Elcano & Magellan: The First Voyage Around the World (2019) User Reviews

Historically inaccurate, misrepresents real people

[studio-tampus · 4/10 · 13 January 2021]

I'm going to start by saying that I understand why the Spanish government wants to support a film to celebrate the 500th year of Magellan and Elcano's expedition.

That said, the film itself isn't remarkable. The animation style is mediocre and the character designs look too similar to The Road to El Dorado.

The events depicted in the film are overly fictionalized, that there's hardly any semblance to the events of the actual historical expedition.

This is concerning because children and adults will watch this family film and believe that the events depicted in it are real.

In reality, Magellan and his crew were cruel to each other as they were to the native inhabitants of the islands they have encountered on their journey.

In fact, the details of the expedition could be easily accessed because expedition chronicler Antonio Pigafetta wrote on the journey in detail. El Cano and the other sailors were also interviewed and their accounts were recorded by both Spanish and Portuguese writers like Maximilian of Transylvania and Gaspar Correa's Lendas da India. I know of these because it takes only a quick Google search to access all of the details on the expedition! Also the translated writings of these writers are available for free and for purchase online! Really, there's no excuse for inaccuracy - and if they're worried about some of the details not being too child-friendly? They could just not make the movie - because the expedition itself (and the subsequent colonization) has never been child-friendly!

Here's some of the details they misrepresented in the film:

🔘 In the movie, they created a character called Samar who serves as the interpreter for the King of Cebu. Per Pigafetta, Maximilius of Transylvania and Gaspar Correa: Ferdinand Magellan's slave Enrique/Heinrich translated served as the primary interpreter. They relied on him so much that when he got injured following the Battle of Mactan, he was berated by John Serrano (per Maximilian of Transylvania) or Duarte Barboza (per Pigafetta) for refusing to act as interpreter. They reminded him that Magellan's death does not equate to freedom and he will continue to act as slave/interpreter. Both accounts claim the same slave betrayed the Spaniards because of this.

🔘 In the movie, El Cano and Magellan have a cordial relationship with high esteem for each other.

In reality, Juan Sebastian El Cano despised Magellan. He was among those who joined in the mutiny against him, claiming that he did it for Spain because he felt Magellan favored the Portuguese crew members and suspected him of plotting to betray Spain. When El Cano returned to Spain and asked to detail his experiences with Magellan, El Cano expressed that he considered the punishment Magellan imposed on those who mutinied unjust/unfair and implied that Magellan's actions on the Battle of Mactan was unnecessarily reckless: "Ferdinand Magellan went to fight and burn the houses of Mactan because the king of Mactan refused to kiss the hands of the king of Cebu, and give Magellan a bushel of rice and a goat as tribute."

🔘 In the movie, Antonio Pigafetta and El Cano have a friendly co-worker dynamic.

In reality, Antonio Pigafetta disliked El Cano so much that he purposefully left out El Cano on his writings on the expedition.

🔘 In the movie, the Raja Humabon could not communicate with Magellan's slave, Henrique.

In reality, Pigafetta noted that the Kings/Rajahs of those islands (including Zubu/Cebu) understood Enrique because "the kings in those districts know more languages than the other people" and because"Zubu/Cebu was the largest one and the one with most trade).

🔘 In the movie, the King of Cebu asked Magellan to attack Mactan because they refused to pay taxes.

Per Maximilian of Transylvania: "Magellan, judging this island (Zubu) to abound in gold and ginger, and, besides, to be convenient from its position with respect to the neighboring islands, for exploring with ease their wealth and produce of the earth, goes to the Chief of Subuth (Cebu), and persuades him that as he had turned to the religion of Christ, it was only fair that the kings of the neighboring isles should be subject to his rule and command... The King of Mathuan (Mactan) excelled the others (kingdoms) in number of soldiers and in arms, and refused to do homage to one whom he had been accustomed for so long to command."

🔘 In the movie, a fellow sailor betrayed Magellan and his crew by soliciting Lapulapu's services

In reality, there wasn't any betrayal towards Magellan and his crew by a crew member, at least with regard to the Battle of Mactan.

Per Pigafetta, Magellan himself offered three boatloads of men to attack Mactan. Allegedly, he was "begged repeatedly not to go, but...refused to abandon his flock."

They arrived at Mactan three hours before dawn and Magellan sent a message to the Chief of Mactan demanding that they "obey the King of Spagnia, recognize (Cebu's King) as their sovereign, and pay us our tribute...otherwise they should see how our lances wounded."

