I first watched "Pirates" in the '80s although I struggle to remember exactly where I saw it. As a short-film, it was probably late-night filler on BBC2 or Channel 4.
The film is simple but effective, telling the story of three very different youths who are employed by a dodgy warehouse operator, played by William Vaughan. Paying his employees a pittance, Vaughan is a cold-hearted, unsympathetic boss. When the three workers discover that their boss is running an illegal pirate video operation, they set about seeking revenge.
The film is light-weight but entertaining. Its heart is in the right place and it captures the mood of the era, lazy summers and that moment in time when you are leaving teenage years and about to enter adulthood.
It came as no surprise to discover that the director, Julian Richards, had progressed to successful big-screen movies. His "The Last Horror Movie" is an excellent achievement.
8 out of 10.
