Customer Reviews

Muppet Treasure Island [VHS]

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've seen all the muppet movies, but this one is my favorite. Granted, the first Muppet Movie had awesome songs by the great Paul Willaims, and the Great Muppet Caper was a terrific spoof on classic Hollywood films. But this movie is different.

I believe it was Brian Henson who said that the difference in this movie is the world that we see. In the previous muppet movies, the muppets were strange creatures living in the human world. But in Muppet Treasure Island, it's the humans who are the odd ones. This is a "Muppet World" through and through. The first clue as to the validity of this statement is the opening credits. The main characters are played by Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, the Great Gonzo, and the other muppets. Not by puppeteers. By muppets.

Despite the fact that the movie stays pretty true to the book Treasure Island in terms of plot, the execution of it is completely wild muppet madness. Anything and everything is made fun of in this movie (including the fact that it's a movie!) For instance, in several of the excellent songs sung by the muppets (and a wonderful Tim Curry playing Long John Silver), the characters make reference to the fact that it IS a musical number.

And speaking of musical numbers, the songs in this movie are absolutely great. My family bought the soundtrack, and they listen to the songs all the time (especially "When You're a Professional Pirate"). And let's not forget the excellent background music by Hans Zimmer, who still knows how to crank out a good old-fashioned film score.

This movie is filled with all sorts of wackiness, right down to the names of some of the charcters (old Tom, real old Tom, Dead Tom), and jokes made in the movie come back later to make them ever funnier ("Dead Tom's Dead! Long John shot him!"). But this movie is more than just great fun. It's a well scripted, well acted, and in general well made film. It's got everything. Action, adventure, romance. And of course, singing. It's great family entertainment, with a lot of heart and a wonderful message about friendship. If you love the muppets, definitely see this movie. Especially if you like the story of Treasure Island...

The story of Treasure Island will never be the same after you watch this movie. The Disney movie "Treasure Island" may be interesting and good to watch, after watching this movie, you'll have to confess this is much more fun.

Jim Hawkins (Kevin Bishop), Gonzo, and Rizzo are working in an inn when Captain Billy Bones (Billy Connolly) dies. Before he does however, he gives them a map to a great treasure. They escape from the inn before they're killed by Blind Pew and his pirates. With the financial aid of 'rich, half-witted son' Squire Trelawney (Fozzie the Bear) and the 'man who lives in his finger, Mr. Bimbo', they set off to get the treasure with Captain Abraham Smollet (Kermit the frog). But they watch out for 'the one-legged man' but that doesn't mean it's Long John Silver (Tim Curry)? And while watching the whole movie you'll enjoy seeing all the fun Muppets Benjamina Gunn (Miss Piggy), Mr. Samuel Arrow (Sam the Eagle), Polly Lobster (Spa'am), and an assortment of other Muppets.

"Muppet Treasure Island" is so very, very funny! I love the humor in it. One of my favorite lines is when Squire Trelawney doesn't seem to understand what and 'ocean' is. Rizzo says to him, "You know, the big, blue, wet thing?" to which Trelawney answers, "Oh, the big, blue, wet thing!" I also love all of the songs, especially "Cabin Fever", "Love Let Us Here", and "Boom, Shalakala". They're hilarious!

Don't also miss the other Muppet movies. 1) "The Muppet Movie", the very first Muppet movie in which the Muppets go to Hollywood. 2) "The Great Muppet Caper" is where the Muppets stop thieves from stealing the great baseball diamond. 3) "The Muppets Take Manhattan" do just what the title suggests. The Muppets take Manhattan! 4) "The Muppet Christmas Carol" is I think one of the best adaption of Charles Dickens's book. 5) "The Muppets from Space" finally explains what Gonzo is. He's an alien from outer space! Will he be able to be united with his family?

...As far as the quality of the Jim Henson production and story it could have been and was top notch. That is until Disney got a hold of the file and cropped the screen. It really does affect the musical numbers on the show. Disney should have simply released a two-sided disk, one for full and one for wide screen. I'm hoping that Disney will wise up and re-release this DVD wide screen. Hopefully either refund or give current owners a rebate towards the wide screen version. So Disney if you're reading this take note of all the other reviews that also dislike full frame.
P.S. As for the story it's as good as all the other reviews say it is, if you can get past the missing chunks of the screen.

