Rating: 
Summary: Another Forgotten Masterpiece
Review: One day I came across this film whilst channel-surfing cable TV. Like most Americans, I never paid attention to any of Mel Gibson's early movies, save "The Road Warrior". Boy, what we have missed! I came upon it during a scene where Hopkins and Gibson were arguing: it was absolutely enthralling; perhaps the most masterful display of acting that I have ever seen on film. Add to that the most accurate portrayal yet filmed of a fabulous true story, all the benefits of modern cinematography set upon the beautiful South Pacific, and a supporting cast that includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neelson, Laurence Olivier (!), and some of the most beautiful Tahitian gals in the world, and you have hands down one of the 10 best movies of the 1980s. I have since seen the earlier versions with Gable and Brando, and they pale sadly in comparison to this film. See "It Happened One Night" (1934) or "On the Waterfront" (1954) if you want to see those actors at their best.There are a number of Great films that were commercial and critical failures upon release but were only recognized for their greatness after many years. Think of Intolerance (1916), Citizen Kane (1941), or Touch of Evil (1958). "The Bounty" certainly deserves a similar destiny and a position of honor amongst the great films of history.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm Still Owed A Refund
Review: I bought this video from Amazon but on receiving the film found the picture to be black & white. So I took advantage of Amazon's 'returns policy'. This was back in July 2003, but I still have not been refunded. Amazon did tell me I had been credited with the amount owed & could access this by buying another product (even although by British law they legally had to reimburse me in the way I originally payed for the product (by cheque)). When I tried to use said credit I found Amazon would not release it as they seemed to have no knowledge of the credit. What is happening Amazon?
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: Classic, history made into a thrilling Hollywood movie. Great music and acting.
Rating:
Summary: I prefer the 1984 version of the Mutiny
Review: I have always been a fan and a supporter of this underrated classic since the week of its release in 1984. It opened to mixed critical and public reaction, but I think it deserves a new look. For one, I think it tells the story of the Mutiny better and more convincingly than the 1935 Laughton/Gable film. Whereas the original movie mostly had an American cast, an American production, American accents, and a humorous 20th century toungue-in-cheek tone (that renders that ancient movie inaccurate and unwatchable), THE BOUNTY utilizes an English cast, and takes a more serious tone. Ultimately, the cast for the Bounty is more believable as British seamen who lived in the 18th century. As far as the storyline is concerned, THE BOUNTY tells its side of the story well. Bligh as portrayed as an authoritarian leader who has to deal with a crew of insubordinates, led by a lovestruck Christian. Their stay in Tahiti among the native population changes the mood of the crew. But Bligh knows what the true mission of his voyage, and tries (but fails) to remind his men that they are really transporters of breadfruit plants from Tahiti to Jamaica. Ultimately, Bligh's onscreen rages are convincing (whereas the 1935 version portrays Bligh's behavior as the whims of a crazy old man). The climax of the film, the mutiny itself, is very well done, as the tempers of all involved come to the surface. There is no denying the exquisite look to this film, and it is better served on the big screen. The period dress is impeccable, and it gives the film a historically accurate tone. What actually happened between Bligh and Christian in 1787 may remain a mystery forever, but I feel that THE BOUNTY is the ultimate and most satisfying statement of the information left for us.
Rating:
Summary: Melvin Looked GREAT, And An Alternative Title
Review: Melvin Gibson really looked good back when this movie was filmed, and you could see the origins of many of the theatrical techniques which later became staples of his thespian repertoire -- emotional wide-eyed flashes, exasperated eye-rolling, and drowsy eyelids closing while he tried to stay awake. (This film, set in the past as it was, featured no scenes of another of Melvin's specialities, operating motor vehicles. Some would insist it's just not a Melvin Gibson movie if we don't seem him driving a vehicle in a car chase.) A great alternative title for this film, given the magnificent scenes featuring the robust Tahiti female characters, would have been "The Bouncy."
Rating:
Summary: Worst of the three
Review: This version of the Mutiny on the Bounty is the worst of the three films made on this subject. The 1962 version with Marlon Brando is the best, followed by the 1935 version with Clark Gable. This film has long periods of inactivity and seems to concentrate more on the Tahiti girls than the conflict between Bligh and Christian. It also seems to think that it's necessary to show nudity to draw and audience. While probably accurate, it seems gratuitous and out of place in the story of the stuggle between Bligh and Christian. Furthermore, this story's tendentious attitude towards Captain Bligh makes Christian look like he mutinied just to sleep with the topless girls on Tahiti. The causes of the mutiny are much better developed in the 1962 version with Marlon Brando and it has better writing as well. The 1962 film also presents the situation from a much more neutral position. The 1935 version makes Fletcher Christain out to be a raging lunatic while this version makes him out to be a hypersexual maniac. Of the three, this one is to be avoided.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderfully Done!!!
Review: I so much enjoyed this movie and finnally bought it after first seeing it on cable 20 years ago. This film made me a fan of Mel Gibson, he is at the height of his good looks!! I have not yet seen the version with Clark Gable, but I have seen Marlon Brando's version, and from what i had read about Captain Bligh, well, Brando's version seems inacurate to me. I found Anthony Hopkins to be much more believable as Captain Bligh, stern, determined, militaristic and difficult, but not crazy! Fletcher Christian, from what i have read in history, mutinied because he had the hots for a Tahitian girl, plain and simple. Bligh was exhonerated of all charges and later, i believe became a governor of Austrailia. This film is an exellent portrayal of the story of the mutiny. I do look forward to one day viewing Gable's version, but this is superior to Brando's by far, just for the scenery alone. An d certainly a more accurate depiction of Bligh.
Rating:
Summary: performances carry this film
Review: After viewing this film a couple of times in its DVD format, I asked myself, "Did Anthony Hopkins adequately portray Captain Bly's transition from cofident and caring sea captain to driven duty bound maniac?!" I still can't come up with an answer. In the space of two hours, Hopkins has to convince us of this transition, and it's a hard call to make. On the other hand, I watched Mel Gibson in a performance from twenty years ago (1983) and I was amazed at his versatility and subtlety. He is outstanding in his role as Fletcher Christian. He is thorougly convincing in his transition from London Bon Vivant (lover of fine wine and living) to love sick South Pacific/Polynesian convert. I felt sad for Gibson because his most recent portrayals involve confident heroic characters whom lack the sensitivity of the Fletcher Christian character portrayal. Over-all, this is a well paced film that offers a colorful contrast to the 1950's version starring Marlon Brando.
Rating: 
Summary: Gosh I wanted to like this movie more.
Review: When you rent a movie and find yourself fast forwarding through scenes you haven't watched before... I wish I hadn't read the book first. I made the movie drag for me, even with Mel in it. I gave it 3 stars for the beautiful photography, Mel and its fairly accurate protrayal of true events.
Rating:
Summary: Bountiful enough, but only barely.
Review: The director of this film had a fine cast at his command, and an alternately witty and sensitively intelligent script to place them in, which was provided by the insightful screen-writer Robert Bolt, who also wrote the screenplay for "A Man For All Seasons".
The story is told very well, and the acting is convincing. But it did not, I feel, fulfill its potential. There are lots of close-ups and tense scenes within confined spaces, which indicates, to me, that the director was attempting to psychologically analyze the events on board the Bounty, but it seems to fail, nevertheless, to plumb the emotional depths of the characters. One feels, for example, that Anthony Hopkins was there to render the nuanced performance he did for "The Remains of the Day" a number of years later, but he was just not utilized by this director.
So it is good, but knowing, as most of us probably do, how talented the actors are, it is not as good as it could, and therefore should, have been.
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