Swashbuckler (1976) User Reviews

Amusing adventures with intrepid pirates and exotic scenarios

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 8 September 2010]

Heroism , sword-play , ambushes and full of villainy swashbuckler . The film is a nice pirate-adventures movie , lavishly produced by recently deceased Elliott Kastner with habitual dueling, dungeon getaways , disguises and sexual hostility between hero and heroine . This classic story of romantic adventure comes to life enriched by Technicolor cinematography and accompanied by an excellent score . It is the tale of a buccaneer named Ned Lynch ( Robert Shaw recent his success in ¨Jaws¨ ) who takes over a ship of corsairs and wreak havoc on the high seas . The pirate join forces to Nick ( James Earl Jones of ¨Conan¨) and a knife-throwing giant (Geoffrey Holder of ¨Live and let die¨). They square off their nemesis, the viceroy of Jamaica ( Peter Boyle of ¨Young Frankestein¨) and his hoodlums ( a stiff and idiot Beau Bridges ). They're going a buccaneer settlement where meet the plundered judge's daughter (Genevieve Bujold of ¨Fascination¨) . Meanwhile, viceroy wishes a shipment of gold to transport from Jamaica until Spain . Then , they decide to take the ruler headquarter , the location strongest fortified from Jamaica.

This is an agreeable entertainment juvenile romp well written by Jeffrey Bloom . The movie displays in grandiose style noisy action, swashbuckler, heroism , swordplay , slapdash , overwhelming fights, fist-play and humor with tongue in cheek . This release has some nice and even hilarious moments here and there , though isn't always interesting , sometimes is diverting and fresh and on a couple of sympathetic occasions is frankly delicious . Robert Shaw is cool as the pirate hero who finds dangerous situations while trying rob the shipment and save damsel in distress . This adventure movie with a high budget of multi-million of dollars packs breathtaking places , sea-fight and amusing plot . It's enriched by colorful cinematography reflecting spectacularly sea beaches by cameraman Philip Lathtrop filmed in location in Puerta Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico and Singapore Lake, Backlot, Universal Studios, Universal City Plaza, California . Furthermore , lively and impressive musical score by John Addison . The motion picture is well directed by James Golstone ( Roller-coaster , When time ran out ). This standard and entertaining 7o's swashbuckling that combines with certain gusto all staples of the genre to be liked for Robert Shaw and Genevieve Bujold fans. Rating : Good , worthwhile watching .

An unjustly buried film ...

[Bevan - #4 · 7/10 · 14 April 2005]

... then and now.

Alright, I saw this flick as the opener for a circus in Radio City Music Hall on my first trip to NYC in 1976. I thought it grand then, and I haven't much changed my mind.

I do agree with those who think that a better villain and ingenue could have been found than Peter Boyle and Genevieve Bujold (one of the most overrated actresses of the time), but the Shaw-Jones pairing sparkles. I loved the score so much I bought the soundtrack on vinyl -- dare I hope that it may be out on CD somewhere? The flick isn't long on plot, really, but the cinematography and action are spiffy, the characterizations work, and man, is Geoffrey Holder a bad ass! It's a sprightly movie and you'll spend a fun time watching it. Who knows, you might even have limerick contests with your mates the next time you're escaping from the local militia.

Rating: 7/10

Not the disaster I had heard it was

[preppy-3 · 7/10 · 29 May 2004]

Pirate Ned Lynch (Robert Shaw) and his gang (including James Earl Jones) help Jane Barnet (Genevieve Bujold) fight evil Lord Durant (Peter Boyle).

This film has a very bad reputation. Critics hated it and it was a financial disaster at the box office. I can't figure out why. It's not perfect but it's not horrible. The bad things in it: Shaws' Irish accent makes some of his dialogue unintelligible; the scripts dialogue is aimed at kids; the character of Cudjo (Geoffrey Holder) is introduced--and then disappears for an hour!; ditto with Major Folly (Beau Bridges); the treatment of Bujold is horrible (and she acts very lost in this movie); there are some really strange kinky touches such as Bridges almost being tortured, Bujold's pointless nude swimming scene and Durant's bath with a young boy and having Anjelica Huston in the film...and giving her NO dialogue!

