Rating: 
Summary: Orientalist Extraordinaire
Review: Sir Richard Burton was the most interesting traveler/explorer of the Victorian era. You might not come away from this film with that impression. The film focuses on just one event in Burtons event filled life and that is the films one flaw, though its a pretty big flaw its not fatal. The African part of the film is very exciting. Burton and Speke mount an expeditionary force and with a large amount of exploring goods and native carriers get raided on the beach one night(excellent battle scene)before they even begin. After regrouping they again set out to find one of the nineteenth centuries geographical prizes, the source of the Nile(mountians of the moon). Who saw it first and who could best map exactly where it was takes up the second half of the movie. That aftermath section which shows the debate of the former friends become enemies as it played out in the geographical society journals of the day is not the most riveting cinema mainly because Speke is just not that interesting a figure and so no real contest for Burton and since there is never any doubt who will win as a drama it has no teeth(what were you thinking Rafelson?). The real drama in the Burton story is the one between his very groundbreaking and often illicit work(he translated and introduced the Kama Sutra to Victorian England) and ultra conservative Victorian England.Still any film about Burton is worthwhile. A better movie would have been exclusively about Burton and his very unusual character. He was at least as unusual as Lawrence of Arabia and perhaps even more complex. He combined great learning(languages, religions, weapons, erotica...)with a great amount of first hand experience in a number of rarely trodden lands. He was the first non Muslim visitor to the holy city of Mecca(he arrived in Arab disguise).
Bergin plays Burton as if he were just slightly unconventional which is fine for a Hollywood film but the truth is this guy was a real cultural chameleon. Perhaps one day another director will try his hand at this material. Until then this is not a great but a good introduction which may lead you to want to know more. I liked the scenes which show the interior of Burtons house especially as he was a collector of tribal artifacts, knives, spears, texts. And his wife is played by a lovely actress who plays Isabel Burton as if she were just a very liberal minded Victorian. In actuality Isabel burned many of Richards manuscripts after his death forever earning her the wrath of the Orientalist community. You won't get accuracy or depth of vision here but you will get an eyefull of Africa which is beautifully filmed, those grand vistas and some grand moments make the trip worth your while.
Rating: 
Summary: Ten Stars, if I could...
Review: This is one of the best films i have ever seen! It is definitely a Must See, especially if you are at all interested in the era, or in Capt. Sir Richard Francis Burton...he was truly a genius, and the way he is potrayed in this film fits very well with biographies of him that I have read.
Rating:
Summary: Why can't Hollywood make films like this?!
Review: This is one of those truly excellent films that you remember and want to see again and again. And each time you see it, you see more deeply rather than more limitations. It is the semi-fictionalised story of Richard Burton's attempt to find the souces of the Nile in the 19C, across huge stretches of uncharted Africa. While he appears larger than life, Burton really was an awe-inspiring character - a true pioneer who appears so modern for his time, respecting non-European cultures and learning their languages. It was he who first translated the 1001 and one Nights; if not for him, we might not have known the story of Alladin and hundreds of others. The characters are subtle and multi-faceted in this film. And the adventure was very real. You encounter hostle tribes with unique cultures, religions, and architecture, whose politics were deadly dangerous. (Burton split his palette when a spear entered his cheek during a night raid.) You see the machinations of scientist-explorers of the Victorian era, including a hilarious scene where Livingston and Burton compare scars. And then there is Burton's relationship with his partner Speake, who may have also been his lover. It is so fascinating that you wil want to learn more in the several fine biographies of Burton that exist. One of the best films I ever saw.
Rating:
Summary: Why can't Hollywood make films like this?!
Review: This is one of those truly excellent films that you remember and want to see again and again. And each time you see it, you see more deeply rather than more limitations. It is the semi-fictionalised story of Richard Burton's attempt to find the souces of the Nile in the 19C, across huge stretches of uncharted Africa. While he appears larger than life, Burton really was an awe-inspiring character - a true pioneer who appears so modern for his time, respecting non-European cultures and learning their languages. It was he who first translated the 1001 and one Nights; if not for him, we might not have known the story of Alladin and hundreds of others. The characters are subtle and multi-faceted in this film. And the adventure was very real. You encounter hostle tribes with unique cultures, religions, and architecture, whose politics were deadly dangerous. (Burton split his palette when a spear entered his cheek during a night raid.) You see the machinations of scientist-explorers of the Victorian era, including a hilarious scene where Livingston and Burton compare scars. And then there is Burton's relationship with his partner Speake, who may have also been his lover. It is so fascinating that you wil want to learn more in the several fine biographies of Burton that exist. One of the best films I ever saw.
Rating:
Summary: An epic on par with David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia"
Review: This movie came out of nowhere in 1990 and completely enthralled me. So much so that I became deeply interested in the history of The Royal Geographical Society and victorian explorer Burton. The writing, acting, beautiful cinematography and music make it one of the greatest "should have been" movies I've seen.
