The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box (2013) User Reviews

Watchable! 5/10

[leonblackwood · 5/10 · 9 November 2014]

Review: I'm surprised that this movie wasn't bigger than it was because it's quite an epic movie with some fairly big names in the cast. I did find the leading character a bit annoying, but Michael Sheen was a joy to watch. The storyline wasn't bad either. Basically it's about young boy whose looking for his kidnapped brother whilst on a quest to find a magical box which can turn anything into gold. With the help of Michael Sheen, he ends up working in a hotel which is were all the clues lead, to find his brother and the box. It's not exactly Indianna Jones, but it's a mysterious tale which leads the audience down many different avenues after following the many clues. I think that the director wasted a lot of time on trivial matters in the middle of the movie, but the showdown at the end was half decent and it looked very glossy. Personally I thought that the movie was OK and I'm surprised that it made such a lose at the box office. Average!

Round-Up: I think this movie would have been much better if Michael Sheen and Sam Neill had more scenes and if there was an actor with more screen charisma, playing the lead. The director left the storyline open for a sequel, but judging by the lose at the box office, I doubt that we will be seeing one anytime soon, which is a shame because the concept wasn't that bad. All the clues did seem to drop on the main characters lap with ease, but he did have the help of his new found friend, who he falls in love with, and the great Sheen who helped his partner in many sticky situations. In all, I honestly think that people would enjoy this film if they gave it a chance, but you do have to be in the right frame of mind to watch it.

Budget: $25million Worldwide Gross: $14,000 (Terrible!)

I recommend this movie to people who are into there mysterious, magical movies about a quest to find a magical box which can turn anything into gold. 5/10

Earnest But Bland

[3xHCCH · 5/10 · 3 February 2014]

"The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box" introduces us to Mariah Mundi. He (yes, Mariah is a guy) is the son of a couple who deals with ancient artifacts. When his parents and younger brother get kidnapped, Mariah allies with the eccentric and mysterious Captain Will Charity to locate a certain Midas Box, which their captor Otto Luger desperately wants to get his hands on.

Actually this film has all the elements that should have made it succeed. It stars some pretty established actors like Michael Sheen (as Will Charity) and Sam Neill (as Otto Luger). The lush cinematography and authentic-looking period production design does not stray far from previous hits of similar nature like "Sherlock Holmes" or "National Treasure." There were actually some nifty computer generated visual effects.

Despite these pluses though, "The Adventurer" still wound up pretty ordinary as these films go. It probably took itself too seriously to generate any element of fun, something that other historical detective films possess. The lead actor who played Mariah lacked charisma to carry the whole film. This film seems to be targeted to the younger- than-10 crowd, but I think even these kids expect something more than this.

Cool concept poorly executed

[LadyMalkavian · 6/10 · 26 January 2017]

There aren't all that many fantastical genre movies with a 19th century setting. Even less that are original enough not to involve Sherlock Holmes, Dracula or such. So I certainly give The Adventurer points for being a truly new addition to cinematic Gaslight Fantasy and Steampunk. So if you love the Victorian period as well, the aesthetic of this film has something to offer you.

Unfortunately as a whole it doesn't sit that well with me. It's so obviously based on a young adult novel that it's jarring to an older audience. There are family films capable of being loved by all ages, The Adventurer isn't one of these. The story isn't that strong and many characters behave cartoonishly. As the plot advanced I felt myself caring less and less.

Still I do not regret watching it. But if you do see it, manage your expectations.

Strong start, but loses focus and ends with a thud

[cantake8 · 3/10 · 9 January 2014]

When this film began I was exhilarated. Not knowing anything about the film prior to screening, the cast is the first thing to impress. Visually, it is handsomely mounted. I anticipated another classic adventure favorite unfolding before me.

Unfortunately the film becomes laden with details and loose threads as it moves along, and fails to gain steam or provide answers. There are side stories that are intriguing when introduced, but never pursued. Then there are "discoveries" which are made much too easily, one wonders why nobody made them before.

Aneurin Barnard who plays Mariah, the older brother in the family, appeared to be the next heartthrob-in-the-making; handsome, talented, appealing. But it isn't to be as I doubt many people will rush to this film. Michael Sheen is splendid as he hams his way through this film, but he is unmatched by any other players, mostly due to the troubled screenplay with which they contend. Sam Neill is wasted in a role of broad villainous strokes that are tired and worn out.

Other characters appear and then aren't heard from again, supposedly until the sequel. By the time this film ends, there isn't a coherent TEAM of triumphant adventurers over a defeated foe, just kids who made it through a harrowing experience with the help of some grown-ups who are never strongly defined.

The film shifts abruptly from classic adventure to science fiction, which is such a bumpy transition, I was thrown off.

