Starring: Patrick Swayze, Alison Doody, Roy Marsden, John Standing, Gavin Hood Directed By: Steve Boyum Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC Label: Lions Gate Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: September 21, 2004 Running Time: 177 minutes Theatrical Release Date: June 06, 2004
An okay time filler if you're in an undemanding mood Hallmark's 2004 miniseries version of King Solomon's Mines ain't exactly H. Rider Haggard, but it ain't exactly bad either. As usual with Hallmark (and all other screen adaptations of the book) it pays only lip service to the novel, keeping the trek and the fabled mines but shoehorning in female love interest (a still beautiful Alison Doody in a role that mercifully avoids the silly screaming woman spraining her ankle clichés that this kind of film usually attracts), but for the most part doesn't go the Indiana Jones route. It's a tad more politically correct than the source material, with Allan Quatermain (Patrick Swayze - yes, that's right, Patrick Swayze) a reluctant Great White Hunter only persuaded to go on one more expedition because he needs money to fight for custody of his son in England. What he's doing in England is a moot point, since Swayze is more cowboy than Quatermain, but since Roy Marsden and John Standing are the only members of the supporting cast who don't have to attempt (and fail) to hide their native South African accents behind bad Scottish or Russian ones it's best to let that slide. It never really hits the highs and round the two hour mark you realise it's not going to: it maintains a fairly level pace with no appreciable highs or lows. With Russian agents of the Tsar on their trail and World Music on the soundtrack, it's less a nightmare journey to Hell and back and more a somewhat uneventful leisurely walk through some nice tax-friendly South African scenery with occasional stops for exchanges of badly aimed gunfire until the rootin' tootin' sharpshootin' Quatermain Kid saves the day by fighting a white stuntman in rather obvious blackface makeup and makes it to the rather unimpressively tiny mines in a visibly underbudgeted anticlimax. Never less than, or more than watchable, it's an okay time filler if you're in an undemanding mood.
A TRUE FAMILY GEM!! This movie is a made for tv show, but very well done in my opion. This movie is kindda like a Indiana Jones movie. Just about when you think the movie is over it take a left turn, or you think they are going to die and they just slip away. I have always been a fan of Patrick Swayzes ever since the "OUTSIDERS". I have much respect for Patrick he's a man that plays in movies he wants to do, instead of doing movies just for the money. In my opion thats a true actor. I rate this movie a 9 from 1to10!!
Gawdawful, with gastly production values. Great Secenery. OK lets start with the obvious (1) our hero, who is supposed to be Uber hunter/guide, wears an ammo belt with 30'06 cartridges on the front and shotgun shells on the back and carries a Winchester 94 which has never been chambered for either and; 2) what Uber hunter/guide in Africa would carry such an underpowered rifle and; (3) how in all the biggie gun fight scenes can't anyone seem to hit anything -- shades of all those Schwarzenegger action-hero movies and; (4) what is the main sidekick doing packing a shotgun in Africa.
When you combine all the above absurdies with a script that is just short of awful, and really, really low budget everything else, only the scenery makes watching bearable.
Best movie adaptation! This movie was an unexpected pleasure and really fun to watch! Swayze does a great job as Quartermaine & Alison Doody is wonderful as the female lead. There are never annoying moments of disgusted "They'd never do that", or ridiculous temple-of-doom type comedy lines. The screenplay and plot were terrific, the adventure was compelling, and the entire movie was heartwarming. Villains were even well-wrought. Scenery was breathtaking. Well done, highly recommended, and perfect for family viewing on a Sunday afternoon or early Saturday evening.
May not be a big-studio flick, but a good family adventure film This movie looked to be a television movie put onto video from the Hallmark Channel. Accordingly, it does not have big special effects or big actors and the script is a little choppy. Yes, it also has breaks where commercials would probably fit in.
However, that being said, this film was a good adventure for those who have not seen the other movie and have not read the book. Additionally, this book is a decent movie for families, with minimal gore. You don't see blood flying when someone gets shot or stabbed by a spear. You don't even see a single vulture when the living characters talk about vultures plucking the eyes out of dying men. It is left to the imagination, the way that movies used to be.
So, yes, this is a TV movie put onto DVD. However, if you're looking for something that you can feel comfortable watching with your 10+ year old, this is a decent purchase.
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