The good: With the exception of Bujold the cast is having a whale of a time (Bridges especially is enjoying himself); it's fun to see Jones so young and full of life; there's plenty of action (with some great sword fights); it's very lavishly produced and there's a rousing music score by John Addison.

Basically it's a fun way to kill of 100 minutes--I was never bored.

This is one of Hollywoods many failed attempts to revive the pirate movie. Through the 1980s and 90s they gave us --"The Island", Polanski's "Pirates", "The Pirate Movie" and "Cutthroat Island". All big budget bombs. Maybe Hollywood should give up (I'm not counting "Pirates of the Caribbean"--that was not a movie-it was an ad for a Disney theme park.)

Worth catching.

One of My MOST Favorite Guilty Pleasures

[Jeri-9 · 17 March 2001]

I LOVE this movie. I don't care how terrible critics might think it is. It's fun, romantic, entertaining, an old fashioned yarn. It came out right after Robert Shaw made a "splash" in Jaws, and he's fabulous as usual. Don't let them make you feel guilty about loving this movie. It's great.

Enjoyable farce

[llltdesq · 7/10 · 10 May 2000]

The reviewer of this film in Leonard Maltin's Guide called this a bomb. While it is not the greatest movie of all time, there are definitely enough moments that make the movie worth watching. It's probably Beau Bridges' best work, Avery Schrieber is wonderful, Geoffrey Holder is stupendous and to top it off, James Earl Jones is in the movie! That alone makes it not a bomb in my book. It's a fun, mindless movie that I found delightful.

Critics Were Wrong With This One

[ragosaal · 7/10 · 25 October 2006]

Critics were hard on "Swashbuckler" in my Country too. However I've been watching films for 45 years now and there are some things I'm pretty sure on movies. As most things in life everything is just a matter of opinion and each one's own preferences and tastes. Critics are just movie fans -like any other one- that have the possibility of making their opinions known, but that's the only difference with us, and in fact I don't agree with them very often. "Swashbuckler" is one of those cases. Considering this film within it's genre -there's no other way to analyze a film- I found it most entertaining and enjoyable.

The first point in favor of "Swashbuckler" is that the director, crew and actors didn't take it too seriously and they aimed to an action, romance, amusing and unpretentious pirate movie; and they succeeded in my opinion.

Robert Shaw was no Errol Flynn and he didn't even try to be but he is convincing as pirate Captain Ned Lynch who joins a noble damsel in distress (Genevieve Bujold) to fight tyrannic Jamaica governor Durant played by Peter Boyle (he isn't Basil Rathbone and also doesn't pretend to be) who achieves a most original and colorful villain (his deadly sword training with more than one opponent at a time is most enjoyable and interesting). The rest of the cast that includes James Earl Jones, a funny Beau Bridges and Angelica Houston are a good support too.

Director James Goldstone does a prolix job in beautiful Caribbean outdoor sceneries and keeps entertainment all along with very well achieved action scenes and sword play.

All in all, if you enjoy pirate films this is one to see (the critics opinions notwithstanding).

The roots of the Pirates of the Caribbean!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 14 June 2019]

After a long hiatus, finally in mid seventies the Pirates coming back on big screen, in a big budge by the way, the movie didn't caused a stir as they planned previously, somehow the picture survives, The Pirates of the Caribbean deserves too much to Swashbuckler, mainly by the humor oriented, some kind of farce, blending adventure and banter, nothing with serious treatment, some dared scenes as the wagon falling down to the sea, a true highlight, using a perfect replica of the old ship from those days, bring us an impressive sense of reality, the cast tawdry, Robert Shaw is too old for those actions, Beau Bridges wasn't enough hilarious, Bujold didn't had a sex appeal properly, just Peter Boyle and James Earl Jones delivery as they could, funny enough to all ages, an amusing picture that survives miraculously at the time!!

Resume:

First watch: 1988 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7

A Sort Of "PETER PAN " For Adults.............

[redryan64 · 7/10 · 30 May 2014]

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)!

What a wet blanket....

