I was a young kid when I saw THE BLUE LAGOON and yes, I remember all the hoopla about the "nude" scenes with Brooke Shields and all that jazz. I must confess that, being in my early teens at the time I saw this, there was an inherent morbosity which compelled me to watch Brooke Shields in the nude. After all, she was probably THE hottest "teen" actress of the early 80's (and damn, she DID look terrific!). But now I'm in my late 30's and I have recently seen the film once again and I must confess, BLUE LAGOON is a darn good movie. Yeah, it might be corny in some parts, but so what?!?! It's a cute love story that's very well done and done in a very realistic and believable way. It's the story of two kids who are stranded on a supposedly deserted island in the middle of the pacific ocean and that they have to grow up and learn the things of life by themselves. Yes, there's plenty of nudity but that's not the charm of this movie (which I recall, was nominated for best cinematography in 1981). The real deal is the story of these 2 kids growing up and reaching adulthood on their own primitive terms. The soundtrack is rich and heartfelt (by maestro Basil Poledouris) and only enhances the overall grandeur of this film. I think Chirs Atkins did a great acting job and I have to wonder why his acting career has faded into near obscurity. And Brooke Shields looks like a total goddess; she is REALLY beautiful in this movie and I doubt she's looked better elsewhere. I fully recommend this movie, especially to young couples, the recently married or just plain love birds. Younger audiences might find it a bit corny, but like I said, this movie is pure entertainment and despite not being an action flick, it never bores. You'll do no wrong in watching or better yet, owning THE BLUE LAGOON on DVD!
The Blue Lagoon
1980
Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance
The Blue Lagoon
1980
Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance
Plot summary
On a journey to San Francisco, Richard, his father and cousin Emmeline find themselves on a ship about to explode. Rushed to a lifeboat with Paddy Button, the two children escape while their father (and uncle) are on another lifeboat. In the chaos following, the lifeboats are separated. Paddy, Richard and Emmeline find themselves with no food and no water stuck in the middle of nowhere. After some time, the three come across an uncharted paradise, where Paddy quickly teaches the children fishing, hunting and building. After maybe a month or two, Paddy gets very drunk off a barrel of rum found on the island when they first arrive, and drowns in the middle of the night. Emmeline and Richard, now alone and very scared, move location and rebuild their island home. Many years later, the two young teenagers have developed a very real home, but hormones and feelings between the two strain their friendship, until Richard, who is still very determined to reach San Francisco, is let down by Emmeline when a ship passes by the island and she does not light the signal fire. Throwing her out of the home they had built together, Emmeline attempts to survive on her own but is hurt. After Richard finds her dying, he realizes how he really feels for her and manages to save her. Nature runs its course and their friendship turns into love as the couple learn about the facts of life, when Emmeline has a baby and does not understand why.
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Great Entertainment!
Always enjoyable, sweet and moving film
I have always liked this film, and don't like it when it is criticized so much. Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins did a wonderful job, they were excellent. Brooke is a beautiful, talented actress. The scenery was just gorgeous, it makes you want to fly off to Fiji where they filmed most of the movie to see what it is really like. The music is also very good. The story starts out with a ship which catches fire, and everyone is forced to abandon ship. Two young children, Richard and Emmeline, as well as a drunken cook named Paddy, get on a lifeboat together and drift on the sea for many days, until they discover land, a bunch of little remote tropical islands. They build a home there. Time passes, and Paddy passes away, but Richard and Emmeline continue growing up together. They get older, and new feelings come over them. They discover many things about adolescence and sex. This is a great love story, sweet and lovable. Brooke and Chris make a great onscreen couple. The sex/nudity scenes are not really that bad at all, they're rather mild. There is more nudity in the underwater swimming sequences, but mostly all of that was done by Brooke's stand-in, a professional diver. I really like this movie, and even though there are a few logic loopholes, it is still enjoyable. My only complaint: I think this film could've gone on for about 5 more mins. or so and explained things a little bit better.
A Garden of Eden just built for two with nothing to mar their joy
This third version of The Blue Lagoon is beautifully shot in the South Seas where the story actually takes place and that adds a lot to the telling of the story. A couple of young beauties of the time Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins complete the picture.
Brooke Shields was well into her career when Blue Lagoon came out, but for Christopher Atkins this was his debut film. In a novel Hollywood success story picked from a group of unknowns to star in this film. I well remember Atkins as the great Hollywood 'it' boy of the early 80s. He had a great following with both women and gay men at the time.
Both Brooke and Chris carry the innocence look off very well. The story is that while bound for San Francisco on a schooner the ship catches fire and the children are herded into a lifeboat by gruff sailor Leo McKern. They make it to the island and soon enough McKern is killed off.
The kids are left to their own devices and grow up to be Brooke and Chris. And like in the Irving Berlin song soon are doing what comes naturally. Well maybe not that soon.
The film holds up well for 40 years at this point. Stays just this side of soft core porn as well. Not exactly G or PG rated though.