Product Details

• Actors: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh
• Directors: Richard Curtis
• Writers: Richard Curtis
• Producers: Eric Fellner, Hilary Bevan Jones, Tim Bevan
• Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), French (DTS 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed: French, Spanish
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: April 13, 2010
• Run Time: 117 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (150 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00320JAXS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,706 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Pirate Radio [Blu-ray]" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Pirate Radio recalls American teen exploitation films of the 1950s, in which square authority figures wanted to keep rock 'n' roll's corrupting influence from children, who just wanted to dance. Though set in 1966 Great Britain, this high-spirited comedy will strike a resonant chord in anyone who ever snuck their transistor radio under their pillow at night to have their world rocked. Musically, 1966 was the best of times (the killer soundtrack spins a Who's Who of vintage vinyl, including the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield, and, yes, the Who). But the kids weren't alright. The BBC broadcast less than an hour of rock music a day. Pirate radio stations broadcasting from ships anchored off the coast exemplified rock's rebellious spirit. Like Almost Famous, Pirate Radio views this outlaw world through the eyes of an innocent, Carl (Tom Sturridge), sent by his mother (Emma Thompson in a saucy cameo) to the good ship Radio Rock, operated by his godfather (a dapper Bill Nighy). He comes aboard a "posh tosser," but he gradually forges a bond with these fellow misfits who have dedicated their lives to making musical waves. Richard Curtis, who wrote and directed Love, Actually and wrote Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill, has assembled a see-worthy crew, including Philip Seymour Hoffman as the Count, the scruffy resident Yank; Rhys Ifans as Gavin, his rival; Nick Frost as randy Dave; and Rhys Darby (from Flight of the Conchords) as fall guy Angus. Curtis doesn't run the tightest of ships. He's a bit montage-happy, and he allows Kenneth Branagh to go overboard as the uptight politician bent on shutting Radio Rock down. Some, too, may carp that several of the songs weren't made for those times. But if you're going to lose your virginity, it's best lost to Herb Albert's 1968 ballad "This Guy's in Love with You." While a bit choppy, we rate Pirate Radio at least a 7: it's got a great cast, an even better beat, and you can dance to it. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

From the creator of Love Actually and Notting Hill comes a trip back to the freewheeling, free-loving ’60s when the very rock music that inspired a generation was censored by the government. When a group of rebellious deejays decides to defy the ban, they take to the seas to broadcast music and mayhem to millions of adoring fans. Featuring a soundtrack that includes The Who, The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and many more, it’s a feel-great film based on a true story that critics cheer is “exuberant!” (John Powers, Vogue)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars USA version vs UK version April 27, 2010

By Emily

Format:DVD

I am heartbroken! When I originally watched Pirate Radio I didn't realize it was the UK version. It was fantastic, the story, the music everything I couldn't wait till it came out on dvd. Then when it finally came out I couldn't find it anywhere to buy it. Not even Walmart was carrying it in their stores which I thought was strange. Finally I came to Amazon and bought mine. Wow what a butchered piece of crap. I don't know why the 2 dvd's are so different. Yeah the dvd's do contain the deleted scenes, most of which were included in the UK version but it's not the same. If you are going to buy Pirate Radio do yourself a huge favor and find a way to get the UK version. Watch out for the coding for your dvd player as UK dvd's don't play in USA dvd players, but from what I understand you can get the blue ray and get the UK version that way.

What a way to butcher a movie that was so great!!!! Someone seriously needs smacked for this one!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The truth about pirate radio October 10, 2010

By R. Sanders

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

IF you want to know what it was like to listen to your radio in the mid 60's in Europe, buy this movie!

My family moved to Brussels in early 1964 when I was a teen. At that time, in early 1964 all I had to listen to was Radio Luxemburg. That station only played the first minute of any rock song, I have no idea why. In the summer of 1964 Radio Caroline started up, a pirate radio station. There were two of them, one in the North Sea and one south of England. I listened to radio caroline south all the time. They not only played a whole song, they actually played songs from everywhere, the west to east coast of America and British songs. This movie portrays the station as kinda crude in their language. Truthfully....YES! I will never forget New Year's Eve 1964 at 11pm, lying in my bed listening to them and hearing things I NEVER heard on American radio. I was lying there in pain trying not to laugh too loud for my parents to hear me as I heard their jokes. There were two DJ's on that night until midnight, both drunk!