[innocuous · 4/10 · 1 October 2009]

No, this is not a terrible movie. But it's a bit of an endurance test to watch it. Echoing some of the reviewers (and in contrast to some others), I like the score and most of the actors/actresses. On the other hand, I don't care for their performances here. When you add to this the quite silly plot and action sequences, you come up with not much of anything. (Seeing Bujold nekkid would be some sort of compensation, but you can watch any of her other films and see a lot more than you do here.) In spite of using "The Golden Hinde" (a replica of the original) to stand in for "The Blarney Cock" and having some beautiful (Mexican) scenery, the remainder of the film is so totally unrealistic as to be insulting. It's just silly, but not in the slapstick way that POTC is. It earnestly tries to generate some tension at a few points and fails miserably.

Finally, I find it saddening to see Robert Shaw on the screen just two years before his death in such a role. He was immensely talented, but tortured by many personal demons (and the Tax Bureau). Knowing this just sucks out whatever fun the film might have generated.

In short, I wouldn't bother with this.

Swashbuckler

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 3 June 2023]

Peter Boyle steals the show here as the camp, but dastardly "Lord Durant" who starts off menacingly taking a bath (à la Cleopatra) and sets the tone for this daft, but fast moving adventure. Aristocrat "Debrett" (James Earl Jones) and pirate "Ned Lynch" (Robert Shaw) have had quite enough of this ruthless governor, so set out to get shot of him. What follows now are a fun series of escapades with the aptly named "Maj. Folly" (Beau Bridges) working to thwart their emancipating plan and Geneviève Bujold ("Jane") providing the glamour. It's a mess, this film. Shaw looks like he has read the Errol Flynn "Janet & John" book (and maybe taken a flagon or two before filming as well). JEJ is about as versatile an actor as one of his wooden ships and Bujold just hasn't got enough to do to make much impact. Anjelica Huston - she of the "Dark Visage" also features, but again sparingly and with little purpose. It must have been an hoot to make though, there is plenty of action and acrobatics and the denouement is actually quite fun in an hammy sort of fashion. Completely forgettable fayre, this - but enjoyable nonetheless.

Swordplay, cannon fire, white sails in the sunset...and banana peels

[moonspinner55 · 5/10 · 11 March 2017]

Captain "Red" Ned Lynch and Nick Debrett, white and black pirate cohorts in 1718 Jamaica, oppose the evil Lord Durant, who has imprisoned the Lord High Justice and banished the judge's daughter; she enlists the pirates' help for 10,000 doubloons to kill Durant and rescue her father. Critically-drubbed pirate-package from producer Jennings Lang, who must have known Errol Flynn movies were no longer in vogue in 1976 and so adds an odd dollop of kink and a threat of castration to update the scenario. Lang has assembled a strong cast for the picture, including Robert Shaw (fresh off his triumph in "Jaws") as Lynch, Peter Boyle as the preening villain and Genevieve Bujold as the fencing damsel (who has a memorable swimming scene), and director James Goldstone doesn't go in for campy laughs, except for a horse cart full of bananas. Still, "Swashbuckler" failed to resurrect the genre as "The Three Musketeers" resurrected Dumas in 1973. Philip Lathrop's cinematography (particularly his outdoor aerial shots) is a major asset, but the old-fashioned spirit is sorely missing. ** from ****

A great, all-around FUN pirate movie for the entire family!

[Shamenize · 8/10 · 21 April 2005]

First off, you've got to remember - This is NOT "The Life & Times Of Blackbeard"! It's a fun seventies romp - The Four Musketeers on the high seas! Now that you have that in mind, read on.

How can one NOT like this movie?! It's the ONLY example of a "pirate movie" in my entire DVD collection - but it's the only one anyone needs. Robert Shaw turns in a commanding and amused performance as Red Ned Lynch - the captain of a scurvy band of pirates including James Earl Jones as Nick and Geoffrey Holder (The UNcola guy... you remember!) as Nick's knife wielding friend, Cujo. Throw in Genevieve Bujold as the damsel in distress/female interest, add Peter Boyle as the classic slimy Governor who abuses his subjects and you've got a recipe for an entertaining hour and forty minutes! Pay attention to some of the supporting character actors and you'll see quite a few you recognize from movies and TV of the time period - Avery Schrieber, Alfie Wise and Sid Haig just to name a few. And of course, we can't forget Beau Bridges as a perfectly stiff soldier and Angelica Huston as she known only as "Woman Of Dark Visage".

