Mysterious Island proved its worth as a Ray Harryhausen feature back in the 60s. Then you start watching this TV mini-series, and you are impressed with the cast (which boasts some relatively high profile talent - Patrick Stewart and Kyle McLachlan far outstrip anyone in the 60s movie) and with the gorgeous location work.
And then you stop being impressed. Because the script is not so good. It meanders, it abandons Verne's story to plot its own course (which wouldn't matter if it was going somewhere better, but it doesn't), and it is generally hugely underwhelming.
Then you get to the critters, the raison d'etre of Mysterious Island as a screen spectacle. Well, to be fair, they aren't the worst made-for-TV critters I've ever seen, but they're not good.
And then you get to Vinnie Jones. Now I love Vinnie (I have to say that in case he comes round to my house and hits me) and, in the right part, he is very effective. This isn't the right part. By all means play Captain Hook as a pantomime villain in a pantomime. But the pirate chief here isn't in a pantomime, and playing him like one is excessively hammy.
Where's Percy Herbert when you need him?
And then you stop being impressed. Because the script is not so good. It meanders, it abandons Verne's story to plot its own course (which wouldn't matter if it was going somewhere better, but it doesn't), and it is generally hugely underwhelming.
Then you get to the critters, the raison d'etre of Mysterious Island as a screen spectacle. Well, to be fair, they aren't the worst made-for-TV critters I've ever seen, but they're not good.
And then you get to Vinnie Jones. Now I love Vinnie (I have to say that in case he comes round to my house and hits me) and, in the right part, he is very effective. This isn't the right part. By all means play Captain Hook as a pantomime villain in a pantomime. But the pirate chief here isn't in a pantomime, and playing him like one is excessively hammy.
Where's Percy Herbert when you need him?