This was supported by El Cano who described that the battle started because the Chief of Mactan did not kiss the hands of the king of Cebu and did not offer a goat and a bushel of rice to Magellan.

Per Pigafetta, The Chief of Mactan merely mocked them and requested that they wait until sunrise for battle.

🔘 In the movie, Magellan and several boatloads of Spanish soldiers sailed to Mactan and landed on the shore. Their fellow sailor signaled to the native warriors and the Spanish sailors were then ambushed by arrows.

Per Pigafetta, Magellan took 60 armed men while the Raja of Cebu provided 30 balanghais (a large sailing ship which could occupy 100 sailors each, so around 300 warriors).

"When morning came, forty-nine of us leaped into the water...the boats could not approach nearer because of rocks in the water. The other eleven men remained behind to guard the boats... The Christian king could have aided us but (Magellan) charged him before we landed not to leave the balanghai, but to stay to see how we fought."

This was supported by Maximilian who wrote: "he pointed out to the Subuth Islanders that he had brought them, not to fight, but to watch their bravery and fighting power."

Pigafetta wrote that upon reaching the shores, Mactan's warriors "had formed three divisions to the number of more than 1500 persons. When they saw us, they charged upon us with exceedingly loud cries... The musketeers and crossbow men shot from a distance but uselessly. When the natives saw that we were shooting our muskets to no purpose, crying out, they determined to stand firm, but they redoubled their shouts... seeing that (Magellan) sent some men to burn their houses to terrify them. When they saw their houses burning, they were roused to greater fury. Two of our men were killed near the houses while we burned twenty or thirty houses. So many of them charged upon us that they shot the captain through the leg with a poisoned arrow. On that account, he ordered us to retire slowly, but the men already took to flight except for 6-8 of us who remained with the captain. The natives shot only at our legs for these were bare. The mortars in the boats could not aid us for they were too far away.... the natives continued to pursue us. Recognizing the captain, so many turned upon him... one of them wounded him on the leg with a cutlass. That caused the captain to fall face downward...until they killed our mirror, our light, our comfort, our true guide."

The Spaniards retreat was also written by Maximilian: "Though he saw that he was far inferior to the enemy in number, (Magellan) thought it better to fight this warlike race than to return or to use the soldiers from Subuth... so having charged the enemy, both sides fought valiantly. But as the enemy was more numerous and used longer weapons, with which they did much damage, Magellan was at last thrust through and slain. The rest of our men, though they did not seem quite conquered, yet retreated."

🔘 The movie portrayed that Samar, the native Bisaya girl, became El Cano's lover.

This is just as insulting as Disney's Pocahontas, given how the Spaniards demonized the Babaylan (pre-colonial female priestesses), raped so many women, sold them as slaves to competing forces (Dutch, Portuguese, indigenous moor rebels, etc), removed them from the political and public spheres and reduced their roles in society to either nun or virgin wife, limited their education to housework, etc.

Not to mention, El Cano's real life lovers were Spanish - Maria Hernandez Dernialde and Maria de Vidaurreta.

In the Aguinid folk lore, Raja Humabon of Cebu ordered the poisoning of the surviving Spaniards for raping the local women of Cebu and for plotting to take over the Rajahnate.

🔘 In the movie, those who survived from the Battle immediately continued their journey to Malacca.

Per Maximilian, the angered slave Enrique informed the King of Cebu that the Spaniards planned to conquer Cebu after conquering Mactan and "there was no other remedy possible than to anticipate treachery by treachery." The king of Cebu invited John Serrano and 27 sailors to a banquet then "were set upon by those who had been placed in ambush... shortly after, Serrano was brought to shore weeping and begging to be redeemed from captivity...though our men thought it shameful to leave our commander that way, fearing fraud and treachery, they put out to sea, leaving Serrano on the shore weeping bitterly.

Per Pigafetta:"24 men went ashore... we heard loud cries and lamentations. We immediately laid anchor and discharged mortars towards the houses near the shore. While this discharging, we saw Serrano bound and wounded begging us not to fire anymore for the natives will kill him... although John Srrrano wept, we immediately departed. I don't know whether he is dead or alive."

Disrespectful and Inaccurate

[jelosuliguin · 1/10 · 31 July 2020]

This film depicts the glorified version of Spanish colonizers and not the real truth where they killed indigenous Filipinos to take over their land. Magellan was not a hero, he was the REAL villain. He died fighting Lapu-lapu and as he should.

One sided

[wtobyshaun · 1/10 · 2 April 2020]

I would have appreciated this movie more if they have taken 2 sides of the story, read both histories and learn who is the real enemy...

Rated G for..