Plotwise, this movie has it all - a British Governor who likes to spend his days in the bath playing with ships... a twisted little DeSade in training at his beck and call... the obligatory wronged member of the British aristocracy and his family-in-need... and of course, the moronic civil servant, Major Folly, who only wants to capture Red Ned Lynch and please The Governor.

Do yourself a favor and go rent this one for the weekend - or even better, pick up the DVD. It's relatively cheap as an older catalog title and definitely a keeper. Because EVERYbody needs a good pirate flick now and again.

Some good fun here.

[alexanderdavies-99382 · 6/10 · 22 June 2017]

I recall seeing "Swashbuckler" about 1983 on a rare British television showing. After that, I didn't see so much as a glance of the film until 2005. I have fond memories of this film. Certainly, the script isn't all that good and the attempts at humour are contrived and also irritating. However, Robert Shaw delivers another powerhouse performance, the action scenes are well done, there are very good production values and the music is better than average. Robert Shaw is the only British actor in "Swashbuckler" which suits me. He is still one of the finest actors I have ever seen. The supporting cast are pretty good. It was a shame that this film flopped at the box office back in 1976. "Universal" studios wanted to find a new film for their leading man after his tremendous success in "Jaws." I do recommend this one as it is fun.

Possibly the most misguided movie ever made.... hard to believe this film actually has admirers.

[barnabyrudge · 1/10 · 11 July 2007]

"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!

Corny but cute

[didi-5 · 10 February 1999]

Despite Maltin's great slagging-off of this movie (has he actually seen it, I wonder??), I reckon it was a little gem in an era when a lot of filmmakers took themselves and their work far too seriously! Guaranteed to lift the blues on any bad day, it may be a bit corny, it might have been misguided to make a pirate flick in the mid-70s, but there are certainly a lot worse examples of the genre around, and this one is quite a cute and appealing film.

Quint on the Seven Seas

[Matthew_Capitano · 2/10 · 22 July 2017]

Robert Shaw does his 'Quint' imitation (from 'Jaws') in this goofy pirate adventure.

During the playing of the clumsy musical score, 'Ned Lynch' (Shaw) runs around in his best red pirate blouse unbuttoned all the way down to his navel (you know, the way all gay pirates do). While 'Major Folly', portrayed by the typically over-acting Beau Bridges (Lloyd's load), conducts an execution of James Earl Jones, Lynch rescues the Black Man with the help of perfectly placed ropes for him to swing to shore on, and then back to his ship, which is conveniently displacing deep water a foot from the beach, all while the townspeople jump for joy for no apparent reason, complete with cartwheels and the triumphant yawping of a banana salesman (from whom Lynch later steals the dude's banana supply). Does Quint-- I mean, Lynch, know these people? Do they get some form of remuneration for their loyalty? Does anyone give a rat's butt?

Lynch continues to bounce around, smiling like an idiot, with his trusted crew which includes everybody's favorite effeminate giant, Geoffrey Holder, and pudgy Avery Schreiber (who wears a 'half-shirt'.... yuck!) with his cheesy mustache in tow. Finally, Lynch meets the token damsel-in-distress (Genevieve Bujold) who is trying to retrieve her necklace from one of the crew sluts. The resident villain is Peter Boyle (I bet he does a kill Brando impersonation).

Smash-cut to the plot.... Genevieve must conscript Lynch to her service in order to free associate political prisoners who await execution. The rest is more blarney interspersed with every pirate movie cliché in the archives. For note, one of Lynch's men speaks 'monkey', Lynch's ship is equipped in the script with a 'character name', and there's a rooster on-board for laughs, of which there are few. Horrendously directed by James Goldstone who must have run out of film (or money) judging by the way the movie cuts off abruptly without the luxury of a satisfying final scene.

From the vault of Goldstone's private stock crock. Tune in if you must. My rating: 2 stars for Genevieve Bujold's boobs.... one for each boob.

Singularly bad but nonetheless amusing

[oshram-3 · 3/10 · 7 August 2007]

I rented this film solely because Robert Shaw starred in it. I've yet to see him in anything where I didn't like him (even if the movie was crap), and I thought I couldn't go too far wrong with a movie where he plays a pirate.

