User reviews

For anyone who enjoys old fashioned swashbuckling fun, here's a great movie! Tommy Lee Jones, Jenny Seagrove and Michael O'Keefe make a tremendous trio against such dastardly villains as Ben Pease and the German empire, not to mention a cannibal, human-sacrificing South Pacific Islander prince. What I really loved about this movie, though, was the humor and how it not only comes from the situations but especially from the characters, who they are and how they react in those situations. There is some silliness but all in good fun, and action, action, action. I'd recommend this movie for a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Some comments regarding the film "Nate and Hayes" have made note of it's similarities to "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", but called it superior to Spielberg's film. I can only assume the people who said that haven't seen "Nate and Hayse" in a LONG time. Sure, "Temple of Doom" is a flawed film, but it's far more slick and eye-popping then this pirate romp, which shares the same flaws regarding story and dialog. When I was a kid, I put "Nate and Hayes" in the same category as the Indy films - After seeing it again as an adult, I can't say that I still do.

"Nate and Hayes" is one of the better and more creative of the early 80s "Raiders" knock-offs, largely due to it's setting, and the charismatic performances of Tommy Lee Jones and Michael O'Keefe. In addition, there are some rousing action sequences. But director Ferdinand Fairfax simply doesn't have the skill or flair of authentic Spielberg. In addition, the film is chock-full of hokey touches which, at times, seriously undermine the proceedings.

In the end, "Nate and Hayes" is a fun little movie.

This is a great movie, not necessarily the most historically accurate film, but its still a really good pirate movie. I'm not sure of the year this movie was supposed to take place but at the beginning they are trying to sell thirty-thirty lever-action rifles... which didn't come out until the early eighteen hundreds. throughout the rest of the movie there are a bold mixture of period firearms that don't really let you get a grasp on when this is supposed to take place. What I really found interesting was that it had a scene in the beginning with the rope bridge that was amazingly close to the famous scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom... especially since this movie came out a year before Temple of Doom. No matter what... it's a good watch.

This terrific adventure did poor business on release, maybe due to the title : "Nate and Hayes" sounds more like a department store than a swashbuckler. The UK title, "Savage Islands", summed it up much better. As one other writer commented, the film has certain features in common with "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" but is actually much superior to the Spielberg effort. Tommy Lee Jones brings great charisma to the pirate hero, Michael O'Keefe is excellent as the pompous missionary who grows up in the course of the film, Jenny Seagrove is a meltingly beautiful yet spirited heroine and Australian actor Max Phipps is fine as the cruelly funny Ben Pease. There are rousing action sequences and a host of neat touches which suggest a lot of care went into the film.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nate and Hayes as a "tween"---it had all the things a young fella would look for...action, adventure, and wry, often purposefully bad humor.

Certainly ranks up there with the Indiana Jones flicks as far as scripting and subject matter, just lacked the funding to be as over the top. Still, the film does not stretch beyond its means in this regard, as Temple of Doom tended to (ie the inflatable lifeboat "parachute" sequence).

As many folks here have mentioned, this is Saturday afternoon fare at its finest. Not to be taken seriously, does not take itself seriously, yet remains a class act.

I saw Nate and Hayes back in the day, in the darkness of the theater. It was fun, but the memory of Raiders of the Lost Ark (which was certainly responsible for this film's existence) was too fresh, and this minor film suffered in comparison. Though Nate and Hayes was competently made, and had it's charms, it was obviously a TV movie that somehow made it up to the big screen. I think that if they'd had a bit more money to spend, the filmmakers could have created a film just as good as Disney's recent pirate adventures. With more varied camera-work, a few more creative action bits, better costumes, and richer cinematography, the same screenplay could have been made into a smash hit classic. In fact, most of the big hits of the past 3 decades have basically just been slick and shiny remakes of little films like this one. And Tommy Lee Jones makes a fantastic Pirate, Texas accent and all!

