In this epic mini-series based on Jules Verne's novel, Englishman Phileas Fogg (Pierce Brosnan) prides himself on his clockwork discipline. Fogg is so confident of his ability to beat the clock that he bets a small fortune... more » with members of the Reform Club that he can use modern transportation methods to circle the globe in 80 days! With servant Jean Passepartout (Eric Idle), Fogg soon finds himself crossing war-torn Paris, traversing the jungles of India and Burma, and dueling with Jesse James on the American prairie! And if that weren't complicated enough, Fogg is the prime suspect in a London bank robbery, and Detective Wilbur Fix (Peter Ustinov) is pursuing Fogg and Passepartout, in hopes of returning Fogg to England to be arrested-and to collect the reward money! The voyage even brings an unforeseen responsibility when Fogg rescues the beautiful Princess Aouda (Julia Nickson) and she arouses long-dormant feelings in Fogg's bachelor heart. Can Fogg acknowledge those feelings? Will he win the bet? Will he give Fix the slip? The ending is one you don't want to miss!« less
If you are a fan of Mr. Bond, then you get to see him go around the world!
0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Back on the small screen--all of it!
Lee Gaiteri | Syracuse, NY USA | 06/01/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I was enchanted by this miniseries in 1989 and to see it again after all these years I have not been disappointed. Pierce Brosnan is the quintessential Fogg, always proper and always meeting challenges with a stiff upper lip and a lot of Victorian can-do spirit. The cast is wonderful, including notably Eric Idle and Peter Ustinov. As one of the last of the great '80s all-star miniseries, this one competes for a place as the best. It's family-friendly, too, with plenty to delight all ages.
For those who've seen the edited DVD from which portions of the miniseries were cut, I have good news: This edition from Trinity actually has the whole thing. Nothing's missing here, with the full running time of 266 minutes. (And for those who didn't know, yes, it really is 266 minutes. The original miniseries was presented in 3 parts--not 2--of 2 hours each, including commercials.) I was fortunate enough to discover this version first. And best of all, it costs a lot less.
The bad news is that this is a transfer from video, and as we all know about video, it doesn't always survive a decade and a half well. In just a few places there are minor video glitches. However, they're brief and they aren't anywhere near bad enough to distract from the film. As such they're quite forgiveable in light of that fact that this brilliant miniseries is complete and finally available on DVD."
Around the World with Station Breaks
Trooperboots | Southern California | 01/22/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I would give this pitifully under-rated film five stars, however, there are some problems with the 2 DVD set....
This is a good quality transfer, but there are 2 flaws in this version....
Some scenes from the VHS set are missing.... but the absolute worst thing is that every 15 or 20 minutes, we have to see the opening logo once OR TWICE, then also see "previews of the next episodes" and so forth, which worked well on commercial television, but absolutely have no place on a DVD. The VHS version simply had the entire miniseries as a continual film... this is how the DVD should have been replicated... with the missing scenes restored."
Excellent family story
Trooperboots | 06/30/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I found the acting excellent, and the scenery engaging. The original story was a fantasy, and so is the movie. The storyline is not realistic, but it's not supposed to be! Once you accept that premise, the story is fun. The cast is entertaining, with a mixture of comedy and adventure. There are not enough movies like this. There is something for everyone and no cursing, sex, or excessive violence. A great family film. Tops over all the other attempts at filming this book."
Caveat Emptor
Adrienne Fischier | New York City, NY USA | 07/20/2005
(1 out of 5 stars)
"The worst series transfer I have ever seen. First, the color is
poor, orange skin, etc. More importantly, the producers have
included the endless repeats of logos/credits/overview scenes,
used in the original telecast, adding up to almost an hour of "noise". Almost impossible to edit while watching,for your viewing pleasure I recommend that lovers of this series, of which I am one, tape the excellent 5 hour version frequently shown on cable TV without interruptions, and make your own video disc. The most delightful version of this work, featuring great erformances by Eric Idle and Pierce Brosnan, it deserves a better fate. Avoid this DVD version like the plague."