sommese Christopher Columbus - THE DISCOVERY (1992) Warner Brothers opened in theaters same time as this film "1492". Viewed "1492" film again on Hulu for this holiday (Columbus Day 2017). I prefer "DISCOVERY FILM" for a number of reasons. At film's end Columbus is hero having completed first voyage successfully and long before things went wrong in Haiti (La Espaniola). "1492" film goes beyond first voyage up to his Third, next to last voyage. Things were truly as bad as depicted in second film. This is shown clearly in the manuscripts of his son Fernando. Fernando's book actually shows things were worse than shown in film. Both films were box office disappointments. However,year 1992 critics seemed to like "1492" film better. It shows Columbus as a victim, failure and basically a "schmuck". This may be why Europeans view Columbus in a good light. In the USA he seems to get little credit......but all the blame.

hou-3 What this weak movie brought home to me was the importance of a good script. Two days previously I rewatched The Mission, a masterpiece about European contact with the indigenous people of the Americas. The Mission has wonderful actors, inspired cinematography and a classic score, but what enables them all to synergise is Robert Bolt's intelligent, sensitive and beautiful script. It fills the film with radiance. By contrast, the script for 1492 is unbelievably poor, pedestrian to the last degree. I wonder that Ridley Scott allowed himself to be saddled with it. OK, Depardieu's English is not great, but from the start you can see that this fine actor can do nothing with these lines. Nor can Weaver and the others. Funny really, because the script is surely the least costly item in the budget.

Armand its virtue is not to be an impressive historical movie or a great show. but demonstration of high level work of a really ambitious/dedicated team. the direction, the music, the acting, the images, the script are a homage and a beautiful demonstration of talent and translation of essence of a period. a film about Columbus who is more than a way to remind a moment but who desires defines the roots of period. it is not perfect and that fact does it ideal prey for critics who defines it as too expensive effort for a not deep convincing result. but it is only pure show. not entertainment in basic definition, not a precise documentary but proof of a great embroidery from an unique artistic circle. that fact does it more than film of a moment. but an adventure for each viewer. so, a pure show.

Tim Kidner I don't know whether it was because Gerard Depardieu had an uncanny resemblance to Christopher Columbus or just that he was the highest profile 'European' actor available at the time. Was no Spaniard an option? Antonio Banderas was still then doing minor Spanish language films with the likes of Pedro Almodovar. Whichever way, Depardieu was the wrong man and seriously flawed the film; his strong accent mumbling important lines into incomphrehensibility.Aside of that, Ridley Scott's follow up to the very different Thelma & Louise is a sweeping and majestic nautical tale, Christopher Columbus' historically monumental voyage of discovery of the America's. It's about lands found, new peoples, conniving and jealous royalty, disease and death and, of course a new continent. A lavish picture that cost $40,000,000 but only scooped back less than a quarter of that, it has all the trademarks that we now expect from Scott. Though, I, as a photographer really hate his use of coloured filters to create pink or sepia skies - SO 1970/80's! The Costa Rican and Spanish locations do look ravishing, though.At just under 2.5 hours it's fairly epic, but manageable and the cast, largely do their bits well, especially the south American Indians, who really give the film realism and bite. Those expecting a nice family film should be warned in that, with a certificate 15, there's quite a bit of strong violence toward the end, when the natives and visitors have more than a few bloody skirmishes.The music, from keyboard legend, Vangelis, is one of the best parts and to my mind, one of his best scores, certainly up there with Chariots Of Fire. The theme, in particular, is very rousing and symphonic.I have to admit, that I didn't even know that this film existed until I found Vangelis' album, it's so unknown. We all know of 'Bladerunner' and 'Gladiator', but this must have been such a flop that it now passes under the TV scheduler's radar. I'm glad that I managed to buy the DVD cheaply, now and glad also that I watched it - good, but far from great.