[arfidoo · 1/10 · 7 November 2019]

Rated G for - Garbage!!

This movie demonizes the natives who fought against the colonizers.

Ban This from Filipino Theaters

[graves_roses · 1/10 · 6 November 2019]

Ban this from our theaters. if you support this abomination, it only means the colonizers still won over us even today, after 500 years. it's like making a fun, family-friendly 3d-animated movie about columbus taking over and erasing american indians from their homeland or the whites selling africans as slaves. "grabbed the helm of history and changed its course forever"??? by oppressing, murdering, raping my race? they're profiting from the defeat of our ancestors and trivializing the shame that our race had to go through for centuries. i can't believe how there are still filipinos who are excited about this. indeed, our textbooks did not educate us enough to antagonize the enemy. instead, we support them. i am utterly heartbroken. the creators of this show should have known better. if no one's starting a petition, i will.

in behalf of my fellow men who are deeply blinded by colonial mentality, i apologize to rajah humabon, rajah tupas, jose rizal, francisco dagohoy, tamblot, antonio luna, andres bonifacio, bienvenido santos, and nvm gonzales. im so sorry. 😭 sirs, your descendants failed you. it seems your lives and works were wasted 💔💔

Magalhães was a Portuguese Sailor/Navigator, not a colonizer.

[jorge-massano · 1/10 · 16 April 2020]

Magalhães was a Portuguese Sailor/Navigator, not a colonizer like some people say here. He made the trip, the arrangements and everything even diying in the process to finish the travel. not this spanish guy. No one knows El Cano, what spain trying to make here its to taint the image of a great explorer of the world, and one of the ilustrous Portuguese Sailors of all history, And again he was not a colonizer like some people say here. he was a traveller, trying to discover new routes for comerce. Read something about history please,

Bit higher rating in response to those "specifics" who doesn't even bother to watch the film!

[selvadorada300 · 7/10 · 4 September 2021]

The other reviewer was right, the scene that "specifics" cry about last only a couple of minutes, well maybe not the most accurate portrayal of their appearance but this is Spanish kids show not a accurate account of historical piece that shove to general public. Of course the logic of the film is Spanish - good; everyone else - bad. Isn't that a common practice on most movies in Hollywood?

If there are injustices I think the one who should complain are the Portuguese, they are portrayed as straight bad guys but they are not crying like those "specifics". As if the "specifics" has concrete basis and knowledge on their ancient history, what happened is they let their neighbors wrote their own history for them?

The movie was entertaining, the animation was average and the characters were likeable (except Yago). Don't listen to the haters they just hopped on hate train without seeing the movie first and the bias that "butchered their history". How can you 'butchered' that something that doesn't exist?

Historically Inaccurare and offensive

[clubkikay · 1/10 · 6 November 2019]

Magellan is no hero. He's a colonizer. A lot of blood was shed and innocent lives lost. Why make a movie about colonizers?

Who's gonna watch this? White supremacists?

I actually saw the entire movie

[iacintus · 8/10 · 4 January 2020]

This fast-paced, 1.5 hour, animated film is fictionalized history meant for Spanish kids. The plot is for the fleet to sail west, past the Americas, get spices from the Moluccas, and sail back to Spain, all while avoiding the Portuguese. The portion that Filipino reviewers (who haven't even seen this movie) complain about lasts for about 5-7 minutes, when the protagonists make a brief stop in Cebu and Mactan islands. Lapu-lapu, the Mactan chief, appears for a few seconds and is a brave, muscular guy, as opposed to the corpulent Humabon, the king of Cebu. The battle of Mactan lasts for about a minute. There is nothing about "colonization" in this film. It is all about survival and discovery in the first circumnavigation of the world. Oh, and by the way, I am also Filipino.

A film made to entertain and not worthy of the hatred of people who don't know how to see the past as it should be seen.

[filipemanuelneto · 6/10 · 2 May 2023]

It is fashionable to insult past personalities because of their connection with Central Europe's colonial past. It's considered something "modern", and also a sign of sensitivity towards offended peoples, that is, the natives of countries colonized by Europeans. First, let me make a note to those who were outraged by a film about "colonizers": I am the Devil. I'm your worst nightmare, the incarnation of your hatreds, and I'm glad for it. Not only am I Portuguese, I am also a descendant of inquisitors, slave traders and navigators. But the most important thing (because I don't allow myself to be defined by my ancestors) is that I am a historian, for me the past is a serious matter.

