Red-125 Muppet Treasure Island (1996) was directed by Brian Henson. It's based (obviously) on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Tim Curry plays Long John Silver, and does a good--and serious--job of it. Kermit the Frog plays Captain Smollett, and he too does a good--and serious--job of it.The film doesn't work too well. Unlike The Rocky Horror Picture Show--also starring Tim Curry--it never became a cult classic, and it never became a children's favorite either. Incidentally, although it's supposed to just be good fun, it's relatively violent, and I think it would frighten younger kids.I know this film was produced 20 years ago, but there are actually parts about the religion of the inhabitants of the island that are stereotyped and not funny. (OK--they are spoofing the religions of Oceania, and Treasure Island is in the Caribbean. Still, I don't think they'd put those scenes into the movie today.)Believe it or not, what saves the film is the fact that Treasure Island is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time. The Muppets don't really graft onto it well. There's Muppet mayhem, and then director Henson remembers that he needs to move the plot forward, so things happen, and then there's more Muppet mayhem. I loved the Muppets, and I still do. However, Treasure Island just isn't their place.One problem is that the film doesn't work well on the small screen. There are many "big production numbers" (as Kermit would say), and there are so many Muppet figures on the screen that they just look like a moving mass. Maybe, on the large screen, it would work better. P.S. We found Muppet Treasure Island on a home-made VHS cassette in a cabinet we rarely use. It's apparently been sitting there for 20 years, waiting for us to watch it. Now, of course, we'd buy it on DVD. But that was 1996, and DVD's had just been invented a year earlier.

Python Hyena Muppet Treasure Island (1996): Dir: Brian Henson / Cast: Tim Curry, Kevin Bishop, Billy Connolly, Jennifer Saunders, David Nicholls: Weak Muppet entry being too bland and unoriginal. It features Tim Curry as Long John Silver the pirate of the old Treasure Island movies. Kermit the frog is a captain with Sam the eagle as his first officer. They are off to find treasure but along the way they are captured by a tribe of pigs, which reunites Kermit with Miss Piggy. Brian Henson does a fine job directing and the production is wonderful but the plot is not. Fozzie Bear annoyingly holds conversation with his finger. Curry does a fine job as Silver and despite standard plotting he learns the value of goodness. Kevin Bishop plays the young hero who will influence evil to good. Billy Connolly and Jennifer Saunders are featured but unfortunately to cardboard affect. This is not up to par with earlier Muppet outings, and its playful use of violence should render discernment for really young viewers. Story is predictable and it pretty much contains the same agenda as Muppet Christmas Carol, which is to cast Muppets where real actors once dwelled. Unfortunately this is the worst edition to the Muppets film and not nearly as entertaining as an episode of the popular show. It leaves one with the notion that perhaps they should give up on the treasure and search for a decent screenplay instead. Score: 4 / 10

DarthVoorhees I don't think there's a 'children's' franchise that has more appeal to adults than Jim Henson's Muppets. I liked them as a kid but as an adult I love them. Their humor has so much nuance and clever wit that the jokes and characters get better with age. 'Muppet Treasure Island' might just be my favorite Muppet film and that is a hard thing to truly say because the Muppets have so much re-watch ability. I think what I like here is how sincere the story is while exploiting bizarre Muppet humor. It takes an audacity to adapt Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel with Kermit and the gang. The movie is a hoot and I laughed a lot here but at the same time there's a great deal of heart and emotion involved. That's what has always been so wonderful about the Muppets and this swashbuckling adventure is no exception.What's so impressive here is how much integrity the original Stevenson story keeps while adapted in Muppet form. There are no cheap laughs at the expense of Long John Silver or Jim Hawkins. They blend seamlessly into the narrative. While Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy and the gang fill the outer cast and provide us with the classic humor, they never take away from the plot. Kermit is especially good as Captain Smollet. He gets some really heavy character motivation no doubt taken from the Stevenson novel and Kermit relays it very well. As do all the other characters. It doesn't feel out of place or thematically schizophrenic when we go from scenes showcasing the menace of Long John Silver to a rip roaring musical number affectionately called 'Cabin Fever'.Tim Curry is brilliant in this film. His interaction with the Muppets is seamless. In some of the lesser Muppet entries the human actors seem to be making fun of the Muppets (Charles Grodin in 'The Great Muppet Caper' is particularly bad'.) Curry treats them like they are real actors. This seems like it should be a no brainer but it is critical for this story here. Curry's band of buccaneer Muppets are actually quite menacing and some of the scarier creatures in a traditional Muppet film because the interaction is so good. The film isn't just an adaptation of 'Treasure Island' all the great Muppet humor and heart is intact and in some instances as funny as ever. Frank Oz's Fozzie Bear steals every scene he is in as Squire Trelawney(well in actuality the half witted son of Squire Trelawney). I particularly love how they use Gonzo and Rizzo in this film. They become Jim's companions on this voyage. Jim Henson always liked to portray the Muppets as dreamers and the excitement these characters relay over this pirate adventure is so in tune with the Muppets. 'Muppet Treasure Island' is not to be missed. It is funny and smart. I'd love to see the Muppets tackle another piece of literature because they really make it come alive in a new way. Highly recommended

studioAT After the so-so 'Muppet's most wanted' it was nice to go back and watch this film, which really does show the beloved characters off at their best.Using a lot of the same techniques as the earlier success 'Muppet Christmas Carol' the Muppets give their own fun filled interpretation of Treasure Island.Tim Curry holds the film together with a fabulously over the top performance, that more than makes up for the rather slow beginning. In typical Muppet fashion there are cameos and songs, as well as some now rather dated pop culture references that kids won't get but it doesn't matter.If you feel a bit let down by their recent outing, then a look back at this truly classic Muppet film could be what you need.