Customer Reviews

Christopher Columbus: The Discovery

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This film was heavily criticised by leading reviewers. As a teacher I have used this film with students as a surprisingly accurate account. I accept that some performances are terrible (Brando) and the direction is pedestrian, but for historical accuracy it can hardly be criticised, and it's undoubtedly a fun, swashbuckling movie that can pass a wet Sunday afternoon and entertain all ages. Buy it or view it; just don't expect too much.

Since Brando's passing I've been watching many of his films and I just watched the much maligned Christopher Columbus which I'd read nothing but bad press about. I wasnt expecting very much but to my surprise this a GREAT film. Perhaps there's too much swash and not enough buckle for some but in my book it's just the right combination of adventure, history, romance, and legend.
SUPERB!

Many people were p*ssed off when this film turned out to be a fun swashbuckler instead of a strictly grim historical drama. they wanted disease and instead they got high adventure, hot babes, and sword fights! LOL! I love it!

I had to write a review of this horrible movie as a recomendation to people who are in the mood for an unintetionally funny movie... There are a lot of really hilarious scenes. Such as the scene where the crew are just about to kill Columbus when someone cries "LAND HO" and the crew bursts into song. This scene happens twice!
And I must mention there is a bodatious babe who plays an indian who runs around topless for about half of the movie, this alone is worth the watch. Don't buy this movie but it is a funny rent.

with a very brief appearance by Brando in the beginning and early performances by Catherine Zeta Jones and Benicio Del Toro i wasnt quite sure what to expect but was hoping for the best.i for one was having a hard time following this movie Benicio Del Toro managed to hold my attention in his brief although powerful appearances.the characters were supposed to be Spanish,Portuguese and the indiginous peoples of the carribean is what i was thinking going into this but to my dismay(with the exception of Del Toro) there were an array of television stars from the mid ninteen eighties.this was more of a fantasy pirate movie than a historical one.

I can see by observing other reviews that this is a difficult film to review. Some want to look at historical accuracy (or lack of) others the performances, but I enjoyed this film as a "movie."

If this had been released in the 1940's and starring Tyrone Power (perhaps Orson Welles as Torquemada) this would be a minor classic today. Instead due to the time it was released (the 1990's) it gets a lot of flack - some deserved, some not.

As a swashbuckling film itself this is an enjoyable romp. The characters and peformances are for the most part engaging. One actor who gets critisized in this film is the late Marlon Brando. I guess I forgive him any faults in this, as I know the history of what went on during the filming. Brando was an actor who enjoyed creating a character - even in the later years, he shined when he was allowed to do this (think Godfather - where he was allowed to stuff he cheeks and mumble). While this film was in production, Brando wanted to sink his teeth into the roll of torquemada (indluding as I recall, having long fingernails, stringy hair and bad teeth) the producers would not allow him to "create" his own character and because he was contractually obligated to do the film, he showed up, stood where the director told him and read his lines as "Marlon Brando" would talk and not as a character. With this in mind one might be able to watch this performance in a different light and perhaps enjoy it more, thinking what this fine actor might have done with it.

Not mentioned a lot is what I do believe is the weakest performance in the film...that of Tom Selleck - totally out of place here and difficult to listen to - when he speaks the film really slows. In concert with this, is the lovely Rachel Ward who looks sickenly skinny - her performance is great but I wonder while watching this if she is sick.

Having expressed these thoughts, with a little "letting go" one can really enjoy this film.

C. Columbus: The Discovery DVD


This movie is probably the most historically accurate film that I've seen, so far, on Christopher Columbus. Contrary to what you might have been taught in elementary school the intelligentsia did not think the world was flat. They thought the world was round and was approximately 25,000 miles in circumference at the equator. Columbus thought the circumference at the equator was more like 18,000 miles. (25,000 is correct) Since Marco Polo had traveled by land to Cathay(China) going East for about 12,000 miles, all he would have to do was sail West for 6,000 miles and voila he'd arrive in the Indies. Well, he was wrong, but got lucky and hit the New World instead. I think it is pretty arrogant to say that Columbus "discovered" the New World. One would think the Indios did that.

Anyhow it is a good movie. Tom Selleck plays the King of Aragon, Marlon Brando gives a credible performance as the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada.


Warning some bare breast of the native females, but tastefully done.

Recommended for students that want a historically accurate version of the discovery of the New world. Not the typical PAP they teach.

Gunner March, 2008

because then, if Columbus had indeed fallen over the edge, we could all have been spared this miserable movie.
Poor me, I knew things were going to be bad before the opening credits had ended, because only then did I learn that Tom Selleck was going to be in it. And guess as whom? Ferdinand of Aragon! This odd casting brought to mind episodes of Fantasy Island. But there was a Big Name included too; Marlon Brando as Torquemada, Spanish Inquisitor and Advisor to Ferdinand and Isabella. More prostitution of his talent for Brando.
I guess it takes some talent to make one of the most important events in history seem so boring and hackneyed.

I agree with the reviewer who said that this film would have been a classic if it had been made in the 1940's with Tyrone Power. That's an excellent description of what type film this is. It's too bad this film is so misunderstood, but I'm glad somebody other than me enjoyed it. This is a very entertaining film that perfectly captures the spirit of classic adventure movies of the past. It's really far better than it's reputation suggests. I enjoyed it from start to finish and look forward to seeing it again. Just don't expect a documentary!

I was asked to watch this movie over the summer for my AP US History class. Basically, I was watching it for the historical aspect. However, historical it was not. I'd say this movie was written by a romance novelist, rather than a historian.

Lucky me, I was treated to Columbus banging his wife and what not on several occasions. How about the men fighting over the Indian women...that was nice too.

What I failed to see was the actual effects of the voyage. Where was the disease? I mean come on, this wasn't a Carnaval Cruise, traveling across the ocean in 1492 is some serious stuff. I also loved how they had guys fighting each other on the ships with their little plots. Thats realistic... Hmmmm, lets kill Columbus because um, it, um, adds drama and suspense.

Give me a break. I'd hate to be the one that paid $7.50 to see this in the theater.