As a historian, I say that the past is not judged, not censored, not rewritten to our liking and in the light of political correctness. The past is accepted as it is, so that we really learn something from it. And the truth is that until the 19th century (well, and even later sometimes), Europeans saw the world exclusively from their point of view. That is, if a newly discovered land had no Europeans living in it, it was from the European country that discovered and occupied it. This is wrong for us, because we see the rights of native peoples differently, but this is how Europeans thought, and it's not correct that we, today, are condemning them for acting in accordance with the mental and civilizational principles of their world and time! They could not have known that, five hundred years later, we would have completely different ideas, and we cannot expect men who lived in 1500 to behave like men from the year 2000. What I suggest, therefore, is that we know how to understand the past as he is, and understand the way of thinking of those men instead of judge them in light of what is right for us. It's the only way we don't say, or write, a lot of nonsense.

Regardless of opinions about the maritime expansion of Portugal or Castile (here, the film makes a mistake: Spain did not exist), the voyage made by Fernão de Magalhães (Magellan) was an unprecedented naval feat that continued for a long time without parallel: the two countries, in the Treaty of Tordesillas, had divided among themselves not only the right to the discovered lands but also the right to navigate the oceans: thus, going around the world was prohibited even for this trip and if Elcano did it, it was for get home alive. Magalhães was Portuguese and went to the Moluccas Islands - now in Indonesia - around 1501, in the service of the Portuguese king and before moving to Castile (he did so because the King of Portugal did not want to increase his salary). With this voyage, he became the first man to circle the world. Elcano, and the men he took home, became the first to circle the world in a single voyage. However, the main objective of this expedition was, as the film tells us, to sail westwards, through a passage between the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, and create a Spanish route to the Moluccas, an archipelago that the Castilians thought to be in their share of the world (the precise calculation of longitude led to doubts surrounding the rights over these islands).

The voyage took three years, one more than planned, had five ships and about 250 sailors of various countries (and at least 20 Portuguese). The passage between the oceans was discovered - it is the Strait of Magellan - but the main objective failed: the Moluccas were controlled by the Portuguese, and it was not possible to create the imagined route. Incidentally, Magalhães imagined a smaller world because he was unaware of the immensity of the Pacific Ocean. The Portuguese route was more viable and even safer. Great losses were added to this failure: the only ship that returned, with Elcano, had 18 sailors. Many men were killed or captured by the Portuguese, and the total number of survivors is about fifty people.

This film manages, somehow, to give some color to this whole story and continue what the Portuguese-Spanish history books did: transforming a voyage that went very badly into a success in the naval exploration of the two Iberian countries, something that Portuguese and Spanish people are proud of having done. Things are not as simple, the film gives way to playful factors and fun. It's not a documentary, it's a movie made to entertain. Of course, the film has a lot of anachronisms, there are a lot of situations where the characters act like us and think like us. There are gypsies reading fortunes when religious fanaticism prohibited it as witchcraft, there are women in knee-length skirts, men who hold cannons in their own hands and even some romance. Ironically, the villains are the Portuguese, the nation of Magalhães and which forgave this navigator long ago. Good and colorful cinematography in a funny portrayal of a remarkable trip around the world are the biggest attractions of this film.

Highly disrespectful

[kevin_endow · 1/10 · 7 November 2019]

Highly disrespectful and historically incorrect. Enslavement on indigenous people and a hostile takeover from colonizers should not be glorified in any type of movie. Specifically one geared toward children. Do yourselves a favor a cancel the movie

Historical movies should state facts!

[xrowellxm · 1/10 · 8 November 2019]

Magellan's story is a good material for a movie. But there is no excuse to justify his action and make the county he colonized an enemy. Story should be faithful to history specially a film that targeted young generations. This is a straight brainwash for them.

A Clear Disregard for History

[kmutuc · 1/10 · 7 November 2019]

Even after all these years you's expect a Spain to have some class, but with this movie they clearly have no regard for the countless atrocities they visited upon their colonies.

It could be said that this movie was done in poor taste. Spain came to our country and ENSLAVED our people for over 300 years. They murdered countless men, women, and children and exploited our lands. They destroyed our cultural identity and even named our land after a king we didn't vote for. They even had the gall to sell us to the Americans who so happily obliged even if our land was not theirs to sell.

Do not think our country has forgotten the sins Spain perpetuated during their time as colonizers. If Spain even has an ounce of respect, she would deliver an apology for this debasement!

SHOULD NOT BE WATCHED

[bdcarandang-85637 · 1/10 · 20 October 2020]

Wrong portrayal of history! Colonizers should never be portrayed as heroes

Simply horrible

[phranzyscko · 1/10 · 21 May 2020]

The worst animation film i've seen. Period. Im living in Sevilla albeit im from Barcelona; the accent is ridiculous. All the film is bad, annoying even for childs.

