L'ile au trésor

'They don't make 'em like this any more'. I've heard that statement made many times and, in the case of this movie at least, it is very true. Disney's version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island sticks surprisingly close to the book - not perfectly, of course, but close enough. It is quite violent for a Disney movie, but a lot of the potential gore is not seen and even if it was, it would be pretty tame compared to what kids see these days even on television.

Well acted and scripted, this boasts an iconic turn by Robert Newton as Long John Silver. The movie is almost worth watching for that alone. This is where all pirate stereotypes we all accept and hold dear originated! The other actors are all great too. Special effects and a lot of the backdrops leave a lot to be desired but this was made in 1950 and they are certainly fine for the time. Only a real curmudgeon would mark the movie down on this score anyway.

I have no doubt that someone making a version of this story in 2021 would add new 'twists' and personal 'reimaginings' to the plot - and ruin the story in the process. It's nice to see a movie that respects its source material.

This is a great movie for kids and nice nostalgia for adults. See it.

Even though it does not stick 100% to the novel, it stays true to the spirit and idea of the book. A light-hearted and well done adaptation of a well-loved book. Casting is brilliantly done, particularly for the parts of Long John Silver and Squire Trelawney. Locations are amazingly picturesque and make the watcher feel like they are in the right world for a swashbuckling pirate adventure, thereby making it all the better for them. For Disney's first foray into the arena of live-action films, it is extremely well done and hopefully they will be able to recapture their former glory and go back to the days of Treasure Island, Mary Poppins, and other live-action masterpieces of their illustrious past.

Probably the first film I ever went to see and was totally engrossed in it as a growing eight year old. From the wonderful colourful character of Long John, the mutinous crew, the heroic Jim and the oddball Ben Gunn and a lively, not too scary yarn, what else could a growing boy want? I loved dressing up and adventures as a youngster and thought that I wouldn't mind losing a leg because I could then play Long John Silver! I have always held other versions in contempt, after all, Robert Newton IS Long John! How dare anyone else even dare to think otherwise? It's the kind of film that even though I possess it DVD and video I would always sit down and enjoy it all over again if it came again on television. In my own favourite top one hundred.

Because practically everyone knows the story of "Treasure Island", I don't bother summarizing it here...especially since this is a rather direct telling of the classic story with no weirdness like you'd find in "Treasure Planet".

So is this Disney-fied version any good? Yes. While I still prefer the MGM version of the 1930s, this one is quite nice with its full color and the fun (and far from subtle) performance by Robert Newton as Long John Silver. Nothing particularly out of the oridinary....just a solid incarnation of the old Robert Louis Stevenson novel and a decent movie you can watch with your family.

Sure, it had its shortcomings, and it wasn't as dark as it could have been, but this is certainly the best version of a book that has been retold time after time. As a child, this was one of my favorite books, and I always felt this was one of the best, if not the best adaptation of the book. Maybe someday someone will make a better version, but until then, my vote goes to this one.