The Bounty1984

The Bounty has an incredible cast and a fabulously well-put-together production, and pays impressive attention to historical accuracy – more than any of the previous cinematic recreations. With all this going for it, it's a pity that the drama falls flat.

A cast of actors so award-heavy it almost defies belief: Anthony Hokpins, Sir Laurence Olivier, Edward Fox, Bernard Hall and youngsters Liam Neeson, Daniel-Day Lewis and Mel Gibson. It took me until the second watch to really get into it, but both times Anthony Hopkins was mesmerizing -- his intensity was off the charts and he created a complex character who also had a one-track mind: make a name for himself while successfully completing a professional, British voyage. The cinematography was very good, and you could tell they were on an actual boat. The setting in Tahiti was beautiful and appropriately matter of fact. The chief of the "natives" was well-rendered. Gibson made interesting choices with his role, as he was purposefully not given a lot to do until the mutiny occurred. He kindness and deference to the crew was laid out, but the only thing missing is he didn't seem magnetic or compelling enough for the crew to pick him to be the leader (though I guess that was part of the point -- he just the best option). DDL could have been given more as well beyond being a good, right Master who was treated poorly by Bligh until it became clear at least he was loyal. Neeson was properly a scuzz ball. Olivier and Fox were properly British. The new age score from Vangelis reminded me a bit too much of Blade Runner at first, but once you got used to it, the spacey drone of keyboards worked well at setting the tone for a descent of the crew into squalid conditions (the only time it really failed is when Gibson was chopping a coconut in anger, and a cartoon "clang" from a keyboard accompanied each strike of his sword). A complex story told well

The Bounty is a great adventure, a lush romance, and a good movie.