It's the late nineteenth century in the South Pacific , there shows up Bully Hayes (Tommy Lee Jones) , he is a daring , two-fisted pirate captain who while he has never flown the double-crossbones and skull , he has dealt with other malicious pirates and becomes involved in illegal trade, albeit never having swindled , deceived or murdered anyone who didn't deserve it . It is after one of those trading missions with a native tribe gone wrong that he is arrested "by an old friend" under Spanish law for trying to sell arms to the enemy , a crime punishable by hanging . The good pirate Hayes helps young missionary Nate (Michael O'Keefe) and his beautiful bride (Jenny Seagrove) . As his fiancee is captured by a cutthroat band of slave traders and both , Nate and Hayes , have to free her . Brave and daredevil Nate and Hayes risk his lives facing off villains (Max Phipps) , taking on angry natives , cliffs , a warship with a ruthless German commander and several dangers and adventures.Partners in Piracyc. Rivals in Romance. Allies in Adventure .He's a scoundrel... A hero... A lover of danger and the last of the adventurers...

This is an unpretentious , old-fashioned movie fun , dealing with the story of Bully Hayes and his young accomplice pal Nate , both of whom execute feats of derring-do in various exotic locations and along the way taking on their cutthroat nemesis . An amusing and entertaining ¨jolly rogers¨ movie with lots of action , colorful cinematography by Tony Imi and attractive scenes , all these elements make this a charming film . The flick blends comedy , adventures , action , rip-roaring , Cliff-hunger , tongue-in-cheek and being extremely entertaining and funny . The picture has great loads of action , special effects abundant and impressive Trevor Jones' musical score . The movie has spectacular set pieces when protagonists are fighting a cannibal tribe , as they undertaking a breathtaking getaway , all of them will have you on the edge of your seat , but the action never lets up . Trio starring are pretty good . Tommy Lee Jones gives a nice acting as Bully Hayes who considers himself a good pirate with morals and standards . While Michael O'Keefe plays magnificently as the valiant and impulsive missionary turned into an action man . And Jenny Seagrove is gorgeous as the damsel in distress .

The motion picture was competently directed by Ferdinad Fairfaix . He was an usual TV director , such as : The Choir series , In the name of love , Murder Most Horrid series , Without Motive , Trial & Retribution , Unconditional love , Rose and Maloney , Lilies , Egypt , The last detective , Murder in mind , Without Motive , Frenchman's Creek , Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years, The last place on Earth and occassionally for cinema , such as : True blue , The Secret Life of Ian Fleming , The Rescue . It's indispensable and essential watching for adventure aficionados . Rating : 6,5/10. Notable , above average and well worth seeing. It's a winner for Tommy Lee Jones fans.

I was lucky enough to go to the European premiere of this film in London ( although strangely enough i seem to remember that it ended up on a double bill with TOP SECRET in some cinemas). Made before Tommy Lee Jones became a big star it was quite obviously the inspiration for Pirates of the Caribbean. It was released in the UK under the title SAVAGE ISLANDS but in some places it was called NATE & HAYES. However, shame on Paramount for not exploiting it better. I know they had a lot riding on the not dissimilar Indiana Jones films but this is a cracking adventure and deserves better treatment (and why oh why has it not been seen on UK television for about 15 years?).

Good news though. The film is finally getting a DVD release (on region 1 only) on June 20th 2006 so keep an eye out for it.

This swashbuckling adventure romp, which I hadn't seen in over thirty years, best confirmed my level of enjoyment for it. Better known as Savage Islands, this less known film, is an Indiana Jones at sea, with Tommy Lee Jones, again in top form, as a notorious pirate, misinterpreted as a bad guy by many. With an old score to settle, once a friend and partner, now a sworn and ruthless enemy (Oz's Max Phipps, a late great Aussie acting import) has Jones locked up where he reflects on his memoirs and his lucrative profitable past, to a biographer and we're taken back in time to a young couple (O Keefe, a reverend, and his lovely bride to be Seagrove) who Jones helped to exact revenge, on Phipps, after wiping out a village and taking his bride to be, but of course reclaims her, only Phipps had survived. There are some beautiful sunny sea island shots, and the film is rich on atmosphere, filmed in he Pacific, where Seagrove is one fine treasure herself, where she also, clearly has the hots for Jones. Jones has never been hotter in a film, actually, the bearded look really suits him. Phipps is fun as the villain, and there's great choreographed action and scenery, in this very overlooked film. O Keefe's performance is too stiff, or some would say comically overdone, as a reverend, though I've never really thought much of him as an actor, except for Split Image, etc. A treasure of a viewing, with the scariest flying fox you'll ever see.

