Mountains of the Moon
Two strangers made friends by a savage land. Two friends made enemies by the civilized world.
In the 1850's, two British officers, Capt. Richard Burton (Patrick Bergen) and Lt. John Speke (Iain Glen) set out on a spectacular adventure to discover the source of the Nile. They are warned that great dangers await them, but against all odds they push on deeper and deeper into the magnificent, untamed African wilderness, where no western man had ever gone. As the difficult journey takes its toll, Burton and Speke forge a strong bond. A bond that one will eventually betray. But history will be the judge as the two intrepid explorers venture into realms perilous to both body and soul in their quest for the secret of the Nile.
Member Reviews
Great story, brilliant film, mediocre DVD - fung0
The story of Burton's race to the sources of the Nile is truly one of the great real-life epics. And this film does justice both to the tale and its larger-than-life hero. It's a must-see for fans of history, adventure or biography.
Unfortunately, the DVD production leaves much to be desired. For starters, the film is letterboxed rather than anamorphic, which reduces detail that would have been very welcome in both the sweeping African scenes and in the lavish drawing-room scenes back in England. Further, this is one of the softer letterbox editions I've seen.
The movie is still very much worth seeing, but it definitely belongs on any list for early viewing on Blu-ray.Quite the experience! - Chris13
It can seem trite to say that this movie is a perfect example of the saying that, "It's not the destination that's important, but rather the journey." However this movie is a perfect example of that saying. At the end of this movie you may not experience any amazing epiphany or great conclusions of the deeper meaning of life, but you just might realize that like life, the magic of is to be found in the journey. This film is amazingly well casted and filmed. There doesn't seem to be a single detail that has been missed. You will definitely feel like you have taken a journey back to the 1850's. Movies like this always remind me of just how amazing and harrowing were the experiences of the early explorers. Many people lived, suffered, and died just to learn bits of information that we can now get at the click of a button.
Enjoy this beautiful movie, and remember to imagine yourself making such a journey.Compelling history - Superdave
This is an unusual historical film in that it focuses as much on the personal histories of the men involved (Sir Richard Burton and Lt. Speke), before and after their expedition, as it does on the momentous work they had undertaken, specifically the search for the source of the Nile. Along the way, they explored and mapped much of previously uncharted Africa while enduring disease, bad weather and desertions and thievery by their superstitious and unreliable porters.
Great wide screen cinematography gives us lushly gorgeous vistas of Victorian-era Africa - convincingly unspoiled by modernity - while the close-ups show the intimate details of the journey in all of their hardship and horror.
The result is a sweeping, yet personal adventure and a memorable viewing experience.
Member Reviews
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Great story, brilliant film, mediocre DVD - fung0
The story of Burton's race to the sources of the Nile is truly one of the great real-life epics. And this film does justice both to the tale and its larger-than-life hero. It's a must-see for fans of history, adventure or biography.
Unfortunately, the ...Quite the experience! - Chris13
It can seem trite to say that this movie is a perfect example of the saying that, "It's not the destination that's important, but rather the journey." However this movie is a perfect example of that saying. At the end of this movie you may not experience any ...Compelling history - Superdave
This is an unusual historical film in that it focuses as much on the personal histories of the men involved (Sir Richard Burton and Lt. Speke), before and after their expedition, as it does on the momentous work they had undertaken, specifically the search ...