Nate and Hayes

Nate and Hayes Before Captain Sparrow, Bully Hayes rode the ocean. Perhaps he didn't fly the skull and cross bones, but he certainly went in for some general rumpus in this socially conscious (if not entirely politically correct) pirate film.

I have been waiting for this film to come to DVD since the late 1900s. Now that it's here, I'm going to have to watch it again.

The comparisons between this film and Pirates of the Caribbean are unavoidable, and unfortunate for both, since one precedes the other by almost two decades, and the latter had an unimaginably higher budget.

No gaping flaws detract from the overall enjoyment of this film, although it is perhaps a bit too violent for the young ones. Too many native South Pacificers and Spanish soldiers leave liquid bits of themselves all over the islands. I thought it rather tragic.

But the scenery and sets are well-conceived. The acting sufficed, and the action continued at a quick pace, even for a modern audience.

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