Treasure Island

Hardly a treasure, but a lively island of adventure.

The adaption takes liberties with Stevenson's tale that some will find unforgivable. But viewers open to experimentation will enjoy simply seeing if they agree with the choices the filmmakers made in their what-if game.

The latest version of Treasure Island on Syfy, stands out as a gem--although some plot changes for the sake of agitprop make it a flawed one.

When it really sails, it cuts through the waves swiftly. But it loses wind so many times the thrills come only sporadically.

The production details and Stewart Harcourt's script are quite effective, but the film's pacing is too drawn out.

If for the most part this Treasure Island does not shiver my timbers, at a running time of three hours (four with ads), some things are bound to work, if only by the law of averages.

Multiple battles ensue, most of them pretty tepid, as this Treasure Island kills more time than pirates.