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14 out of 14 people found the following review useful: The Dark Side of the Island, 8 November 2002 Author: ubik-11 from Planet Gong
The previous comments seem to relate to the TV series rather than to the pilot. I haven't seen this in 25 years, but I remember it being far darker than the series. I remember people getting their fantasies with horrific consequences, much like the classic "Monkey's Paw" horror story, or the tale of the genie who grants wishes with literal precision only to have them go horribly awry. Mr. Roarke seemed malicious if not downright evil, and Tattoo was a scary little imp who made you uneasy because of his ability to appear and disappear unseen. I know they had to tone it down to make it a weekly series, but it wasn't too many seasons before it turned into another "Love Boat" where every episode ended with Barbi Benton falling in love with Don Knotts.Am I the only one who remembers the original made-for-TV movie as a horror movie? I used to tell people that you would never see the pilot on TV again for this reason, but I think it's been long enough. They could show it, if the demand were there. I see Amazon wants $50 for the video; that's too much for my pocketbook. Maybe I'll find a used copy somewhere and answer my own question.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Definitely darker, 5 July 2004 Author: balkaster from United States
Quite agree with ubik-11 and togolane: I remember this film being much darker than the series, and I haven't seen it since I was a kid (the difference left that much of an impression). In fact, seeing the film after the series had begun, I got the impression that it was never intended to be a series, hence retooling was needed. The sense I got was that the guests were a bit evil themselves, and were lured to the island to get their comeuppance. Roarke was definitely sinister, unlike the series version, and this struck me as a horror movie. Assuming my memory is correct, the feel was like a mix of "And Then There Were None"/"Ten Little Indians", Stevenson's "The Bottle Imp" and "The Most Dangerous Game". The later series version with Malcolm MacDowell was closer in spirit to this than was the series version with Montalban.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Twilight Zone-Hawaiin Style, 17 June 2003 Author: togolane from Toronto
Not at all like the TV series. MR.Roarke and Tatoo were more like enigmatic genies than the cosy middle-class hosts they later became."Be careful what you wish for, because you might end up getting it!" The three stories were differenciated by moral depth.One was tragic,one sober and the last light hearted.Quite good for a MOW-pilot.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful: I recall the Movie, 2 October 2005 Author: richard.fuller1
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
And I also recall that Roarke was definitely toned down for the series, which I didn't like. Love Boat was light-hearted fun, but I didn't want the same thing on land. I wanted the Fantasy.Now Bixby's fantasy was to relive the love of WWII (Bixby was made up old for the 'present). He accidentally killed the girl, then ended up recreating it in the present. Roarke told him he didn't kill a girl in the present tho. Very convincing bit.I take it Hugh O'brian wanted to see what it was like to be hunted. The Most Dangerous Game. Best line from Roarke at the end of this 'fantasy'.Now the final one was a woman wanting to attend her own funeral. Carol Lynley and Peter Lawford were trying to kill her, but the final bit with this trio on the cliff, . . . . . oops! What I can't recall is who went where. I think the woman who wanted her own funeral was Sandra Dee, as I want to say I recall the person being called Francesca. I think Eleanor Parker was not well enough to do all the physical action required for the mystery woman who wanted to see her funeral.And Victoria Principal or Tina Sinatra? I can't recall which girl Bixby kills. Or was one the present and the other the past victim? I thought it was the same actress.The show was never like the movie. The first time Mr. Roarke made it rain on the show, I was turned off.The movie would end with three more guests arriving, and one of them wanted to be Dr. Frankenstein. My brother always wanted to see those fantasies.I think that would have been fun, too.
A great introduction to an old favorite, 28 February 2009 Author: fantasyislander65 from United States
This is the first pilot film for the television series, and it's often praised by critics (who all seem to love the dark side exhibited by Mr. Roarke in this introductory outing) for its emphasis on the less-than-happy execution and ending. The fantasies looked harmless enough on the surface: a World War II veteran wanted to revisit the interlude he had with a young American woman in London; a rich woman wanted to attend her own funeral, to find out who truly cared about her and who didn't; and a hunter wanted for once to become the hunted. But each story had a twist...did the hapless WWII vet really kill that poor girl in the middle of a bombing raid? Could the rich woman put even the least trust in her relatives, who had good reason to hate her for her overbearing control of the family company? What was the true reason the hunter wanted to be the one under the gun? Roarke teased and taunted sometimes, but when things got down to the wire, he revealed a caring side after all. His midget assistant, Tattoo, looked on with a mysterious gleam in his eye and the barest ghost of a smile, keeping his own counsel. When these two brought your fantasy to life, that was it: you were stuck, and you had to see it through to the bitter end. The concept clicked so well with the TV-viewing public that another pilot movie was filmed, and that led to the weekly series, which went on to run for seven seasons.If you're familiar with "Fantasy Island" only through the series and think it's just too saccharine, give this movie a whirl (it's available on the first-season DVD of the show). You just might change your mind. (Besides, what's wrong with happy endings? We need more of them in this world!)
Fantasy Island Movie, 7 August 2006 Author: lharman-2 from United States
I also remember this movie. I always thought it was the pilot for Fantasy Island, but maybe it was a well received movie that led to creation of the series. It fascinated me because of the sense of universal justice being doled out to the participants. The hunt scene was the most frightening/interesting to me. As I remember it Victoria Principal was hand-cuffed to Hugh O'Brian when he woke up the morning after his arrival. I think she stayed cuffed to him while he was being hunted. I vaguely remember the Bill Bixby character as being so different from the nice guy he played on Eddie's Father. The fight near the cliff sounds familiar, but apparently the plot and the good looking actors in the hunt story made the biggest impression on me.
1 out of 2 people found the following review useful: Welcome to Fantasy Island, 26 December 1998 Author: Karlen Ross (lordross76@hotmail.com) from Honolulu, Hawaii
The Show was not only great because of the acting by Ricardo Montalbon and Herve Valchiliquez. But it also gave a good movie (Return to Fantasy Island) and a farly good re-make (Fantasy Island, ABC). I myself am a huge fan of Ricardo's work, but the show is what gave him, in my opinion, Cult-like status. Another Point is that the show, also gave us the catch phraes " Next Fanasy, Next Fanasy " (I know it's Fantasy, but thats how Tattoo says it) and " Welcome to Fantasy Island". In closing, I would have to agree, This is one of my all time favorite shows ever... and that's no Fantasy.
1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Fantasy Island with and without Tatto, 15 July 2002 Author: Baldach from Arizona
For me Fantasy Island was one of my favorite shows growing up. I attributed my fondness to the show with Tatto (Herve Villechaize). I could relate with Tatto since he portrayed a child like innonence in situations. The sequences of the segements in the show became predictible with the various guests soon realizing that their fantasies always had some of consequences involved. However even TV shows about fufilling fantasies mature and Tatto was replaced with Lawerence (Chris Hewett) and the show became a dumping ground for out of work actors. Even now when I see the show on re-runs, I imagine Tattoo yelling, "Da Plane! Da Plane!",drinking rum filled coconut drinks, watching hula dancers and fufilling my fantasy.
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