Best movie of this year hands down!

Sorry, this movie sucks

Sadly Over-hyped

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

As a young lad, I was fascinated when I read Treasure Island for the first time. I have read it multiple times since, and when I came to know about this film, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. This movie is by far one of the best adaptations of the original book which I have come across. The actors have done a thoroughly admirable job and a young Christian Bale had shown early on in his career what he is capable of. Charlton Heston did well as Long John Silver, as did Julian Glover as the doctor. Not much from the original book has been lost, with much of the main content kept intact, thus the 2 hours 10 minutes run time. But every minute will keep you engrossed to your screens. A must see film for anyone who enjoyed the book.

This movie should have been released in the cinema, as this was the most faithful adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's compelling novel which I've ever seen, as the plot follows the book very closely and rarely deviates from it. The cast were on the whole perfect for their roles, Charlton Heston was unrecognisable in the role of Long John Sliver which is testimony as to how well he played the part, he was charming, conniving and ruthless and Christian Bale who gave us a taste of things to come with this performance as the resourceful and courageous cabin boy Jim Hawkins, and this is the only adaptation I've seen get this character right, it was refreshing to see this character not portrayed as a young boy whose in way over his head. Also Julian Glover brought Dr Livesey to life perfectly, and again this adaptation is the only one I've seen get this character right, likewise the rest of the cast were all outstanding. The soundtrack by the Chieftains fitted the scenes very well and if anything added to it, particularly at the beginning when Billy Bones comes ashore and makes his way to the Admiral Benbow. Also this one of the few movies I've seen do narration right, as in the novel its mainly Jim telling the story. The only downside to the movie was the narration from Dr Livesey which forms a big part of the novel wasn't included, as was the gradual demise of Billy Bones and the death of Jim's father however this could be considered minor plots of the novel so maybe the producers deemed it unnecessary. But apart from that I couldn't fault it and really loved it. If you want to use a perfect example of a classic novel brought to life, this is it.

I have always loved Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, it is such a great story and a real page-turner. Of the four versions I've seen so far- this, 1950, the Muppet film and the recent one aired over the Christmas break- I do agree with those that say this is the best one.The wonderful story is still as compelling as before, throughout here it is well paced and interesting. The dialogue is witty and complex as well as maintaining the basic feel of the book's prose. Add to that assured direction, authentic locations that are rich in atmosphere, sumptuous costuming and photography, energetic action sequences and a music score that is both rousing and with a Celtic lilt and you have a treasure. But you cannot mention the cast mentioning this Treasure Island. To me at least three cast members are definitive, they are Charlton Heston as Long John Silver, Christian Bale as Jim Hawkins and Nicolas Amer as Ben Gunn.Heston is perfectly cast in a role he was born to play, his interpretation is charismatic and complex being both menacing and human, and it is easily one of my favourite performances of his. Likewise with Bale, whose appealing, never overly-sentimental and easy-to-identify-with Jim Hawkins has only been surpassed I feel by his performances in American Psycho and Empire of the Sun. Amer's Ben Gunn is both amusing and poignant, a perfect balance and the only performance of the character so far I've seen to have that perfect balance.That's not all. We also have Richard Johnson's generous Squire Trelawny and Julian Glover's gutsy Dr Livesey, as well the most vivid and most dangerous Billy Bones in Oliver Reed, a genuinely scary Blind Pew in Christopher Lee, an excellent Clive Wood as Captain Smollet and standout turns from Pete Postlethwaite, Isla Blair and Michael Halsey.Overall, a fantastic version, both as an adaptation and on its own terms with a wonderful cast especially. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Most of the comments expressed so far have correctly pointed out this version as the best and, unlike someone's reference to George C Scott's Scrooge, it does actually come directly from the book and not from years of ingrained television adaptations.The reason it is so good is because it echoes correctly the strata of fear that the book is based on. As a child, Jim Hawkins is scared of everyone from the physically hideous Blind Pugh to the men of bloodthirsty reputation - Israel Hands and Blind Pugh and that fear is shown by the pirates in their reverence for Captain Flint and of course, Long John, who commands by reputation alone.In preserving this intact, the whole book and thus, the film, is believable.I know people question some of the language (incorrectly in my view as all those words were spoken by landsmen not natural sailors and were very much in use in that time - the word 'bugger' for example, appears in the diaries of Pepy's hundreds of years earlier).Its easy to say that the film draws influence from early versions but that's inevitable. The Chieftans soundtrack and a very fine cast make it far superior and much more believable. As someone said earlier, you need a proper Silver who can both turn on the charm to convince a young lad but also control a band of cutthroats and Heston achieves that superbly well. You can see clearly how easily intimidated the pirates are because they are uneducated and that's obvious from the exchanges between them and Long John. Postlethwaite is brilliant in these and totally convincing ! Finally, I think someone mentioned a continuity problem earlier.Although having run off, Jim does see a pirate killed, this is only after he has jumped off the jolly boat and run inland.The two aren't connected.He does that for devilment I think and there are other examples of his reckless behaviour elsewhere in the book. What a great story though - the triumph of the stereotypical English gentlemen over the bloodthirsty pirates.I think we all agree on here, this interpretation is spot on !