Shipwrecked

I wasn't expecting much when I picked up a DVD of this title. I thought it would be full of inept kid actors and suitable only for the younger ones.

Well, I was in for a pleasant surprise. The acting was quite good although occasionally I got the impression that certain actors seemed slightly strained, as if English might not be their native language. I was quite impressed with the kid (Haakon)...He was great. Great sets and scenery too! The story was weak in a few spots, but then I'm analyzing a family film from an adult perspective. But the story was much better than most family films I've seen lately. Character development could have used just a small bit of improvement. But then again, it was much better than most movies of this genre.

I won't spoil the story except to say that the ending is stereotypical. But I guess that is to be expected in a family film.

I'm giving a high (8) recommendation on this title. If your family likes pirate/treasure-type movies (Treasure Island, Goonies, etc.) you will surely enjoy this one. I enjoyed watching this, even as an adult.

P.S. I am curious as to why Haakon (Stian) did not play in any more movies (maybe he did, but I've not discovered them). He seems like the type studios would go "ga ga" over (plus, he seemed talented...unlike most kid actors).

Adventure fictional about some travelers who sail and stranded on a remote location . There're rip-roaring action , spirit of adventure , derring-do , thrills and results to be entertaining enough ; dealing with a boy washes up an island where he finds a pirates treasure and weapons . Enjoyable production in Disney style with emotion , intrigue , thrills , funny sequences , spectacular adventures and amusement . A young Norwegian boy called Haakon Haakonsen (Smestad) in 1850s England goes to work as a cabin boy aboard a British ship under Royal Navy authority. He undergoes a hazardous voyage , then Royal Navy lieutenant John Merrick (Gabriel Byrne) is welcomed to take charge of security on a long voyage to Sidney and Calcutta . Soon after , Haakon finds out some of his shipmates are actually pirates led by John Merrick . Then , the teen and others shipwreck on an island . A quest for survival that became the adventure of a lifetime , only to be confronted by a gang of pirates .

Amusing , lighthearted and acceptable romp , though only for kids and teenagers . This is a nice dramatization based on Norwegian author O. V. Falck-Ytter's "Haakon Haakonsen¨: A Norwegian Robinson . The known and amusing premise results to be a ship is taken by a nasty villain and subsequently the daring protagonists must survive being shipwrecked on a deserted island besieged by pirates . The picture contains noisy adventures , emotion , moving action and sensational outdoors . The film displays some scenes have you on the edge of your seat , including thrilling and amusing images . Lots of adventure for family viewing , including an climatic as well as fun ending . Among the most spectacular of its visuals there are the semi-spectacular scenes in which takes place the violent storm against the ship. Some illogical parts in the plot are more than compensated for the excitement provided by some stirring scenes located at the island as pursuits , rescues, and fights ensue across . Colorful cinematography reflecting marvelous landscapes by early deceased Erling Thurmann-Andersen,considered to be one of Norway's best cinematographers and filmed on marvelous location . Special mention for musical score by the prestigious musician Patrick Doyle , he composes an attractive and exciting soundtrack , as usual . This is one of a number of Jules Vernes tales , Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe and Walt Disney productions have been made about castaways . These include : Robinson Crusoe (1954) , Lieutenant Robinson (1966) , Castaway(1986) , Robinson Crusoe (1997) , Crusoe (2008) (TV Series) , Fifteen Year Old Captain (1976) , this shipwrecked (1990) and the Walt studio's hit 1960 family castaway film Swiss Family Robinson(1960), 1962 movie In Search of the Castaways (1962), The Castaway Cowboy (1974) , The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980) .

This action-adventure story aimed at youths, and inspired by Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" (published in 1873) was stunningly realized in splendidly amusing style , is all color , thrills and action . Stunning and gripping realization by Nils Gaup . He was born in 1955 in Kautokeino, Norway. Gaup is a director and actor, who has made a few but acceptable films , being especially known for Pathfinder (1987), , Misery harbour (1989) , Above Water (1993) , North star (1996) , Journey to the Christmas Star (2012) and The last King (2017) . Gaup turned down offers to direct No without my daughter (1991) with Sally Field, RoboCop (1987) and many others. He began to direct Waterworld (1995), but he thought the budget was blown up and the project too difficult to handle. His greatest hit was ¨Pathfinder¨ Rating : 6.5/10 ; Good and entertaining.

Another reviewer described the movie as being "not very memorable"... this couldn't be further from the truth! Despite not having watched the movie in a minimum of 15-20 years, I found myself constantly stunned by how vividly I remembered every scene, nearly to the point of reciting the lines.

As a kid, I was obsessed with this movie. It was everything I wanted in an adventure - the adventure I wished I could have: fleeing home to set sail on a voyage full of intrigue, curious ports-of-call, kind sailors, exotic tribes, murky pirates, mutiny, tropical exploration, surviving in a strange wilderness, buried treasure, ingenious traps and, overall, seeing the world and growing through it.

30 years since the first time seeing this movie, it is just as enjoyable and just as solid as it ever was. By the end, I was in tears, in no small part due to the relief that it is as good as I remember it being - that is: not just being overriden by childish sentimentality, but also because it is a well-crafted, well-acted, and well-composed piece of cinema.

The only "flaw" I could find is that I wish the film could have been longer. There are a couple of segments which could have done with being fleshed out, as they rather rush to the next element. Despite this, the film still manages to carry the weight of an epic and, by the end, you truly feel that you have been through a long and life-changing experience. It's a 90-minute movie that feels more like a 3 hour epic - and in the very best of ways!

If you have any fondness for adventure - especially the seagoing or global explorer kind, this will definitely be worth your time.

OK, it is not the greatest film of the century. OK, the characters are not so very three-dimensional, OK, they do not develop very much through the film, OK, the end is as predictable as the one of "Cinderella". But it really does not matter. I watched 'Håkon Håkonsen' with kids and they loved it - they kept talking about it for a long time after we had finished. To my considerable surprise, I found myself greatly amused too. It is a family film in the true sense of the word, it has a hero and a heroine and a bad guy - perfectly cast with a chilling Gabriel Byrne - lots of action and adventure, humor, serious moments, and a happy ending. In a sense it resembles some Disney productions, but lacks the slightly superficial, American touch. It is a good film, a good story, created by people who want to tell children a fairy-tale and who knows how to do so. Recommended.

I would occasionally catch this movie on TV when I was younger, and it always brings out a nostalgic, innocent and adventurous feeling every time I watch it. It is a family-oriented film about a young Norwegian boy named Haakon Haakonsen, who works as a cabin boy on a ship in the 1850s, and then discovers that those on board are actually pirates.

It is a great story to bring the family together, full of adventure, morals and heroism, all supported by some good acting performances from the respective cast and an impressive island and ocean scenery. As a result, this movie kind of reminds me of Disney's Swiss Family Robinson, but is Norwegian-made and the story centers more on the kid than the Robinson movie.

You won't find too much of the Hollywood-style action, drama or suspense in this movie, as evident with the overall simple and innocent atmosphere; it's mostly a feel-good film that has a perfect storybook setting for children, but also suitable for adults.

Grade B