The Shaw stars as Ned Lynch, a vermilion-clad pirate who sails around basically haranguing Jamaica. Lynch has to rescue his first mate Nick Debrett (James Earl Jones, no doubt preparing for a similar role in the similarly bad King Solomon's Mines) from the clutches of the evil Lord Durant (Peter Boyle), and in the midst of doing so runs into Jane Barnet (Genevieve Bujold), the daughter of the real governor of Jamaica. It seems that Durant has usurped power and is killing people right and left on a whim, and Lynch is "a man of the people" (from the long-winded intro) who naturally opposes tyranny, megalomania, etc. While there's a lot of mucking around on the island, there's actually very little sailing, and after about a half-hour Ned agrees to help Jane because he's getting soft on her (she offers him money to kill Durant, but that's hardly his real incentive). The pirates make a hasty alliance with almost everyone on the island, brokered chiefly by the oddball Cudjo (Geoffrey Holder, known to those of you old enough as "the 7-up guy" from the 70s, or alternately as Baron Samedhi from Live and Let Die). So basically all of Jamaica storms the fortress, which leads to a showdown between Durant and Lynch. Guess who wins? The movie's fun to watch because it's so irredeemably bad. Beau Bridges has a role as the expectedly useless henchman, Major Folly; he's Dumb and Dumberer stupid, so dim only several generations of inbreeding could explain it. Shaw mostly seems to be having fun in a nice warm location, and Jones gives it a game try with a Jamaican accent, but no one's taking things very seriously. You can tell they thought the script was bad because right in the middle – for absolutely no reason – Bujold strips naked and dives off the ship into the water. The Shaw gallantly rows out to retrieve her, so we don't actually see anything except for the long shot, but it's telling that the producers thought that a pirate movie would need a little T&A to shake you awake. Also, for reasons unknown, Avery Schreiber tags along as a Polish pirate with no lines who is merely there to be made fun of.

But far exceeding every other aspect of the film in craptacularosity is Peter Boyle's 'performance' as Lord Durant. Granted, the writing sinks to particularly hokey depths where the villain is concerned; but Boyle plays the man so outrageously, so grandstandingly, that one is reminded of Clancy Brown's infamous turn as the Kurgan in the first Highlander film, or any of Tim Curry's overacted roles, or even Jeremy Irons in D&D. Boyle is that over-the-top, so stupefyingly bad, that he carves a niche for himself in the list of cinema's all time worst villains (anyone who cries out, "Lower the curtains, the farce has ended!" as he plummets to his death deserves some kind of recognition. It's hard to be that bad).

Swashbuckler never tries to take itself seriously, and nor should you. It has been justly forgotten, and certainly I never would have bothered had not The Shaw graced the film with his presence. The only real question is, is this film worse than Cutthroat Island? No. But it's close.

remember what movies are for . . . . . . . ??

[traderviqz · 8/10 · 31 August 2005]

If one can simply recall that movies are to take us away, whether from or to is personally specific, then it would take a profoundly negative person to think poorly of any well made and well acted movie. This is such a flick, decently focused relative to plot, well chosen costuming and locations, great cinematography . . . what more can you ask? If you want a 'film', with all its highbrow silliness, it's true you might not wanna go there with this one, but jeez, does anyone who only goes to 'films' even tell anyone else they know that they're painfully pretentious? This one has no pretensions, and since when is Genevieve in any state of undress a minus? Good entertainment, which is what I want when i spend money on a movie, and Swashbuckler delivers with aplomb.

JGS

Great Soundtrack, so-so movie

[rabbitrunning · 2/10 · 3 February 2004]

What can you say about a pirate movie with only one ship? Well, that they tried very very hard. There are some memorable lines and scenes, but without a sea battle to liven up the festivities the poor film falls flat. The soundtrack music (which, sadly, is not available as a cd)is worth the price of the DVD though.

Fun Movie...Give it a Break!!!

