Reviews of the series "Black Sails" in recent years, more and more often seen by fans of multi-part exciting films. This Starz product has already won the love of thousands of fans around the world.
The plot of the series "Black Sails"
Reviews of the series "Black Sails", as a rule, begin with the main thesis. This film is loved for its unique plot. It delays the viewer from the first episode.
Black Sails, the plot of which is a prequel to Stevensonās novel Treasure Island, allows us to get to know the pirates who have hidden untold wealth on the island many years before Hispaniola arrived with Jim Hawkins, Dr. Livesey and John Silver.
The events of the picture unfold in the so-called golden age of piracy. This is the beginning of the XVIII century, to be more precise, then 1715 - 1720. Events unfold in the Caribbean, in the Bahamas. Here is an English colony where the most famous pirates of their time coexist.
Nassau Island is a kind of pirate base, to which the sea robbers come to replenish their reserves, relax and realize the loot. The daughter of a major English official, for example, is engaged in the purchase of stolen goods. Her name is Eleanor Guthrie.
The most formidable captain on the island is Flint, whom we well know from Stevensonās novel. Until he hid all his wealth on an abandoned island, the captain, together with Eleanor, is developing a daring plan for Nassau to become independent of the British crown. For everything to work out, new financial injections are needed, and Flint goes for them on his next trip. The goal is a real money ship, as the pirates call it among themselves. This is the Spanish galleon, on which are countless treasures.
Seasons of the series "Black Sails"
At the moment, viewers have already seen four seasons of this series. The first appeared on the screens in 2014, the broadcast of the latter was completed recently. In the first season there were 8 episodes, in the rest - 10. Thus, the directors of the project have already shot 38 episodes of the series "Black Sails". The release date for the next season is not determined, since, according to available information from the producers of the picture, it was decided to close the series.
This multi-part film won unprecedented popularity among the audience because the shooting of episodes was entrusted to different directors. Therefore, each new series turned out to be interesting, original and unlike the previous one.
Four directors worked on the first season of Black Sails. The release date of the first series was set in advance. That was January 25th. It was shot by the Englishman Neil Marshall, whose assets include the horror films Dog Warriors and Descent. In the first season, he was assisted by lesser-known colleagues Sam Miller, Mark Manden and Tom Scott.
First season
Black Sails, the first season of which was seen by more than six million viewers in the United States alone, has become one of the most successful Starz television projects.
It is worth noting that this is an American paid cable channel that specializes in showing serial films and the latest in the film industry. He also produces series of his own production, which, in particular, include Black Sails. Season 1 was so successful that the creators of the series promptly agreed to extend the show to the second part, which was also two episodes longer than the first.
TV Stars
One of the main characters is Captain Flint. If Stephenson is just remembered and told by other characters, then the opposite is true in the series Black Sails. Actors who created unforgettable images of the main characters received well-deserved praise from critics.
So, Captain Flint is played by Toby Stevens. This is an English actor who became famous for Lee Tamahori's action movie "Die, but Not Now," which was released in 2002. There he played an entrepreneur from the UK who creates a unique satellite. At night, he is able to arrange pseudo-solar lighting, only for this he needs rare and expensive diamonds.
In this film, he appears as the thug and pirate Toby Stevens. "Black Sails" helped reveal his creative talent to the fullest.
It is worth noting that Stevens is not very popular outside of England, especially when compared with such colleagues in the shop as Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. But in his homeland, he is considered one of the best actors of our time. A vivid role in "Black Sails" helped him once again to express himself not only British, but also the world cinema community.
Eleanor Guthrie
The daughters of a prominent English official and buyer of stolen Eleanor Guthrie are not in Stevensonās novel. Therefore, Hannah New, who plays her, on the one hand, is more difficult, because there is nothing to focus on, but on the other hand, it is easier. The viewer does not have the deceived expectation that happens when, for example, he imagined his whole Eleanor Guthrie all his life, and on the screen she came out completely different.
Prior to this series, no one knew about its existence in this story. Not only an actress, but also a model of Hannah New. Black Sails has become the most serious movie work. Her only noticeable appearance on the screen before that was the role of Aurora's mother, Queen Leila, in Robert Stromberg's family fantasy melodrama Maleficent.
John Silver
Pirate John Silver is the main villain in Stevensonās novel Treasure Island. He appears in the series Black Sails. The actors were well able to recreate that era, the mood that prevailed in the distant British colonies at the beginning of the XVIII century.
The role of Silver went to Arnold Luke. This is an Australian actor for whom this work has become the most famous and noticeable in world cinema. This is mainly a serial actor, which the Russian audience can recall from such multi-series films as the police serial drama "The Murder Department", the military mini-series "Pacific", the children's television series "Princess of the Elephants", the 13-series drama "The Strip."
Billy bones
Billy Bones is Captain Flint's first mate, in fact his right hand. He is one of those especially close to one of the main villains of his time. According to Stevenson in Treasure Island, Bones was particularly cruel. Even Silver himself mentioned this in his memoirs. Billy was quick to kill and heavy on hand.
After the death of Flint, it was in his hands that was the treasured map of the treasure island. Because of this, he became a target for the rest of the pirates, and the document that he kept at home was a tasty booty. Therefore, he had to retire privately in the Admiral Benbow tavern with the mother of the main character of the novel, Jim Hawkins.
Billy Bones lives a hermit and drinks a lot. Former buddies are constantly making attempts on him in the hope of capturing a map of the treasure island. He is given a āblack markā, which in fact means the death penalty by the pirate community. However, the sea robbers do not have time to carry out their threat. Bones dies from an apoplexy stroke that happened against the backdrop of chronic alcoholism and nervous shock.
Tom hopper
In the series, Billy Bones appears to us young and purposeful. He is only at the beginning of his journey. He is played by English actor Tom Hopper.
He became famous in the early 2010s, playing in the British multi-part comedy-drama fantasy "Merlin". After this success, he was noted in the parody horror comedy Joe Lynch "Knights of the Kingdom of Coolness."
In 2017, he played in one of the most successful series of recent years - Game of Thrones. He got the role of Deacon Tarley.
Reviews on the series "Black Sails"
Such a success of the series is due, inter alia, to the large number of positive reviews about the film by television viewers and film critics.
Many say that the pirate theme itself is not at all poppy, as it may seem to many. In it, of course, there is room for a talented director and actor to turn around, but there are not so many films and TV shows of similar subjects.
That is why reviews of the series "Black Sails" often begin with thanks to the creators for the fascinating idea that came to their mind.
The "Black Sails" has all the prerequisites to earn fame and love of viewers. These are generally positive assessments of famous critics, reviews of those who have already seen him, as well as the formula that was used in the unsurpassed Game of Thrones - intrigues, battles and sex. As an executive producer - unsurpassed Michael Bay.
The advantages are complemented by a detailed and colorfully written script and a brilliant play of actors, among which there are many names little known to the general public. However, all actors show their best side.
Therefore, if you have not seen the series "Black Sails", be sure to give him a chance.