First of all, one should expect from such a low budget television production that this flick can't be as good as a cinema production and there are indeed horrible special effects, a couple of stupid goofs (especially the balloon riding scenes) and some flaws in regard to the groundbreaking original novel because of a rather mediocre script. That's why immediately cut the rating down about three points.
Now, concerning the rest of the movie. Is this flick interesting even with a length of almost three hours? Yes, it surely is entertaining even if some events are predictable. We get anything a good adventure movie needs: a strange and isolated professor, his intelligent and warm hearted butler, dangerous and ugly creatures, weird pirates, hating and loving prisoners and an erupting volcano. That creates many intense moments of action, tension, comedy and drama which is an interesting potpourri.
Is the acting well done? Yes, it is. Especially the stars of the movie that are Patrick Stewart and Kyle MacLachlan are doing solid jobs as one would usually expect. Of course, Stewart was more memorable in "Star Trek" and MacLachlan easily better in "Twin Peaks" but for what the mediocre script offers, they are doing the best they can. With Roy Marsden as butler and Vinnie Jones as weird and megalomaniac pirate there are also a couple of rather unknown actors that are doing a good job. Overall, one can say that some characters are not profound enough and have a lack of emotions but once again most of them do their very best with the mediocre script.
Other things like the locations and the soundtrack also have good television standards without being extraordinary. We can easily talk about a mostly solid but not great effort.
In the end, there are only the technical skills that are completely missed in this movie and one should have spent some time on a more profound and detailed script. With more money and more time, this movie could have been a lot better because the movie itself is very diversified and entertaining, the soundtrack and atmosphere is well done and the acting overall very solid. We should though take the movie as what it is without too much comparing it to the original novel and the big Hollywood productions. It's a well done television entertainment for the whole family that might introduce some folks to some very good novels and actors. It won't win any prices and isn't very memorable but a great fun ride of almost three hours.
Now, concerning the rest of the movie. Is this flick interesting even with a length of almost three hours? Yes, it surely is entertaining even if some events are predictable. We get anything a good adventure movie needs: a strange and isolated professor, his intelligent and warm hearted butler, dangerous and ugly creatures, weird pirates, hating and loving prisoners and an erupting volcano. That creates many intense moments of action, tension, comedy and drama which is an interesting potpourri.
Is the acting well done? Yes, it is. Especially the stars of the movie that are Patrick Stewart and Kyle MacLachlan are doing solid jobs as one would usually expect. Of course, Stewart was more memorable in "Star Trek" and MacLachlan easily better in "Twin Peaks" but for what the mediocre script offers, they are doing the best they can. With Roy Marsden as butler and Vinnie Jones as weird and megalomaniac pirate there are also a couple of rather unknown actors that are doing a good job. Overall, one can say that some characters are not profound enough and have a lack of emotions but once again most of them do their very best with the mediocre script.
Other things like the locations and the soundtrack also have good television standards without being extraordinary. We can easily talk about a mostly solid but not great effort.
In the end, there are only the technical skills that are completely missed in this movie and one should have spent some time on a more profound and detailed script. With more money and more time, this movie could have been a lot better because the movie itself is very diversified and entertaining, the soundtrack and atmosphere is well done and the acting overall very solid. We should though take the movie as what it is without too much comparing it to the original novel and the big Hollywood productions. It's a well done television entertainment for the whole family that might introduce some folks to some very good novels and actors. It won't win any prices and isn't very memorable but a great fun ride of almost three hours.