We expected more. The only thing saving this movie for us was the fact that we enjoy Tommy Lee Jones. Where to classify this movie? The story and the characters, even the villain all work toward a children's film. So why the violence? It certainly doesn't beef out the movie; it just seems incongruous to the humor and cuteness. We can't enjoy it with the kids and it's too cutesy to take seriously.

There was no scene setting, no use of color to set the mood. The sky is blue, the sea is beautiful, the palm trees are waving and even the music is upbeat while people are dying right and left. There is no suspense, since the action is highly predictable. Although the characters developed, there was little attention paid to that. There was love and infatuation, but no romance. Certainly not up to the standards of The Pirates of the Caribbean, or the Temple of Doom. Sorry folks, we gave it a 5.

Nate and Hayes is a grand pirate adventure of a film. The chemistry between Tommy Lee Jones and Michael O'Keefe is perfect and the score to the film is sweeping and epic. Great pirate adventure, highly recommended.

Not to be taken seriously....2 dull missionaries are murdered by pirates, they kidnap their nephews girlfriend,....MAYHEM, as the chap (Nate) goes in search of his lady with the help of "Hayes" (another pirate-but with a heart). This trainee missionary then goes onto kill 3 other pirates with help from Hayes. Its early Indiana Jones, fast moving, the germans make an appearance but like everyone else, they are put in their place by the "good pirates"....better for the kids on a saturday morning than for a saturday evening for just adults. Not a film you would watch twice and there are better offers around than this

I loved this movie! It is fun and has a great sense of humor! It has wonderful action and is just campy enough to be a blast....Tommy Lee Jones is a great Pirate. Miles O'Keefe is good as a missionary, with maybe a little pirate in his heart? It is a great rainy Saturday afternoon movie with popcorn... enjoy!

The stage curtains open ...

"Nate and Hayes" is a rousing, turn-of-the-century, swashbuckling adventure starring a young, full-bearded Tommy Lee Jones, Michael O'Keefe, and Jenny Seagrove in an early role. I remember having seen this on TV years ago when I was still a teenage boy and having fun with it. Maybe it was because it allowed me to stay up past my bedtime that I enjoyed it so much - lol.

It is the story of two unlikely heroes who become fast friends in their pursuit of a kidnapped Sophie, Nate's (O'Keefe) fiance who becomes distracted by an instant attraction to Hayes (Jones). The two team up, despite their grievances over who Sophie prefers between them, as they bounce from island to island escaping one scrape after another. They match wits against a cunning pirate known as Ben Pease leading to a fun, action-filled climactic finish. And who does Sophie choose? Nate or Hayes? You'll have to watch the movie to find out.

This film is definitely a product of its time with actors at the beginning stages of their careers. Tommy Lee Jones, as Hayes, often times will let out the laugh of a scoundrel who has the self-assurance of always being one step ahead of his opponent. Yes, he is a scoundrel, but one with morals and good sense. The chemistry between Nate and Hayes is very good, even though this sort of movie might appeal more to someone in their teens.

The accompanying musical score is energetic and triumphant complete with sweeping strings cascading up and down against the backdrop of trumpets. It is everything it is billed to be: Adventure on the high seas. I enjoyed watching this one again all these years later. It struck a sentimental tone with me and I would certainly recommend it at a solid 7 stars out of 10.

