Treasure Island (1990)

Directed by Fraser C. Heston. Starring Charlton Heston, Christian Bale, Julian Glover, Richard Johnson, Clive Wood, Nicholas Amer, Oliver Reed, James Cosmo, Christopher Lee, Isla Blair, Michael Halsey, John Benfield, John Abbott, Pete Postlethwaite.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure story is brought to life once again, with Fraser Heston handling directing duties and his dad Charlton tackling the role of the cunning but charismatic Long John Silver; though produced for cable instead of a big screen release, this surprisingly lavish and atmospheric production blows all other cinematic versions of the tale out of the water. Charlton gives one the liveliest performances of his career, but wisely avoids the cartoonish relish of prior interpretations (looking at you, Robert Newton); Bale is appropriately artless but brave as young Jim Hawkins; Lee virtually unrecognizable in the small but crucial role of Blind Pew. Inordinately faithful to the original book, which results in uneven pacing after they land on the island, but also provides a wealth of depth and detail to the fanciful characters, buccaneer mythology, and rousing action. As apt to tingle the spine as it is to tickle the ribs; for all fans of swashbucklers and old-style adventures, this one’s not to be missed.

86/100