INACCURATE MOVIE

[eztrellpinote · 1/10 · 19 October 2020]

This is just romanticizing colonizers!! How dare you make a movie about this? Disgusting!

You will be remembered for ages to come.

[nogodnomasters · 6/10 · 1 March 2020]

I watched it dubbed in English with Spaniards saying "blimey." This was an animated version of the Magellan voyage that sticks to the basic facts. It would have been nice to have a modern map flash on the screen to show you the voyage and where they were at during certain events. It includes dramatization. Would have made for a good showing in my fifth-grade history class.

Awful and out of touch

[coolestratt · 1/10 · 11 August 2020]

Just as a heads up, this is coming from a Filipino, more specifically a Cebuano.

I am absolutely disgusted by this movie. It whitewashes history, and portrays my ancestors as the villains. It is yet another film glorifying white colonizers who STOLE natives lands, spread disease, and SLAUGHTERED THEM. This should not be the subject of a family film.

Just because it is fictionalized doesn't mean that it is okay. I know for a fact some children will see this (because it is a FAMILY film) and take it as a fact.

This glorifies some of the most monstrous human beings in the history of the world.

The move has the AUDACITY to portray the Filipinos fighting for their land as savages. When in fact, we had a civilization built up at the time, we had art, a dense culture, social classes, etc.

THIS IS NOT AN EDUCATIONAL MOVIE UNLESS YOU ARE A WHITE SUPREMICIST WHO WISHES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ERASURE OF HISTORY.

Honestly, I am fuming. Do not show this to your children, don't even watch it. This contributes to stereotypes of multiple groups of POC, and contributes to the ideas that the colonizers in history (who were all white) did something good, because they obviously did not.

The fact that this move was even made in this day and age is disgusting.

Educational and almost perfect

[emilioacedo · 9/10 · 17 February 2020]

I've just seen the movie and I didn't see anything offensive to anybody, except maybe to the Portuguese who were depicted as the villains in the movie. I do not understand what the hullabaloo is all about as nothing is insulting to my sensibilities. In fact, the opposite is true - they tried to be as accurate with their "Visayan" language as possible and for that I thank the producers. Watch the movie and learn. I AM A FILIPINO, from MACTAN who teaches college Philippine history AND who has shown this movie to my students. ANd We Learned a Lot Watching This Movie.

for a 2019 movie?

[icejokerj · 1/10 · 19 October 2020]

The animation looks like this was made in the early 2000s and that's putting it mildly.

A movie depicting the lies. And some are proud of his evil deed lol

[adireknorkam · 1/10 · 15 November 2019]

One of Magellan greatest achievement? Yea He like destroyed the culture of Philippines because they believed that they are influence by demons, They force Filipinos to work under them treating them as slaves, They oppressed Filipinos leveling them to Animals. And He didn't dicover Philippines he just landed on it.

Offensive

[silin-72317 · 1/10 · 6 November 2019]

It is disgusting that a movie like this is being made and celebrated today. Magellan is no hero but a colonizer who destroyed the innocent lives of people and erased the culture and legacies of the Filipino people.

This movie is historically wrong and praises colonizers lonisers

[jakartakiings · 1/10 · 14 August 2020]

In this movie Filipinos are reffered to as savages even though it is the other way around. The EVIL spanish colonizers efdectively ruined a whole culture. This paints our National Hero, "Lapu Lapu" a person who tried ro protect our land as a villain when in fact Magellan is responsible for the Spanish taking our land killing our people and forcing us to adopt a religion. Then the writers have the audacity to give Magellan a Filipina girlfriend! This is so wrong on so many different levels. Who ever sees this don't add positive reviews please becuase then you'll support Colonizers and no type of colonizer is a good one.

This movie is offensive for me

[rolandpalma · 1/10 · 8 July 2021]

Hello! I just watched this movie and I wanna say it sucks... First problem was the first poster, my country's hero had the theme of a bad guy and its offensive to some filipinos out there... Second the movie wasn't history accurate... Making them heroes even tho they have slaves and burnt down villages and force us in religion... And after the battle in the movie.. The rest of the movie was BORING! Not recommended for the ones 2ho want to watch the movie.

SO👏WRONG👏

[breauxlu · 1/10 · 27 October 2020]

Magellan was never a hero and Lapu-lapu is the real hero of the story. Magellan and his men killed several innocent people and burned religious writings and artifacts. Lapu-lapu did what he did to defend his land and his kind. This film is shameful and promotes colonialism. DO NOT WATCH