Product Details

• Actors: Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood, Donald Sutherland, Toby Regbo, Rupert Penry- Jones
• Directors: Steve Barron
• Format: Color, Dolby, HiFi Sound, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Vivendi Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: July 24, 2012
• Run Time: 183 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B007RMQ4MM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,608 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Treasure Island" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Young Jim Hawkins is the only one who can successfully get a schooner to a legendary Island known for buried treasure. But aboard the ship is a mysterious cook named John Silver (Emmy winner Eddie Izzard, The Riches ), whose true motivation on the journey challenges Jim s trust in the entire crew. This is an exciting and atmospheric new take on the definitive pirate action adventure of reckless buccaneers, buried fortunes and a friendship forged in peril on the high seas.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Cast And Gorgeous Locales Drives This New Interpretation Of A Pirate Classic May 17, 2012

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

I had virtually no interest in seeing yet another adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island." I could recite the story forward and backwards by heart, and I just didn't have the passion to sit down to this two-part version as recently broadcast on the SyFy network (thankfully, though, they didn't make it--just premiered it). I relented, however, and was pleasantly surprised. As with many film interpretations, this one does take liberties with the book's narrative. If that's a huge issue for you, then you should probably just read the book again. What it does present, though, is in keeping with the story's tone and makes for a solid stand-alone film. An interesting cast and gorgeous location footage are among the highlights of this "Treasure Island," a dark and morally ambiguous vision.

I was instantly attracted to the movie's skewed feverish look and thought things got off to a great start. After introducing the cast of characters and getting them to sea, though, I felt like the momentum started to wane a bit. For me, the first part was about 3 stars. There were enough good elements, however, for me to stick around and the film got progressively stronger and more interesting in Part Two (which was easily 4 stars). I'm not going to explain the plot in any detail, but a lot of the story is driven by the complex relationship between outlaw Long John Silver (Eddie Izzard) and young Jim Hawkins (Toby Regbo). Sometimes allies, sometimes foes--these two form an unlikely and unexpected bond in which you never know exactly who's up to no good. As the different parties race for the treasure, Jim is caught between. Might Silver be more heroic than you first imagine? May some of the Jim's excursion be more corruptible than he'd like? The movie does a great job driving the paranoia on the island as everyone sinks into a madness brought on by desperation and greed.

What really surprised me, however, and pushed this version over the edge is its cast. Izzard really adds quite a bit of depth to Long John Silver. I know some who objected to his casting, but it makes for a different interpretation. Regbo does most of the heavy lifting dramatically and he's really up to the task. I thought he was fantastic as the film's moral center. A number of great British character actors fill out supporting roles including Rupert Penry-Jones, Daniel Mays, Philip Glenister (great as Captain Smollett), and Shirley Henderson. Donald Sutherland has a brief cameo, and Elijah Wood has a change-of-pace role as Ben Gunn. I didn't necessarily love Wood here (though I like him as an actor), but I found most every performance exemplary. In the end, I found myself quite a supporter of the film. It's not perfect, but it works as long as you aren't expecting an absolutely literal translation. KGHarris, 5/12.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A very entertaining TV movie with the great Eddie Izzard as Long John Silver. I recommend this. Very good. I say B+. May 10, 2012

By Tony Heck

Format:DVD

"I will plan a venture Jim Hawkins and we will both profit wildly. Trust me boy." After Long John Silver (Izzard) is double crossed by his captain Flint (Sutherland) he only has one thing on his mind. Retreiving the treasure he feels is rightly his. When finding out that the only one who can get a ship to the island where the treasure is is a young boy named Jim Hawkins (Regbo) he makes friends with him. I have never seen any of the other versions of this nor read the book. I knew a little of the story but to me this was about 90% new to me. Even though this is a made for TV movie it is much better then most of the theater movies that have been released recently. Izzard is a perfect choice for this and I think is on par with Depp. This movie is very entertaining and I recommend it. This is a pirate movie that can stand side by side with the first "Pirates Of The Carribbean" movie, and may actually be better in some ways. This is a movie well worth your time. Overall, best pirate movie since the original Pirates. I enjoyed it. I say B+.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Who on earth thought that the world needed a gritty, brutal rendition of "Treasure Island"? April 12, 2013

By Neurasthenic VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

"Treasure Island" is a classic of juvenile fiction. The hero is a young boy who takes on improbable challenges and invariably succeeds. He finds a treasure map, evades pirates, discovers a secret plot of mutineers, steals the boat single-handed, defeats the brutal ship's gunner in hand-to-hand combat, etc. etc. etc. It's a story for children, and I can't imagine that many people reading it in the 130+ years since it was originally published have thought "gosh, what this really needs is more brutality."

I've seen the 1934, 1950, and 1990 film and television versions of this story. Each takes some liberties to fit its medium, and each of those versions has merit. This version, unfortunately, doesn't pay off. I don't recommend it.