Beautifully photographed and well-acted, "Pirates:Blood Brothers" is a pirate saga worthy of Alexandre Dumas or Rafael Sabatini. It took me back to some of the better films of the genre such as "Captain Blood", "Captain from Castile" and "The Corsican Brothers", to name a few. For one who was very disappointed by the three campy Disney CGI pirate films, it was exhilarating to see this thrilling drama in the tradition of genuine historical adventure. It must be said that even though it's a story of two Italian brothers, one of whom becomes a member of the pirate brotherhood and one who becomes a spy in the pay of the French crown, it's a stirring,complex drama of revenge, redemption, twists of fate, and historical change. The film truly belongs mostly to the older, conscience-stricken brother Ippolito, consumed by remorse, masterfully portrayed by the astounding Paolo Seganti. Be warned about the four hour English dubbed version....the bad editing and terrible maladroit dubbing nearly ruins the film. Far better to see a complete Italian or German version with English subs. This is definitely the best film of the genre made since the aforementioned classics and it deserves a wide audience. Bravo to Paolo Seganti for an outstanding, moving portrayal which raised this film far above the pedestrian.