"Muppet Treasure Island" is a wonderful film. It is very funny and the acting is great. And while there are some nice special features on this DVD release, Disney has decided that they need to release the edited Full screen version because this film does not appeal to adults. Can you believe that? Disney thinks that adults don't like the Muppets. Well, I hope that Disney can release a Widescreen version in the future. If you want a pan-and-scan Foolscreen DVD, go ahead and buy it, but I suggest that people who want to see the film unedited should wait for when Disney decides to release it in Widescreen. Give the DVD a rent for the special features.

I really liked both "A Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Muppet Treasure Island". I think the Muppets to a fantastic job adapting literature to the screen in an enjoyable manner and I sincerely wish that they would return to this type of work (especially after the abysmal "Muppets From Space").

HOWEVER -- unlike the first three Muppet movies, the DVDs for "Muppet Treasure Island" and "A Muppet Christmas Carol" contain the "fullscreen" version only. "Fullscreen" is a euphemism for the cropped image, instead of the "widescreen" image (also called "letterbox"). In other words you've lost bits of the image to the left and right of the parts you can see ... and with the Muppets there are always little interesting bits going on _everywhere_ in the image.

Kudos for the movies, but a BIG "shame on you" for not releasing the widescreen edition on DVD.

Kermit and all the Muppets in ROBERT-LOUIS STEVENSON'S classic priate adventure TREASURE ISLAND. It has it all action-adventure-music and the string of celebrity cameos you'd expect from a Muppet movie. Surprisingly true to the text, give or take a pig or two.

Young Jim Hawkins inherits a long-lost treasure map, he hires the great ship Hispaniola to seek his fortune along with Captain Smollett (Kermit the Frog) at the helm -- and Long John Silver (Tim Curry) -- they set sail for adventure only to discover danger and song numbers at every turn!

The production is great, with the Muppets in top form, full of great lines from the Muppet greats. Henson would have been proud, except for Jim's first song, Curry carries him later.

Featuring a swashbuckling good score by Lion King Oscar winner winner Hans Zimmer,this fully restored and remastered 50th Anniversary Edition is a must have for Muppet fans.

I went to this movie not expecting to like it and came away laughing. So much better than I had thought it would be, and so much better than any other Muppet movie I had seen. How DO the creators think of so many cool things?? Hats off to their endless imagination!

I have it straight from the folks at Disney. This release will feature BOTH the widescreen and full frame versions of the movie... and there was much rejoicing.

This modern Muppet take on the classic story will have you laughing and cheering,not to mention singing along to the film's catchy tunes. Newcomer Kevin Bishop stars as Jim Hawkins,an orphan boy who wants nothing more than to have a good adventure.Along with his sidekicks,the Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat,Jim heads off in search of treasure with a map given to him by sea captain Billy Bones,played by Billy Connolly.Aboard the ship,Jim finds a friend in the charming,but unsuspectingly evil Long John Silver,played to perfection by Tim Curry,who has a history of handling evil characters.When Jim is captured by the pirates,it's up to Gonzo,Rizzo,Captain Smollett(played by Kermit the Frog),and Squire Trelawney and Mr .Bimble(Fozzie the Bear and the man who lives in his finger)to rescue him.The movie includes a subplot of Captain Smollett's reunion with his long lost love,Benjamina Gunn,played,of course,by none other than Miss Piggy.A wonderful,hilarious movie for the whole family.

My kids and I love this movie. The songs stay with you and the acting is good. Tim Curry is over the top, but it's appropriate for his character. The scene in which he foils his execution at the hands of rebellious pirates has us rolling every time: "You profaned the hooooly book!" As with the best Muppets movies, there are several levels of humor - the adults will get things the kids miss.

Despite the fun and hijinks, the ending is genuinely touching. Even though the movie is fun, it forces you to consider the true meaning of friendship.