The person who started Radio Caroline was an American and he named them for Caroline Kennedy. The radio control room you see in the movie is an exact replica of the control room on Radio Caroline.

Though this movie is fiction, the truth is that there was a wedding performed on Radio Caroline North and Radio Caroline South did sink in a force 10 gale, much to the glee of the British government.

This movie shows the audience exactly what it was like in Europe in the mid 60's with the freedom of pirate radios, like nothing America ever had, or the world will ever have again!

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars better before they cut it to shreds April 13, 2010

By Jason Anderson

Format:DVD

I saw the movie before they cut so many scenes out and after and I have to say it was a better movie before they deleted so many scenes. The bachelor party...the banter when the DJ's were climbing...so many deleted scenes! I think so many people feel the movie was disjointed because it was ruined after it was changed so much. A shame I think.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, great character placement and a bit off the beaten path. July 8, 2011

By Mickey Mikeworth

Format:DVD

Get one today! This is cute, witty, and a feel good sort of silly. This story has just a creamy delicious middle of fun times and kooky characters and with the whole British theme it makes for a splendid movie night. Great music that was changing the world at the time, simple and fun characters, along side a coming of age moment in music. This one will stay in the collection.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth your time February 7, 2011

By Film Fan

Format:DVD

I loved this movie. The cast was marvelous, the story line is great and the music is fantastic. Though this movie is from my teen era, the '60's, everyone will appreciate what this movie brings....a little slice of 60's rock, the British invasion and an example of political bull**** at it's most absurd. Bravo Pirate Radio.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Better Soundtrack You Will Not Find January 21, 2011

By over and under

Format:DVD

This is a charming movie about the freedom of expression and the lengths people will go to attain it. There are many hilarious scenes about love, friendship, and family, but overall the focus of this film is music and its power to unite those who listen. If you love the music of the sixties, you can't go wrong in renting this for the evening... but don't forget to turn it up!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Pirates of Rock! January 16, 2011

By Kevin J. Loria VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

Contrary to it's theatrical trailer's claims to be 'based on a true story' Pirate Radio is an ensemble comedy about a fictitious group of 1966 DJs illegally broadcasting tunes from the "Radio Rock" anchored in the international waters of the North Sea. Full of terrific cast chemistry and an amazing Catalog of 60's rock & pop the film runs 2 hrs. The crew are the targets of the generic UK establishment embodied by a superbly mirthless government minister Sir Alistair Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) who resolves to shut down the pirates. Meanwhile, subplots abound as Young Carl, a recently expelled teen joins the crew and attempts to fit in, possibly to lose his virginity with the aid of the DJs, perhaps even to meet his father for the first time. The list of possible and improbable suspects include: Carls Godfather and 'station' manager Quentin (Bill Nighy), brash American DJ "The Count" (Philip Seymour Hoffman), "Doctor" Dave (Nick Frost), returned legend Gavin Kavanagh (Rhys Ifans). As pressure increases from the suits, so does DJ rivalry.

Everyone is just fab in this, Nighy is as perfectly suited for this era as he was playing a rocker in Love actually, in fact Rhys seems to be playing a younger version of that very character, brilliantly !!! Frost is at his best, although I did not recognize him w/out Simon Pegg, as another of the amoral DJs. Hoffman is on his game as ever. Emma Thompson has a great cameo role, suspiciously disconnected from her real ex's half of the picture. The best radio movie I've seen, well worth the running time. Many on the scenes seem shot in a one camera take that sells the crews moments together well. Ultimately the climax is predictable but still satisfying.

What have we learned? Guys in suits don't like fun.... If you go to sea you may find love, and your dad. 17 hours does not a marriage make. Vinyl can't swim. The birds dig guys with fab sideburns. Read more ›