Product Details

• Actors: Angus Macfadyen, Mark Umbers, Richard Chamberlain, Jessica Chastain, Stacy Keach
• Directors: Kevin Connor
• Writers: Bryce Zabel
• Producers: Russell D. Markowitz
• Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Platinum Disc
• DVD Release Date: July 11, 2006
• Run Time: 169 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FGFBM6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,167 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Blackbeard" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Broken into two parts, the epic Blackbeard tells the tale of this famed pirate's travails through the South Seas, beginning in 1717. Blackbeard begins with Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard (Mark Umbers) vowing to capture Blackbeard (Angus McFayden), captain of the Queen Anne, in order to make the South Seas safer. Maynard goes undercover to get hired as Queen Anne's navigator, but not before falling in love with Charlotte (Jessica Chastain), the daughter of corrupt governor of West Indies' New Providence, Charles Eden (Richard Chamberlain). As Blackbeard's crew embark on a treasure hunt, Charles Eden is exposed as being a pirate in his own right, as he heads the campaign to purchase stolen booty from various villains. He also plots to kill Charlotte, whose 21st birthday will qualify her for an inheritance that Eden has selfishly hoarded. All the while, Maynard works towards busting Blackbeard, exposing himself to multiple life-threatening situations. Accurately rendered, this dramatized biography of a world-famous pirate feels darker than other pirate films, due to its inclusion of violent pirate clichés such as people walking planks, and rum-drunk pirates torturing each other. Blackbeard's melodramatic romance between Maynard and Charlotte detracts from the film's depiction of hard-edged pirate life, but there is enough piracy here to please. --Trinie Dalton

Product Description

IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF PIRACY, AT THE DAWN OF THE 18TH CENTURY, BLACKBEAR STOOD OUT AMONG THE LAWLESS ROGUES AS THE MOSTFEARSOME & NOTORIOUS SEAFARER OF THEM ALL. HE KILLED FOR THEREPUTATION & HIS REPUTATION HAS BECOME LEGEND. NOW, COMES THE TRUE STORY OF THE PIRATE EDWARD TEACH, BLACKBEARD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arghh Matey!, July 4, 2007

By 

D. Roberts "Hadrian12" (Battle Creek, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blackbeard (DVD)

Here is a great made-for-TV miniseries that does a fine job of capturing the mystique of the legendary (albeit infamous) pirate, Blackbeard. Angus Macfadyen nails the part of the flamboyant, reckless, merciless and rancorous buccaneer. With no offense to Mr. Macfadyen, he plays a great scoundrel!

The rest of the cast is quite good as well. Jessica Chastain is a nice fit as the timid, demure, young & innocent upper class dame who must transform into something of a tomboy in order to stand up against the nasty pirates. Mark Umbers delivers a good performance as the hero of the plot. Richard Chamberlain is an interesting choice as the corrupt governor of the Carribean province. 30 some-odd years ago Chamberlain would have been cast to play the role given to Mark Umbers.

Some other commentators have complained that the movie is not accurate. This is true: the storyline IS fictional. To preclude any confusion, it's best for the viewer to know this up-front. Instead of historical veracity, the "point" of this film is to tap into the mythology of the charismatic pirate who still reaches beyond the grave to captivate people to the present day. On that account, I believe the movie delivered what it promised. There were parts of the movie in which I thought to myself: "I bet the real Blackbeard would have been able to relate to how he was portrayed in this film." That's a very good thing in my book!

In truth, the demise of the historical Blackbeard was far more boring and anti-climactic than what happens in this film. (The real Blackbeard sunk his ship, THE QUEEN ANNE'S REVENGE, and attempted to retire to the Carolinas & got caught - yawn). This is not the first film to take liberties with the lives of historical characters; I certainly don't think it should be hammered in regards to this issue.

All in all, if you like pirate movies, this one is certainly worth a look. I had no pre-conceived notions when I picked it up, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the film. One thing is for sure: after viewing this DVD you'll feel like you got a chance to peer back a few hundred years into the world of the pirates!

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a little history, a little melodrama, July 21, 2006

By 

Flight Risk (The Gypsy Moth) "Exiled Yankee" (usa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Blackbeard (DVD)

Done for Hallmark in 2006, this more or less accurate representation of 1717 events brings us "Blackbeard" a recount of the career of Edward Teach (or Tench).Portrayed in this instance by Angus McFayden (most memorable as the disloyal Robert the Bruce in "Braveheart"), he is ruthless, coarse, and borderline psychotic - much as the real Blackbeard must have been. He forges out a small feudal kingdom in the Caribbean, eliminating rivals and legitimate tradesmen as he goes.

At New Providence, on the island of St Vincent, the corrupt governor - busy with his own plans to adopt an heiress, have her meet an untimely demise, and inherit her fortune, goes into an alliance with Blackbeard, who by this time is doing what he wants where he wants. Played with campy foppishness by Richard Chamberlain, the governor is finally laid low by Lt Robert Maynard - an actual naval officer of the Royal British Navy and the actual eliminator,also, of Blackbeard. His supposed love affair with the heiress adopted by the corrupt governor detracted from the swashbuckling tone of the movie, but had to be expected from a Hallmark effort. This was, in fact, a little bloody and gory for a family movie - especially gross was a segue from the genteel bureaucracy eating a nice rare bit of prime rib to a pirate having his fingers cut off - but overall was not a bad movie, though long (product info says 169 minutes; my dvd cover listed 189; I did not time it). For the record, the real Blackbeard never made it to shore for a first-class hanging; Maynard cut his head off at sea.

The movie isn't boring, though as I said, it's on the long side. If you have the time to give it, and Pirates of the Caribbean has piqued your interest about buccaneers, it's probably worth your time.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for Green Actors, July 17, 2006

By 

L. Laster (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blackbeard (DVD)

For a low budget $2.5 million film,
(Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl spent $125 million)
it wasn't bad at all. The acting was somewhat young and fake, but was decent. It got much better during the second half of the film.
The sound on the DVD didn't always match up with the characters' mouths during the first half of the film. This improved later.
If you are just looking for a good adventure film to watch one night, this movie is certainly worth a try, especially if you enjoy swashbuckling sea films. In a way, this film is like combing Horatio Hornblower and Pirates of the Carribean in a low budget kind of way.

Here is the plot in a nutshell (DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE ENDING!!)



1. A navy officer is dispatched to rid the seas of Blackbeard.
2. Navy officer falls in love with daughter of a governor who is trying to kill his own daughter.
3. Navy officer is successful in exposing the governors plot and also kills Blackbeard.
4. The navy officer and daughter of governor live happily ever after.
THE END