Customer Reviews

Pirates [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.4 Import - Australia ]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This movie has been with me for about 10 years. It grew on me quickly and it has become one of those movies I watch again and again, usually about once a month. First of all, Jean Claude Van Damme is not in this movie, contrary to what you may read in the reviews (I just love that careful attention to detail from most reviewers). However, the people that *are* in the film do a fine job, particularly Walter Matthau who in my opinion is a very, very believable pirate. What is so interesting to me about this movie is that it is one of the few films where you legitimately feel as though you are just peeking in at a tiny episode in the lives of the characters. The film, in fact, ends exactly where it begins, and you are left with a sense that you've seen only one miniscule adventure in the lives of these pirates, who have had and are yet to have countless more. I would have to say that if you are even remotely interested in this era of our history, watch this movie. It is not the epic that "Cutthroat Island" tried to be (and failed at), but rather it is the somewhat comical and adventurous story of Captain Red trying to get his gold, at any cost whatsoever. I hope they eventually put this out on DVD, but I won't hold my breath.

"Arr, mateys, shiver me timbers!" is what you feel like shouting while watching this involving modern pirate movie that should become a classic. Roman Polanski had wanted to make a pirate movie such as this one for a long time, starting in the Lodz Film Academy in Poland, and finally did it - unfortunately, the problems he had affected the movie and made it a theatrical flop. Quite unfairly, as it has everything a pirate fan might want - a lovely score, breathtaking scenery, props and settings, a script that is adventurous and funny, good acting - and plenty of fun and adventure! And, most importantly, the amazing Walter Matthau as the best stereotypical pirate cap'n you'll ever see! Matthau performance is breathtaking - I can see his Cap'n Red standing arm-in-arm with Blackbeard, Black Bart and Captain Kidd, shouting orders at the "mateys"... Highly recommended for any fan of swashbuckling adventures - and for everyone else!

By the way, this film is easily available here on DVD. The DVD has "Pirates" in an uncut 2.35:1 widescreen version, with DTS/DD5.1 sound, and costs the equivalent of 5 USD. I've heard the film still has not been released in the USA - I wonder if it's true, and if so, why...

First, this is a poor quality DVD with quite a few glitches.
That aside, the movie is....well...different.
I especially liked Captain Red's dialog. It was colorful.
The movie was not nearly as "bawdy" as I had been led to believe, but it does have one catch.
Any other pirate movie you see, the pirate actually is a good guy, just misunderstood, somehow. The pirate always gets the girl, and the girl is always some duchess or something that is far above the pirates station in life.
Not this movie.
Pirates really went to sea for gold. If they came across anything else, they would take it, too. In this movie, that is what happens. The pirates live happily everafter because they got the gold. The girl got away, the pirates were a bunch of low lifes, very different from the way these movies have always played out in the past.

Walter Matthau is good at playing a pirate, and this film "Pirates" Only recieved one award. Best coustume design. It never made much money at the 1986 Cinema. Matthau is the Peg legged pirate Captain Red who is a fishhook eater and marooned outsider at sea with his one manned crew memeber The Frog. They both become rescued by a Spanish ship and end up captured. They discover it's Cargo is ruled by a Aztec golden throne, a fortune, Frog and Red do battle to have it, but in the end, they are marooned again. One of the funnest parts in the film is when Red eats a fishhook which gets trapped in his mouth. Also stars David Kelley (Into the West) as an Surgeon.

Pirates is one of Roman Polanski's most underrated films along with The Fearless Vampire Killers and the Tenant. While the latter two films are masterpieces, Pirates is a very good pirate film that's never received it's due.

Polanski redefines the pirate film while still paying tribute to the swashbuckling genre. This film is the perfect companion piece to The Fearless Vampire Killers. Walter Matthau gives an excellent performance as the fearless Captain Red and the rest of the cast's performances hit all the right notes. Polanski's direction is masterful as always. The photography and musical score are also very good. From a purely technical standpoint this film is excellent. The script is really the only thing that keeps this film from attaining greatness.

MGM who now hold the DVD rights (they now own the rights to the entire Cannon film library) must release this film as soon as possible in it's uncut, 124 minute widescreen glory (I suggest emailing MGM).

Walter Matthau is pricelessas hell bent on Gold Cap,n Red.Along with his Left Tenant Frog.I just love theway the script was written.Its worth watching just for the dialog.Seven and Twenty Years of unstinkin toyel,All me savins! Matthau is perfect with every line.The wardrobe and scenic locations are very convincing of that era and time.Cap,n Red and frog start the movie on a raft afloat at sea,Frog just wants to not be eaten by the Captain.But both are picked up by the Hated Spaniards and they soon discover the ships cargo is a Gold Throne.From then on nothing else matters to Cap,n Red. It has fantasticHumor woven in with real to life Pirate action.This truly is a must see.And I still do not know how Matthau was able to pull off the illusion of the pegleg.See what you think.

I have seen this film when it was released in VHS format. It was indeed bawdy but in a non offensive humorous way. When we got the DVD we were troubled by how it had been needlessly sensored. Scenes that were suggestive but less graphic than most TV dramas had been cut and the film lost a lot of its flow and in fact logic. I was terribly disapointed and continually search for an un-cut version. In its original form, it is a very funny twist to a pirate's tale and a tribute to the late Walter Matthau.

This movie is in English, you just have to figure out how to get through the menu's, which are in Portuguese. This is an excellent Pirate movie.

This movie may still hold the record for being the biggest money loser of all time, but it happens to be one of the funniest movies people have never seen. While slow at times, the outlandish sets, costumes and action more than make up for it. And if you love the crusty, crotchetty Matthau at his best, this is a must-see. I can not recall a movie with less dialog that has more humor in it. Who can ever forget lines like, 'What have you got in your little basket?' spoken when they are nearing execusion? Or 'It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needel than for an officer to enter the kingdom of heaven!' shouted as he insights a riot on ship? The final scene is the very definition of irony. My only hesitation is seeing this come to video is that "Pirates" may loose it's status as the biggest loser in Hollywood...

Captain Red and his Young Slave The Frog, Two Stranded Pirates on-board an Drifting raft, Are rescued by A passing Pirate ship, Only to find it's cargo is ruled by a Aztec golden throne. Which leads to an Pirate Comedy battle to steel the Throne.