Swallows and Amazons – Boats on Film

Only the grandest of adventures are fit for the seafaring. Join the Walker and Blackett children as they set sail on a daring journey through the British countryside that will test their mettle as they come face to face with dangers both real and imagined. Filled with heart and imagination, SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS is reminiscent of swashbuckling adventures such as Treasure Island and Pirates of the Caribbean that have been captivating audiences for decades.

To celebrate the release of the film on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Download from December 12^th, we take a look at some of the greatest nautical film adventures to have hit the big screen.

Swallows and Amazons (2016)

Based on the novel by author Arthur Ransome, Swallows and Amazons follows the Walker Children as they take a summer holiday to the Lake District where they venture out on a sailboat, called Swallow, to an island in the centre of the nearby lake. While they initially believe it to be deserted, they soon discover a pair of sisters, the Blacketts, captaining a rival vessel of their own, the Amazon, have already lain claimed to the land. Taking up the mantle of their respective ship names, the two groups of children embark on a quest to claim the island for themselves, but when the Walker children make a disconcerting discovery about the Blackett’s uncle, playing pirate becomes real world danger and the Swallows and Amazons must put aside their differences to prevent an international incident.

Pirates of Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

The marooned captain of a cursed ship, Jack Sparrow has been captivating the imagination of movie going audiences for over a decade. When his former crew raids a seaport town and kidnaps the Governor’s daughter, Elizabeth, local Blacksmith Will Turner teams up with the pirate captain to rescue her and reclaim the Black Pearl. The pair make for an unlikely team, and following Captain Jack Sparrow’s mad ideas, the pair go on a daring and impossible adventure that takes them from the bottom of the ocean to an island where the key to removing a curse lays hidden. Filled with crazy pirates, swordsmanship, and a classic treasure hunt, Pirates of the Caribbean is a must see for adventure film fans.

Life of Pi (2012)

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Yann Martel, the film follows the epic survival story of Pi Patel as he recalls to a novelist his life’s story. Pi recalls how, as a young boy, his family owned a zoo where he grew close to a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. At 16, Pi’s family, along with their animals, book passage on a ship to Canada. However, a dangerous storm sees Pi hastily shoved on board a lifeboat. The vessel sinks, killing the crew and Pi’s family along with most of the animals, excepting a zebra and Richard Parker who, despite Pi’s attempts to evade him, manages to climb onto the small lifeboat. Pi and Richard Parker come to an uneasy understanding that keeps them both alive. Life of Pi is an inspiring tale of faith and discovery that will enrapture viewers with its heart and hope.

Treasure Island (1950)

A quintessential film for fans of pirates and a proper treasure hunt, Treasure Island is filled with all the elements of a good old-fashioned sea-faring adventure. When young Jim Hawkins is given a treasure map by Captain William Bones, a sickly lodger at his mother’s inn, Hawkins joins the crew of the Hispaniola as a cabin boy under Captain Smollett. The crew set sail in search of Captain Flint’s treasure. However, once at sea, mutineers rise up and attempt to take the ship in order to claim the treasure for themselves. Hawkins gets taken hostage by the pirates and escapes only to meet another former member of Flint’s crew who was marooned on the island. Action-packed and daring, this classic film continues to capture the imagination of audiences 60 years after its initial release.

Jaws (1975)

Steven Spielberg’s thriller has grown to become a cultural phenomenon, living on in the minds of beachgoers as they wade into murky waters on holiday. The film, adapted from the novel by Peter Benchley, follows Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw), and oceanographer Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) as they investigate the death of a young woman who dies while swimming off the coast of a New England town. Although ruled a shark attack, the Mayor refuses to close the beaches, fearing it will tarnish the reputation of the popular summer holiday spot. However, when the shark reappears to wreak havoc on the town’s 4^th of July celebrations, a hunt for the great white ensues. Brody, Quint, and Hooper soon find that in chasing after the shark they have bit off more than they can chew. This heart-pounding thriller is a treat for fans of suspense films.

Titanic (1997)

Filled with romance and heart, this portrayal of the infamous ship’s maiden voyage across the Atlantic takes a poignant look at what it was like to be passenger on the unsinkable vessel. An elderly woman, Rose (Kate Winslet), recounts her memories of the night the ship sank to a treasure hunter seeking a rare diamond lost to the tragedy. At that time she was 17 and hailed from an aristocratic family. On the ship she meets a penniless artist named Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) while distraught over the marriage her parents have arranged for her in order to maintain their status among the elite. Aware of her parent’s disapproval, Rose refuses Jack’s advances initially but finds herself inexplicably drawn to the charismatic artist. A moving tale of sacrifice and hope, Titanic has become one of the most watched films of the last three decades and has solidified itself as one of the chief cultural films of a generation.

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS is available on Blu-ray, DVD & digital download from December 12th, 2016