTANT
Contrary to our expectation the stay in Laputa floating kingdom is so short and I wish I could see the castle a bit longer.

SUPERGRANNY DOLA
Miyazaki films have lots of impressive old women characters such as Yubaba in Spirited Away and Dola in this film. Her street-smart yet with warm-hearted character gives the film the depth.

Verdict: Typical Miyazaki film enjoyable to wide audience.
Rating: 90 out of 100
Recommended for: Wide range of moviegoers.

The old good vs. evil in a new exciting setting.......2006-10-09

This review is based on the Disney version of the movie, voiced by James Van Der Beek, Anna Paquin, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill and others. The basic premise is extremely simple - it's the old good vs. evil, science vs. nature scenario, but the animation and imagination is so cool that it looks much more complicated than that.

In case you were wondering, this is not based on the book "Castle in the Air" by Diana Wynne Jones. "Castle in the Air" is the sequel to "Howl's Moving Castle", which was also done in anime by the master Miyazaki. "Castle in the Sky" has roots in the story of "Gulliver's Travels" where Swift wrote about a flying city named Laputa, upon which this film is based.

Sheeta is a young girl, now an orphan, who was given an amulet by her mother before she died. It seems that lots of people are after the amulet, and after Sheeta is taken aboard an airship by creepy Government agents, the ship is attacked by a family of pirates. During the fracas, Sheeta falls from the airship, and it becomes apparent that the amulet is much more than a nice piece of bling-bling. She is rescued by a young boy named Pazu, who is also an orphan and works as an assistant to a mining engineer.

Both the pirates and the army are going all-out to get their greedy hands on Sheeta, and we learn that she is a vital link to finding the mythical floating city of Laputa, which is said to be packed with both treasure and advanced technology, securely hidden within a huge storm cloud.

The main characters, other than Sheeta and the heroic Pazu are Colonel Muska, a secret agent with huge ambition, Dola, domineering matriarch of the Pirate clan, and the General, leader of the armed forces.

Although more than two hours long, this action-packed family movie is never boring, but it does contain some amount of violence.

Amanda Richards, October 8, 2006

THE SHEETA IS FALLING! THE SHEETA IS FALLING!.......2006-10-06

Pazu, a young boy, is looking for something to take his mind off the drudgery of working in a mine all day. He has to work because he's an orphan and he has to take care of himself. Then one day, inexplicably, he sees a pretty girl his own age floating slowly down from the sky with a glowing pendant around her neck. The girl's name is Sheeta and she had fallen out of a airship trying to get away not only from sky pirates, but also the government agents that had kidnapped her from her home. Both parties want the power behind the strange pendant and are willing to put Sheeta's life at risk to get it. Sheeta's only friend and ally is you spirited Pazu, whose dream of finding the mythical sky island of Laputa has an odd link to Sheeta's lineage.

Castle in the Sky is a beautiful piece of work that belies the fact that it was made 20 years ago. I really held both Pazu and Sheeta close to me because of the fact that these two kids have somehow managed to survive and even have positive outlooks on life without the benefit of having parents or family. You have to admire the strength of both of them, however farfetched it is in reality. Luckily, they do finally find the family relationships they never had with each other. I could very easily see the two getting married and living happily ever after when they get a little older. The thing that impressed me the most with Miyazaki's work on this film was that he was never afraid to use comedy. It was nice to have a laugh when the director's message became too weighty or the action got ahead of the story. Characterization was great. Animation was great. The story was the only part that seemed a little average. Still a great movie.

Average customer rating:

Perfect.
Thief & pirate, but a hero all the same
Swashbuckling entertainment at its finest!
A Wonderful Nostalgic Afternoon at the Movies!
Flynn's first and best remembered swashbuckler

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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The Sea Hawk
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ASIN: B00005JMR7
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Amazon.com essential video

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:

Perfect........2007-06-20

Charming, fun, romantic, perfectly-paced, thoughtful, well-written, beautifully shot, smart...I could go on forever. This movie is a masterpiece. To know that Michael Curtiz went from this to The Adventures of Robin Hood, and from that to Casablanca is no surprise. If you have even a fleeting interest in high adventure along the lines of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' or 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl', then buy this classic immediately.

