IslandGuru Who payed the critics

SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Ameriatch One of the best films i have seen

Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Tracy Winters Why are all contemporary pirate movies the same? It's the repetitive schtick of adventuresome music accompanied by a daring hero, the token wench, and the typical gay pirate rigamarole.Bob Shaw is such a wild guy. Gee, he's so wild. He steals bananas, almost kills the wench when he drives a wagon off a 200-foot cliff into the ocean surf below, and runs around on land doing nothing in particular except to fill his days with wasteful loafing. Gosh, he's such a wild-- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.You've seen it all before, but I'm hesitant to say you'e seen anything better. These movies are all the same, the same old schtick.

John T. Ryan IN AN AGE when blood and gore realism was a hallmark and element of so many pictures, SWASHBUCKLER offers a quaint bit of contrast. Without doing a total number on a particular genre a la AIRPLANE, this film hearkens back to the likes of THE SEAHAWK and THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD both with the greatest of all screen Swashbucklers, Errol Flynn.IN SETTING UP the production, the producer/director/casting agency all quickly got on the same page. Meticulously designing, constructing and executing a film that had nothing quite like it at that point in time.IN BRINGING TOGETHER a cast which would do justice to their vision of the story, they went with top talent; all of whom just happened to be "Hot Box Office". Robert Shaw (THE STING, JAWS), James Earl Jones, Genevieve Bujold (ANNE OF AS THOUSAND DAYS, EARTHQUAKE)_, Peter Boyle (JOE, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE)and Beau Bridges making up the major players, were all at the top of their collective game and at Box Office $$$$.THE INCLUSION OF great sets, location shooting, costuming, weaponry and the all important "Pirate Ships" easily transported us from 20th century America to a 17th century "Spanish Maine" (the Carribbean).THE PURPOSE OF doing the film in this manner was to make a very untypical picture for the '70's. We the audience were invited to see an "Old Fashioned" movie, through the eyes of a kid; the way that we should view life, itself.WHY THEY PROBABLY could have garnered an unthinkable "G" Rating!HORRORS, NOT THAT!"Highly Recommended" (and little seen today)!

Jonathon Dabell "Swashbuckler" seems to be a love-it or hate-it kind of film. Almost every professional review of the film you come across ranks it as an unmitigated disaster. Yet almost every armchair critic who has seen it seems to reserve a soft spot for the film, hailing it as an entertaining guilty pleasure. In this particular debate, I feel compelled to throw in my opinion (for what it's worth). And, sadly, I think the professionals got it absolutely right on this occasion. Possibly the most misguided movie ever made, a cringe-worthy embarrassment that fails profoundly to recreate the heyday of those wonderful '30s and '40s pirate flicks, "Swashbuckler" is simply staggering in its awfulness.Roguish buccaneer Ned Lynch (Robert Shaw) sails the Caribbean seas with his motley crew in search of adventure. Having rescued his friend Nick Debrett (James Earl Jones) from the gallows, he next finds his path crossed with wronged lady aristocrat Jane Barnet (Genevieve Bujold). Although initially Jane and Ned can barely stand each other, they soon find themselves united in their struggle to rid Jamaica of its corrupt governor Durant (Peter Boyle). After various adventures - sword-fights, duels, rescues and romances - they complete their mission and, of course, the bickering hero and heroine finally realise they're in love.Shaw is criminally wasted as the roguish Ned Lynch, given nothing to do other than look dashing. Any actor with a touch of charisma could have pulled off the role - it's just a boring part for an actor who looks rightly bored with it. Bujold is equally wasted as a thoroughly helpless, irritating and unresourceful leading lady. But by far the worst of the main parts - and one which left me genuinely embarrassed for the actor involved - falls to Peter Boyle. Poor Boyle is left to deliver some of the worst dialogue imaginable as the villain of the piece, his terrible lines further heightened by the campy approach in which he is asked to indulge himself. While the music and the location photography deserve a better showcase, every other aspect of the film royally stinks! It is scripted with naive ineptitude; plotted without originality; directed without the slightest sense of spirit or period; and presented so unevenly that it is impossible to tell whether we are watching something serious or slapstick. Those who have found things to enjoy in "Swashbuckler" are welcome to it.... personally, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!

sbirdconliff I loved this movie because Robert Shaw was basically reprising his old role from the 1950's TV series "The Buccaneers" which was my favorite show as a kid. Geoffrey Holder was wonderful in this movie and Anjelica Houston was beautiful, even with no lines. James Earl Jones and Beau Bridges added to the great mix of talent. While Peter Boyle was a bit odd as the villain, he had played a bad guy before in "Joe", a movie that scared the bejeezus out of me at the time. The scenery is lovely and the music is great. Just a fun movie that didn't deserve the bad press it got at all. The only thing missing was Brian Rawlinson (Gaff from the old TV show) to make it perfect.