Rating:
Summary: A DVD review
Review: This movie is definitely a sleeper. The DVD left a lot to be desired though. Some dust floaters mostly noticeable in scenes with a lot of sky. The sound was adequate although some of the dialogue seemed mumbled. The soundtrack was clear and bright. The 'making of' featurette was more like an extended trailer about 15 minutes long. Not much in terms of bonuses are included, no subtitles. The trailer showed short snippets of scenes that were cut and it would have been great to have them included in the features. I keep this DVD in my collection for the great cinematography and color.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Last Ripping Great Yarns!
Review: Well, I guess I know why great historical epics aren't made much anymore. Because Bob Rafelson made a hell of a good one here, with Mountains of the Moon, and it bombed at the box office. Too bad, because this rates right up there with the best of them, Lawrence of Arabia & The Man Who Would Be King, etc. The story of Burton & Speke and the search for the source of the Nile, it is grand adventure done modern-style, showing just how dangerous and crazy this kind of effort really was. In their first try, both men were nearly killed with Speke captured and both arms and thighs neatly punctured by spear (in anticipation of even worse to come) and Burton getting a spear shoved through one side of his cheek & out the other. They barely managed to make their escape & return to England. Yet they both returned to Africa to take up the quest again, and an arduous and ghastly journey it was as well, with danger and death and disease plaguing their every step. This is wonderful stuff...two crazy white Englishmen roaming around uncharted Africa all in the name of charting a river to its source, all in the name of fame, discovery & adventure. Then they return and have a falling-out and a public controversy. Real people, this is Sir Richard Burton, translator of the Arabian Nights and various erotic literature, brilliant, unorthodox and unconventional, he is wonderfully played with vitality and humor and charisma by Patrick Bergin. John Hanning Speke is a disciplined and courageous explorer & friend, but troubled and conflicted sexually & emotionally. He too, is wonderfully played by Ilain Glen. All the supporting cast is fine, and the photography and location filming is fabulous. The complications of the relationships, Burton and his wife, Burton & Speke, Speke & his probable lover, the publisher's son, etc. are detailed and interesting. And the trek itself is a ripping good one! So, what else do you want in an epic adventure? Works for me.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Last Ripping Great Yarns!
Review: Well, I guess I know why great historical epics aren't made much anymore. Because Bob Rafelson made a hell of a good one here, with Mountains of the Moon, and it bombed at the box office. Too bad, because this rates right up there with the best of them, Lawrence of Arabia & The Man Who Would Be King, etc. The story of Burton & Speke and the search for the source of the Nile, it is grand adventure done modern-style, showing just how dangerous and crazy this kind of effort really was. In their first try, both men were nearly killed with Speke captured and both arms and thighs neatly punctured by spear (in anticipation of even worse to come) and Burton getting a spear shoved through one side of his cheek & out the other. They barely managed to make their escape & return to England. Yet they both returned to Africa to take up the quest again, and an arduous and ghastly journey it was as well, with danger and death and disease plaguing their every step. This is wonderful stuff...two crazy white Englishmen roaming around uncharted Africa all in the name of charting a river to its source, all in the name of fame, discovery & adventure. Then they return and have a falling-out and a public controversy. Real people, this is Sir Richard Burton, translator of the Arabian Nights and various erotic literature, brilliant, unorthodox and unconventional, he is wonderfully played with vitality and humor and charisma by Patrick Bergin. John Hanning Speke is a disciplined and courageous explorer & friend, but troubled and conflicted sexually & emotionally. He too, is wonderfully played by Ilain Glen. All the supporting cast is fine, and the photography and location filming is fabulous. The complications of the relationships, Burton and his wife, Burton & Speke, Speke & his probable lover, the publisher's son, etc. are detailed and interesting. And the trek itself is a ripping good one! So, what else do you want in an epic adventure? Works for me.
Rating:
Summary: If you like the movie, read the book...
Review: When I was 15, I was dragged to see this movie in the theater on the big screen, not having heard of it before or knowing what it was about. For a year afterward, I read everything I could on Richard Burton, and made copious notes in my parent's atlas on the routes I would take to follow Burton's journeys through Africa. Ten years later, and I still haven't had a meaningful, or even a passing discussion with anyone who has seen this movie. Fans are few and far between, but they ARE in the know. Watch this on the biggest screen you can find with the best sound system...you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Will bring out the romantic adventurer in you
Review: When I was 15, I was dragged to see this movie in the theater on the big screen, not having heard of it before or knowing what it was about. For a year afterward, I read everything I could on Richard Burton, and made copious notes in my parent's atlas on the routes I would take to follow Burton's journeys through Africa. Ten years later, and I still haven't had a meaningful, or even a passing discussion with anyone who has seen this movie. Fans are few and far between, but they ARE in the know. Watch this on the biggest screen you can find with the best sound system...you won't be disappointed.
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