[puterdude · 4 April 2004]

I'm tired of Leonard Maltin and anyone else who panned this movie! I agree with 85-95% of what he usually reviews. HOWEVER, there are some movies you just gotta accept as fun, and disregard bad parts (like the whole Peter Boyle role--geez, they coulda gotten a better bad guy). Robert Shaw is a perfect pirate, and he and James Earl Jones made a great duo. The acrobatics / fencing / cannons is just a whole lot of action packed fun, with the HAHAHHAHA guy from the soda commercials and James Bond "Live and Let Die" movie. Beau Bridges' part is the perfect MASH / Frank Burns type; great for the other characters to make fun of. But, being a musician, what stood out to me is the music. Too bad they didn't use more Sound studio effects like reverb or chorusing, because the score is awesome. The cinematograpy is awesome, too; beautiful wide / panned shots of Jamaica and its mountains / coastline. Not the best movie to have your kids watch with you, as it gets suggestively racy in some parts, but, I'd put this in the same category of "almosts" like Remo Williams, Punisher, King Solomon's Mines (Richard Chamberlain / Sharon Stone). So, lighten up, get yer popcorn and Diet Coke, and have fun! Aye, Cap'n!!

Patent-Pending Pirate Puke

[tracywinters-44332 · 1/10 · 25 July 2017]

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.

Really stupid and gory excuse for a comedy

[capitan_movie · 1/10 · 4 June 2000]

Even by Hollywood standards, this is one of the stupidest and excessively gory movies ever made. Some of the most talented actors in history including James Earl Jones, Robert Shaw, Peter Boyle, Tom Berrenger, and Beau Bridges combine to make one of the stupidest and bloodiest "comedies" ever to darken the screen. I cannot believe that James Goldstone directed this mess. And if he really did, he should have had the good taste to credit it to Alan Smithee.

As good as Pirates of the Caribbean

[CromeRose · 10/10 · 18 February 2005]

Elliott Kastner, the Executive Producer of this movie, was unfairly disliked by many people in his day, which I believe is what led to many of the critics panning this film (who cares what they say? I like to think for myself). Elliott was a great producer and an amazing entrepeneur, and he was just doing his thing like many others in Hollywood during his heyday. He was one of the most successful independent producers of all time so he must have been doing something right, and perhaps many of the people who disliked him did so out of jealousy. I saw this film for the first time recently and just have to say well done! Robert Shaw is the best pirate ever and James Earl Jones is incredible as his equal, and best friend. It's wonderful to see him so young and full of vitality! Peter Boyle is perfectly over-the-top and what can anyone say about Beau Bridges except Bravo! The film is a rollicking good time with some of the best sword fighting and stunts ever seen in a movie -- the stagecoach off the cliff beats any CGI any day of the week. I think Cutthroat Island (which is not bad in itself) is a ripoff of this film, and even Zorro with the incomparable Tony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones borrowed a little from the scene where Robert Shaw starts cutting off Genevieve Bujold's clothing in a sword fight. Watch the making of featurette on the DVD and you'll see James Earl Jones come close to serious harm while doing one of the stagecoach stunts. It's incredible. All in all, the critics should leave this movie, and Elliott, alone! Bravo!

Dreadfully dull

[LivingWitness · 5/10 · 18 June 2023]

The score was fine, the actors were fine, and some of the sword fights were fun to watch. That's really all I can say in defense of Swashbuckler. It really doesn't have much else going for it.

I feel like this movie drags on for too long at points. Instead of being the fun pirate adventure it should have been, it ended up being this slow drag of a movie. Sure, there's a few jokes, but they don't really land, and sure, there's some interesting characters, but they're never really developed. For the most part, this movie is just dreadfully dull.

Swashbuckler is a good example of why pirate films deserved to be a dead genre for a long time. It's not that this movie didn't commit to what it was trying to be; it's more that it really doesn't have anything worth committing to. Chances are that I will have completely forgotten about this movie in a week or two.

Action packed with a good dose of humor.

[mgb · 9/10 · 25 January 2003]

I first saw this movie on the big screen and a few years ago rented it on VHS. I enjoyed it both times and plan to add it to my DVD collection. This is a really fun movie to watch. The hero is a bit mischievous, and that is mostly what adds the humor. The acting was well done and all the characters were believable. There is lots of high action sword fighting.