Die Piratenbraut

Die Piratenbraut ist nicht so schlimm, wie gesagt wird. Geena Davis ist sehr sympathisch, Frank Langella stellte den Schuft toll dar, die Ausstattung ist großartig, Debneys Musik hat keinen einzigen falschen Ton, die Actionszenen sind oft explosiv und das Tempo lässt nicht nach. Es ist aber sehr schade, dass die Geschichte ziemlich uninteressant und einfallslos ist, dass der Film so lang ist und dass die Humorversuche fast immer scheitern (der Geiger in der letzten Schlacht ist eine Ausnahme). Drei und ein Stück. (10.10.2015)

Geena Davis was supposed to revive her fading popularity with the help of her husband. The result was the exact opposite. I feel sorry for Renny Harlin, because considering what a monumental flop this film was, he didn't do a bad job at all. (12.06.2002)

A movie that became a synonym for lack of success and quality. Which it well deserves. But it isn’t absolutely boring. It’s just so terribly mediocre in all respects. All it needed was a director with a surer hand and less over-combination, and it could have been an outstanding pirate movie. Cutthroat Island is an adventure movie that, had it been made ten years earlier, wouldn’t have had nearly such bad repute. (16.04.2005)

Paradoxically, one of the most fatal financial disasters ever seen in the film world. The career of ambitious Geena went downhill like the leakiest schooner, not to mention the entire Carolco company. And yet, this Island is a harmless and easily digestible pirate movie with everything that belongs to it - treasure, action, a sailing ship, betrayal, and a beautiful heroine. It simply came eight years too early. (20.04.2006)

Arguably the best modern pirate film. Likeable, compact, with plenty of humor and self-parody, it definitely does not bring shame to the genre and easily surpasses the highly acclaimed Pirates of the Caribbean in practically every aspect. Perhaps Renny Harlin softened a bit and Cutthroat Island is not as striking and bloody as his previous films, but this does not change the fact that the action scenes are still solid, perfectly staged, and appropriately dynamic. Geena Davis is fine, and Frank Langella is absolutely brilliant, his lines are unforgettable. The final part is made up of a unique musical score, definitely one of the gems of film music. If you have a sense of perspective, a good mood, and aren’t critical, you can thoroughly enjoy this film. (22.11.2003)

An old-fashioned swashbuckler in the style of Errol Flynn adventure movies, except that the main character who swings on chandeliers, jumps through windows and kicks ass is a woman, played by Geena Davis. Matthew Modine, who kind of resembles Flynn here, on the other hand plays her funny sidekick, whom the heroine often has to rescue. Unfortunately, the film doesn't work with this role reversal very subtly, and it's basically mindless entertainment that has only made its mark on the audience's consciousness by entering the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest flop of all time. But from today's perspective, it features so many incredibly bombastic practical effects that it makes mouth drop. When the actors are hanging off a 100-metre cliff, they are really hanging off a 100-metre cliff. When there's a big pirate ship exploding at sea, there's a big pirate ship actually exploding at sea. Everything here looks very lifelike and authentic, which is not very common in this day and age of overused digital effects (with the exception of Nolan and Cruise films), and that makes this a spectacular show today, especially in the new 4K edition with top-notch visuals. (28.06.2024)