CUTTHROAT ISLAND was a film I never got around to seeing as a kid. I suppose the idea of an American pirate film didn't really appeal and indeed this is very much like a 1990s-era precursor to PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, with the same look, the same kind of comedy, the same kind of action-packed feel. Not really my cup of tea as cinema goes; I much prefer the grittier, better-acted style of the BLACK SAILS TV series (Michael Bay's finest hour).

In any case, I thought I'd catch up with CUTTHROAT ISLAND and see what I missed. The answer? Not very much. Renny Harlin has always been a hit or miss director and this is a big miss even this early on in his career (surprisingly so, given how entertaining DIE HARD 2 and CLIFFHANGER are). Geena Davis is woefully miscast in the role of a female pirate battling against an even greater foe; she looks ridiculous when attempting to do the action scenes and even outside of the action her open-mouthed style makes her look wooden and out of her depth.

The only genuine performer of note is the seasoned Frank Langella as the charismatic villain, although he's too suave and good-looking to be all that hateful. He certainly shows up Matthew Modine's laughable would-be roguish good guy. Patrick Malahide is saddled with predictability, Maury Chaykin is annoying, and the reliable Stan Shaw wasted in a nothing-except-stand-around-and-look-tough part. The action is endless, endlessly cheesy, and completely fake-looking, with the stupid climax being particularly bad. Overall the film feels fake and wishy washy, and it comes as little surprise to me that this film flopped. It makes Costner's WATERWORLD look like a Oscar winner by comparison.

From Razzie nominated Renny Herlin (Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Cliffhanger, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Deep Blue Sea),I had seen this pirate movie maybe once or twice before, more perhaps in my youth, but I had to watch again to get a better opinion. Basically Morgan Adams (Geena Davis) is the female buccaneer turned captain who recently lost her father Black Harry (Bean's Harris Yulin) after being captured by her nasty uncle Dawg Brown (Frank Langella),and she wants her vengeance. In the meantime however, she and her crew are seeking the mysterious shores and lost treasure on the hidden and uncharted CutThroat Island, but they need three portions of a map to find it. Morgan gains herself a new recruit with slave William Shaw (Full Metal Jacket's Matthew Modine),and while he is confident in her, the rest of the ship's crew may not be, and the quest is made difficult by the Navy, led by Governor Ainslee (The World Is Not Enough's Patrick Malahide),looking for her. Morgan and Shaw work out how to get to CutThroat Island, and the pirate ship, the Morning Star, manages to survive a storm and get there, and on the land they try to follow directions to find the treasure. Of course Dawg manages to find the island as well, and in the process of taking the treasure back to another ship, they steal it for themselves. There is a big battle with two ships and cannons, and one of the ships ends up blown up and sunk, Dawg is killed in action, and the crew get the treasure back, Shaw and his love interest embrace their feelings, and Morgan suggests they sail on to new treasures. Also starring Entrapment's Maury Chaykin as John Reed, Stan Shaw as Glasspoole, Rex Linn as Mr. Blair, Paul Dillon as Snelgrave and Malcolm in the Middle's Christopher Masterson as Bowen. Davis is naturally beautifully and fitfully feisty, Modine is alright as the slave who helps and falls for her, and Langella does fine, the story is your typical treasure hunt full of bangs, frills, costumes and tropical locations. This was made for millions of dollars, and it was one of the biggest box office flops in movie history, there are tiny ways you can see this as it isn't always the most exciting or original pirates film you will see, but at the same time it isn't the worst, a reasonable action adventure. Okay!

Just take this as it is: a fun aventure film to enjoy with a big bowl of popcorn. Geena Davis' natural face and statuesque figure, Thailand's breathtaking beaches/islands, ridiculously entertaining fight and chase scenes, gorgeous pirate ships, a hilarious pet monkey, and memorable characters, they're all a delight to watch. The soundtrack is perfectly suited for it. I give this film a 6.5.