"Mr. Mom" or "National Lampoon's Class Reunion" are a couple unsung John Hughes writing credits, but probably the furtherest removed script in his Brat Pack comedies he's is this period swashbuckler. Set in the South Pacific, where the wife of missionary Michael O'Keefe (Caddyshack's Danny Noonan) is stolen by slave traders, so it's up to him and colorful sea captain William Henry "Bully" Hayes, played by a pre-fame Tommy Lee Jones, to rescue her. Clearly a cash grab to take advantage of the success of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" this film is dull and pales in comparison. However, credit where credit is due, during one action set piece, this film beat "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" by a year with the cutting-the-bridge-while-surrounded gag. Still, Spielberg did it better and it's also kind of a jungle film staple. Overall, the only reason to watch this film is to see the great Tommy Lee Jones in what's probably the strangest casting of his entire career. It's not the worst Indy ripoff (ignoring the super low budget knockoff, I nominate "Firewalker" and "Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold"), but it's far from the best (I nominate "Romancing the Stone" or "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones" and honorable mention to Jackie Chan's "Armour of God" films and Disney's "The Rocketeer" for Indy adjacent retro film serial fun).

"Nate and Hayes" brings to mind the great adventure epics and Saturday morning serials of the fifties.

The plot is filled with cliffhangers and the characters are robust. Tommy Lee Jones is compelling as the swashbuckling Booty Hayes, and the elegant Jenny Seagrove is the kind of "damsel in distress" that we'd all love to rescue from the likes of dispicable Capt. Pease.

Spectacular locations in New Zealand and Fiji provide a perfect backdrop for the action, which will keep any adventure lover on the edge of his or her seat.

Grab a giant tub of buttered popcorn and escape to the South Seas. It's an exciting voyage!

Right out of the gate,you know this is copping off of Raiders(any knob could see that).A super-cheese fest written(oddly enough)by one of the funniest screenwriters ever,the late great John Hughes--some of his wit managed to infuse itself onto the screen here,but it's a bare fizzle.If it'd been written as a all-out satire of Raiders & 30's & 40's thriller serials,it might have worked.You know,there are a lot of bad films out there,and why I've decided to pick on this one,I don't know.In fact,I've only written 2 or 3 negative reviews--I'm more likely to sing the praises of a great film,not having the need to elevate my insecure ego all the time.But maybe that's what I'm doing...but seriously,this IS a weak film--Tommy Lee Jones is a great actor,and I'm sure he wouldn't care much if this one disappeared off of his resume.

Forget about "Pirates of the Caribbean" or "Cutthroat Island", this is the last swashbuckler done right! Fastpaced, well-acted and well-made pirate flick set in the South Pacific in the beginning of the 20th century adn starring Tommy Lee Jones and Jenny Seagrove, a perfect match. Any bit as ferrocious as "Indiana Jones And the Temple of Doom", this one mixes humor with gore and action, too bloody for young children, all others should enjoy it 8/10

Horribly bad 'period' film, with '80's haircuts, cliched '80's dialogue and very hammy acting. Not to mention the European/Amazon/South Pacific Voodoo cult Islanders. Or the bizarre trireme canoes. etc. What's not clear is whether this is intentional parody or accidental irony. The overall tone is 'humor' but the action is quite violent, cruelly violent, even. I can't remember the last time the action entailed so many people shot in the back. Hi-larious. If you're looking for two decent actors hamming it up in a bad script, you'll get some mileage out of this one. If you are expecting anything approaching a good period action film, well, 4/10.

One gets the impression that Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck were in the adjoining office at Universal Studios with drinking glasses up against the wall, listening in on the story conferences for Nate and Hayes. Both this wonderful adventure film and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom were released the same year by the same studio, both have rope bridges hanging over ravines, cults and the feats of daring do... But Nate and Hayes is much more fun (for a smaller budget) and in the spirit of those serials...

As witless as any caper movie I've ever seen. Blah blah blah

If you ever want to see a fairly recent pirate movie, forget cutthroat island, but rent this one! good acting, fun story, and Tommy Lee Jones! not to mention the gorgeous Jenny Seagrove. all perfectly cast in this great movie

This pile of crap is, without a doubt, the lamest excuse for an adventure movie ever. Beautiful scenery, pretty girl, great actor in Tommy Lee Jones, but the biggest turd that's ever been filmed.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WATCHING THIS DISASTER. You have been warned.