rmelin13 This is one fine film, no doubt about it. I was drawn to it after reading about Richard Burton and his comrade (later nemesis) John Speke, first in the fictional novel 'The Bookman's Promise', which is based around Burton. At any rate, further research into Burton and Speke led me here, and I am so glad that it did. The cinematography in this film is extraordinary, and is worth the watch in itself. Don't expect edge-of-the-seat action, although certainly globetrotting in the 1850's certainly has its share of excitement. Acting is superb. All aspects of production work are outstanding. I would imagine the only reason this film didn't get the response it deserves is likely because the basic subject matter is more of historical British (and slightly political) interest, and is based on actual incidents. I strongly recommend this film.

Claudio Carvalho In the Nineteenth Century, the British writer, geographer and explorer Captain Richard Francis Burton (Patrick Bergin) meets the Lieutenant John Hanning Speke (Iain Glen) during a dangerous journey in Africa and after being saved by Speke, they become friends. Soon they team-up to seek the source of the Nile River sponsored by the Royal Geographic Society. Meanwhile Burton meets his fan Isabel Arundell (Fiona Shaw) and they get married to each other. Burton and Speke travel for many months through Africa where they face brutal tribes, diseases, hunger and many other dangers together. Speke finds a lake that he believes it is the source of Nile River but Burton disagrees and believes they need more scientific research to be sure. When they separately return to London, the ambitious publisher Larry Oliphant (Richard E. Grant) stirs up a quarrel between the two friends and Speke travels alone to Africa trying to prove his findings. Will their friendship end? "Mountains of the Moon" is a fascinating adventure with a story of friendship based on a historic event, the journey of Captain Richard Francis Burton and Lieutenant John Hanning Speke to the African Great Lakes. The plot may be not accurate but the film is engaging and the landscapes are breathtaking. The viewer does not feel the 136 minutes running time. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Montanhas da Lua" ("Mountains of the Moon")

Byrdz Mountains of the Moon made me want to get a copy of the journals and read what really happened. Some of the best scenes are when portions of the journals are read as narration, much as is done in the Ken Burn's series.It's a pretty bloody and at times violent film with lots of sickness and injuries that need to be dealt with using Victorian era techniques and ideas. Won't do into detail here but UGH ! Could have done with less interaction with the slavers and the young king. That seems a bit extended just for the brutality factor.The costuming is incredibly well done. Visually it feels as if it was filmed back in the 1840's with all the bits and pieces being just as they should be. The costumes of the natives are particularly note-worthy. For those though, I have no frame of reference as to accuracy.No negative reaction to any of the acting. I was a bit distracted by trying to think why "Isabel" seemed so familiar. Only upon doing the IMDb search I learned that Fiona Shaw was Harry Potters misguided Aunt Petunia ! OK, then ! Cameo by Roger Rees at the end was quite nice.One of the most memorable scenes was Dr. Livingston and Burton comparing scars a la Mel Gibson and Rene Russo in Lethal Weapon 3. BUT the Livingston / Burton scene really did occur. Not too sure about the whole lying friend caused the rift between the main characters though. All in all... a good African Explorers Adventure with great scenery, music, acting etc.

mikemanners11 I had a choice at the Cinemas back in 1990 to see either Mountains of the Moon or Total Recall. I saw both advertised on the wall next to the concession stand. "What is Mountains of the Moon" I asked my self. This is the first I have heard of it. All of my friends and I were there to see Arnold kick some but.Which movie did I choose? Yeah..you guessed it.....Like a total brainwashed Zombie I chose the Arnold Movie. I was programmed and conditioned by hype to WANT to see Total Recall and noting else.I missed seeing a GREAT movie on the Big Screen. I would give anything to go back in time and choose differently. The visuals and scenes of MOTM were very fascinating even watching this on VHS some years later. The producers/distributors obviously lacked the big budget in 1990 for Advertising that the fat cats who made Total Recall did. ALSO, most Americans are probably too ignorant of History to even know anything about the Colonial Exploration of Africa - so the desire to see a film of this genre was low staring out.IN SHORT I highly recommend this movie. If you are a thinking person it will inspire you to desire to know more about these men who braved impossible odds to explore new worlds.Richard Burton's books are available in reprints from Dover Press. Did you know that he was the first White European to visit Mecca? Yes that could have been a movie itself. He wrote about it in a great book.IMPORTANT: This movie was based on a play called "Burton and Speake" and not on Burton's or Speake's writings. There are artistic licenses taken.