Swallows and Amazons

Name: Swallows and Amazons
Genre: Adventure, Drama, War, Family
Released: July 14, 2017
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Andrew Scott, Elizabeth Berrington, Fenella Woolgar, Harry Enfield, Jessica Hynes

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Ratings

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4.1	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Ratings

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Swallows And Amazons (US Trailer)

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Movie Details & Credits

Orion Pictures | Release Date: July 14, 2017 | Not Rated

Starring: Andrew Scott, Elizabeth Berrington, Fenella Woolgar, Harry Enfield, Jessica Hynes, John Henshaw, Kelly Macdonald, Orla Hill, Rafe Spall, Richard Bremmer

Summary: Four children dream of escaping the tedium of a summer holiday. When finally given permission to camp on their own on a remote island in the middle of a vast lake, they are overjoyed. But when they arrive, they discover they may not be alone and a desperate yet whimsical battle for ownership of the island ensues, where both skill and luckFour children dream of escaping the tedium of a summer holiday. When finally given permission to camp on their own on a remote island in the middle of a vast lake, they are overjoyed. But when they arrive, they discover they may not be alone and a desperate yet whimsical battle for ownership of the island ensues, where both skill and luck play a hand. Simultaneously, the dangers of an adult world, on the brink of war, encroach on their paradise and intertwine with their lives, in the form of a mysterious pair of Russian spies hot on the tail of the enigmatic Jim Turner. The children must ban together from both groups, learn skills of survival, responsibility, and the all-important value of friendship to save a family member. [Samuel Goldwyn Films]… Expand

Director: Philippa Lowthorpe

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, War, Family

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 96 min

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Critic Reviews

Matthew Anderson

Jul 10, 2017

It's a gem of a film to be cherished by one and all. Read full review

Time Out London Dave Calhoun

Aug 15, 2016

The film’s pleasures are simple – soaring landscapes, old-school DIY adventure and some sweet performances by the child actors. It makes for a charmingly old-fashioned family adventure. Read full review

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

Aug 15, 2016

This is high adventure in safe hands. Read full review

Fionnuala Halligan

Aug 15, 2016

For a film industry determined to open itself to a diversity of voices, this is very much a safe, back-to-basics play for British audiences in need of some reliable comfort food. Read full review

Neil Smith

Aug 15, 2016

There’s an undeniable charm here that, allied with the picturesque locations, results in a nostalgic throwback to a gentler age. Read full review

Sheri Linden

Jul 13, 2017

As clunky as the movie can feel, there’s a winning toughness to its unsentimental view of childhood and its nostalgia for a pre-digital age. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Aug 15, 2016

This Swallows and Amazons is decent enough: but probably best savoured on the small screen after tea on a rainy Sunday. Read full review

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User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Nov 26, 2021

I enjoyed this film - its a good bit of family friendly escapism. It features some nice shots of the Lake District, where its set and I liked the ocassional drawings showing the area surrounding the island its mostly set on, by the children.

The plot pace is a bit slow but it didn't bore meI enjoyed this film - its a good bit of family friendly escapism. It features some nice shots of the Lake District, where its set and I liked the ocassional drawings showing the area surrounding the island its mostly set on, by the children.

The plot pace is a bit slow but it didn't bore me and there were a few aspects of the plot that surprised me. It certainly isn't violent or anything, so as I say its a decent family watch and if your a fan of the Lake District, then I'd happily recommend this.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LeZee

Jul 30, 2017

The battle for an island.

This is a perfect summer film for the families that produced by the BBC. Based on the children's book of the same name. Frankly, I haven't seen the television nor the film adaptation of this. It looked very fresh to me, so I enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm a big fan ofThe battle for an island.

This is a perfect summer film for the families that produced by the BBC. Based on the children's book of the same name. Frankly, I haven't seen the television nor the film adaptation of this. It looked very fresh to me, so I enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm a big fan of children's films and this one reminded my childhood vacation in the grandparents' rural. Surely everybody, I mean most of us had this kind of adventure, sometimes that ended very seriously.

This is mainly about a group of children and their summer adventure, especially sailing in a large lake and exploring an uninhabited island of it. Mrs Walker brings her four children to their grandparents' house in a small English village. The bored kids decide to go sailing on the lake nearby where their father promised to take them one day, but now he's out in the sea far away on the job. Somehow they manage to get permission from the elders and so their adventure begins.

They arrive on the island and claim it. But another group who already claimed it challenges them. So their rivalry begins which leads to some great adventures, day and night. How things going to work between them is told in the remaining. Though there are more that takes place alternatively, like the real spy-game of the grown- ups. How these two stories going to meet was revealed with a decent twist. But the thriller parts were compromised since the film is aimed for the little ones.

"I hereby name it Walker Island and claim it for our own."

Great quality, loved the production. The locations were awesome. Initially I thought this will going to take place in the real Amazon, Brasil, but still I'm satisfied with it. I don't know who is this director, but a well done job. I also don't know whether the story is from the book or just the characters, but expecting a sequel and if possible a film series. I'm not expecting the whole 12 books to be made into films, thought at least a trilogy, since it's a live-action and the kids would grow up fast, they have to hurry up like they did for 'Harry Potter' film series.

The story takes place in the summer 1935 and its atmospheres, especially the addition of the spy thing was a smart move as those times were tensed with the early stage of the World War II. Its stretch also gives the adults a reason to watch the film, but sadly that sub-plot was under-used. Anyway, I recommend it to all, since it falls into PG. But there was a scene when the kids decided to go find the source of the fire they saw afar, that part was so edgy. Like that, there are a few more which creates uneasy in the perspective of kids.

Overall the film looks like a non-magical version of Narnia with four siblings and their exploration turned into an unplanned adventure. Yep, it's not summer yet, off the season, but still I loved it. This is one of the first films to I watch in the 2017, but definitely first children's film. On so many levels, it was a very good film, particularly if you haven't seen the other versions like me and a kid's film fan, you will have a good time. But for the families, as I said earlier, it is not to be missed. It got mixed to positive response from both the film critics and the movie goers, but personally I think it's much better than what they have said. So go for it...

7/10… Expand

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Vivace

Sep 18, 2020

This version of the Ransome tale misses the point entirely making the Walker children duffers from the start. It departs so drastically from the original it is a different story. Only to be recommended it quarreling brats is your thing.

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