Thief & pirate, but a hero all the same.......2007-05-31

With pirates all the rage once more, what better time to return to one of the classic films of the genre -- and what a delight! Errol Flynn & Olivia de Havilland are a physically stunning couple, true stars in the making, and their genuine affection for one another shows in their scenes together. Basil Rathbone turns in a wonderfully over-the-top performance of leering, moustache-twirling villainy, while Lionel Atwill is smoothly & appropriately hateful as de Havilland's poisonous uncle.

There's a surprisingly small amount of full-scale action, as the film's true strength is in its depiction of the characters' emotions -- not that it drags by any means! But we get to see what drives Peter Blood & what sort of man he is. Just look at his reaction to Jeremy Pitt's flogging -- outrage, anger, a burning hunger for justice. That's what so many of Flynn's best films were about, and it's shown quite effectively here. If some of the dialogue & acting creaks just a bit, then that simply adds to the charm of the film. This is how they used to be made, and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Thoroughly rewatchable entertainment, most highly recommended!

Swashbuckling entertainment at its finest!.......2007-05-29

Captain Blood is one of those films I always undervalue, which at least means that each time I see it I'm pleasantly surprised by how much better it is than I remembered. Despite the lack of action until the spectacular finale, it has a good plot and some great visuals, as you'd expect from Michael Curtiz, but a big part of the fun is watching Errol Flynn become a star before your eyes: it's easy to guess which scenes were shot during the first couple of weeks when he was still a little awkward, but the confidence, charm and vigour he brings to the part easily overshadows his few missteps, and he and Olivia De Havilland are one of those rare perfect onscreen couples. Basil Rathbone's Fronch axe-scent is so out-ray-juss that even he can't keep a straight face (he literally has to turn away from the camera at one point as he gets a fit of giggles). His swordfight with Flynn is the only real disappointment, a surprisingly flat number even if we didn't have Robin Hood to compare it with. Wonderfully entertaining on every level.

As well as being the uncut version of the film, Warners' DVD comes with an excellent array of extras too - a documentary on the making of the film, a 1937 radio adaptation, trailer and selected short subjects recreating the whole 1935 moviegoing experience.

A Wonderful Nostalgic Afternoon at the Movies!.......2007-04-22

A marvelous swash-buckler of a movie, the DVD is set up to simulate a typical afternoon at the movies, with all the proper assortment of short subjects including Coming Attractions, Newsreel, Musical interlude and Cartoon. Just like it used to be. I was too young to have seen the original on first release, but probably did see it later on. All the talk about ship models and tight budgets you can forget. The test is on the screen and it triumphantly succeeds.

Flynn's first and best remembered swashbuckler.......2007-02-25

This was the film which launched Errol Flynn's stardom. There are many comprehensive reviews but here are a few general comments:

- Flynn was not the first choice for the role of Peter Blood and Jack Warner, head of the studio, took a major risk in handing him the role. Some of the early footage was scrapped and reshot as Flynn's confidence grew.
- The swashbuckler film had been out of favour since the silent era of Douglas Fairbanks, but the success of "Treasure Island" and "The Count of Monte Christo" in 1934 urged Warner Brothers to offer their entry into the genre.
- The DVD quality is good but not perfect. The film is grainy in spots and sometimes there is a noticeable mark on the print.
- Olivia de Havilland was only 19 at the time and she is very talented as well as exquisite looking.
- Basil Rathbone's part is very small and he must have the worst French accent on film. This was not his finest hour, in spite of the climactic sword fight. The image of him lying on the rocks as the water runs over him when he is stabbed is gruesome.
- Lionel Atwell is a superb villian. You really hiss when he is on screen. The ending of the film with his fate unknown is clever.
- The film's restricted budget is sometimes evident with obvious studio backdrops and spartan sets but the fight scenes are very well done with interpolated footage from other films. The ship models are clever and the climactic collision is riveting.

The DVD contains a good documentary about the film and the original trailer. As part of the Errol Flynn Signature Collection, the DVD is good value.

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

All By Myself, "Getting Dressed", vol. 1

In the Dead of Space

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [WS] [2001] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Dirty Deeds

Kampf der Giganten 2