Product Description

Go inside the cunning mind of a charming criminal genius as National Geographic tells the dramatic story of this fearsome pirate who preyed on Caribbean trade routes. Blackbeard: Terror at Sea charts the exploits of Englishman Edward Teach, an intelligent and charismatic leader who confounded the powers of England and Virginia as he overtook and pillaged 40 ships in two years, stealing hidden cargo and precious exports to and from the Caribbean. Featuring sea chases, cannon battles and swordplay Blackbeard: Terror at Sea provides an exciting dramatization of one of the most notorious men in American history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29740 in DVD
• Brand: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (UNDER WAR
• Released on: 2006-07-11
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 88 minutes

Features

• Go inside the cunning mind of a charming criminal genius as National Geographic tells the dramatic story of this fearsome pirate who preyed on Caribbean trade routes. Blackbeard: Terror at Sea charts the exploits of Englishman Edward Teach, an intelligent and charismatic leader who confounded the powers of England and Virginia as he overtook and pillaged 40 ships in two years, stealing hidden carg

Customer Reviews

Well put together but not always factual
The positive reviews cover some of the interesting aspects of this production, but care should be taken to check the facts against the way things are presented. Blackbeard is shown as tackling other ships singlehandedly, when, in many instances, he was working with other companion vessels (for example, when taking the Concorde or when blockading Charleston). The governor of Virginia is portrayed as bending the law to pursue Blackbeard, when in fact it was the actions of the governor of North Carolina that came closer to actually being under-the-table dealings with the pirate. The wounding of sailing master Hands is shown as an act of friendship, but some accounts recount that as Blackbeard being deliberately cruel to inspire fear in his crew. Some key facts are also simply omitted, such as the loss of his flagship (the Queen Anne's Revenge) prior to the battle at Okracoke in 1718. The film revels in Blackbeard as a sort of hero, when the story is much more complex than that. Perhaps as an introduction this film has its uses, but if used in a classroom, students should be encouraged to do further research on how the facts stack up against this somewhat romanticized depiction. And one more small but important quibble. After reading the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, I was really disappointed that this film sheds no light at all on sailing tactics used. In most of the scenes the ships are scarcely moving at all.

The Golden Age of Piracy Brought to Life
National Geographic's documentary on Blackbeard the Pirate is one of the best I've ever seen on the subject. It brings together all the bits and pieces of fact that are known about the dreaded Captain Edward Teach and uses them to build a wonderful dramatization of the life of one of the most famous and fearsome of all the pirates to sail the seas.

Most of what we know of Blackbeard comes from Charles Johnson's famous book "A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates", the classic history of piracy's golden age in the early 18th century. This serves as the basis for National Geographic's well-made film that chronicles Blackbeard's life and exploits from his early piratical conquests along the coast of the American colonies to his bloody death at the Battle of Ocracoke in 1718. The documentary portrays Teach as a somewhat human character who, despite his fearsome reputation as a bloodthirsty rogue , prefers to capture prizes without a fight and who spills blood only when needed to make a point. He forms a friendship with his first mate Israel Hands who serves as his trustworthy confidant throughout his career. Blackbeard tries and fails to settle down as a country gentleman after accepting the King's pardon, but quickly finds that gentlemanly ways and a proper wife do not suite him and he longs to return to his rightful place at sea. Virginia Governor Alexander Spottswood, obsessed with finding and killing Blackbeard, sends Lt. Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy to draw him out of 'retirement' and send him to the murky depths. The resulting battle is one of legend.

"Blackbeard- Terror at Sea" is an excellent documentary and serves to clear up many myths surrounding the legendary pirate. It is entertaining and educational and is highly recommended to anyone interested in the history of piracy and true adventure.

Swashbuckling Tale
National Geographic has done a superb job in telling the story of Blackbeard. Told through the eyes of his first mate, Israel Hands, the legend comes to life. James Purefoy is wonderful in the title role. It doesn't glamorize the pirate life and does attempt to add historical notes along the way. It is a movie for the whole family though perhaps parents should screen it first if they have very young children.
The only minor quibble I have with it is the fact vs. folklore special feature, I had a difficult time getting it to play on my dvd player. It would have been nice if they had had Play All on it instead of having to backtrack and watch each section individually.
Also, they don't credit the other actors which is a shame since they are very good, especially the actor who played Israel Hands.