A young English man is pulled into an Indiana Jones type of adventure

[dr-t-tolentino · 7/10 · 29 April 2014]

This is a good, entertaining, slightly-cheesy, mystery/action movie you can absolutely watch with your kids.

I honestly don't understand the low ratings. Note that it is "Indiana Jones LIKE" in nature, but Indiana Jones it is not. It is not meant to be and it is not meant to be taken too seriously.

What it is, is:

1:Fun 2:Clean 3:Well acted (for the most part. I suspect some characters were meant to be cheesy) 4:well filmed.

I enjoyed it. I feel it's completely safe to watch with young children, and that is a rare thing. I recommend you give this movie a chance, ESPECIALLY if you're a parent looking for something you can watch with your kids that YOU can enjoy at the same time...

So much potential but fails to deliver

[sourmanflint · 3/10 · 5 December 2014]

Oh dear! I can imagine the pitch now, a fantastical adventure with a stellar cast, Indiana Jones meets Hugo.. Unfortunately from the very beginning it begins to fall apart. Everything is explained all too quickly and where there may have been a hope for mystery and a great story, we are told everything in the first few minutes, much like in The Golden Compass, thus destroying all hope of the viewer gradually unfolding the truth and being drawn into the characters and events. The dialogue really does not help and everything is far too obvious, there are no secrets in this film, our main hero confides everything he knows to a scullery girl he has never even met before, and she believes it all without question. The screenplay does not really make sense either and just adds to the lack of suspense, worse still is the complete lack of spatial continuity, you continually feel that the locations chosen do not flow, and the film jars from one place to the next. I could go on and pick fault in almost all departments, and what comes out from it is a film made by a director without a singular vision. All in all a spectacular waste of talent and money.

Will there be a sequel??

[lordhouck · 7/10 · 5 June 2018]

I remember seeing a trailer for this movie back in '13, but forgot all about it. I do like this movie, apart from the very end. It is now 2018, and I find no hint of there being a sequel. If there was, rather think it would have come out long before now. It is unfortunate, as well as irritating.

Terr-ible

[sergelamarche · 3/10 · 13 December 2021]

Terrible story with lots of production money. Very adventurous simili-indiana Jones story but with much less sense. Really pushing the suspension of disbelief to children limits. TV movie for small kids that I would not even recommend for them.

Family Fantasy Fun!

[wesryb · 7/10 · 16 January 2014]

I don't understand why this film has received such poor reviews. I personally thought it was a magically fun viewing experience.

The key ingredient to enjoying this film, like other successful films in the past: "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "National Treasure", is if one can imagine archaeological antiquities holding unimaginable super powers...the door is opened.

The story line was thus believable, production values were high, music kept the pace, and the acting was superb. Aneurin Barnard was fantastic as 'Mariah Mundi'! He has such an interesting and emotional look with the acting chops to really pull off this role (I also loved him in "The White Queen"). Michael Sheen totally pulled of the character of 'Captain Will Charity'. He was hilarious and deeply serious all at the same time. Watch him in "Unthinkable" some time and witness what this thespian has to offer. Lena Headley has cemented her role as a self- seeking witch (I LOVE GAME OF THRONES, but she always plays the 'Cersi' role..branch out babe!). Sam Neil was great as always. And I must give props to the young Xavier Atkins for his portrayal of 'Felix', he was great.

Overall, if you let your children watch films like "Hugo", they will enjoy this one!

They call the boy Mariah.

[TxMike · 26 May 2014]

I came across this movie on Netflix streaming movies. Overall I will say it is refreshing to see a PG-rated movie instead of all the R-rated movies that dwell on foul language and sex. This one is just an entertaining adventure, somewhat better than its IMDb rating would indicate.

First off I will compare it to the "Indiana Jones" movies, even the "Young Indy" versions. This story is set in 1885, starts in London, and involves a search for a rare and powerful antiquity.

Michael Sheen is Charity, and also in disguise becomes the famous magician. He is one of the good guys who want to protect antiquities.

Sam Neill is one of the bad guys, as Otto Luger, he wants to get the Midas box for his own selfish motives. As legend has it the Midas box will allow you to turn anything into gold, but it seems it has even more sinister powers.

Young actor Aneurin Barnard is the nominal hero, as Mariah Mundi. His escapades to first find his kidnapped younger brother, tracking him to a hotel on an island, then making sure the Midas Box is kept in safe hands, has to remind the viewer of "Indiana Jones."

And, in the end he even has a love interest, young and pretty Mella Carron as the newly orphaned Sacha. He met her as she worked in the hotel as a seamstress, when he was posing as a porter.

Fun movie, plus the picture and sound track are first-rate. A good, entertaining adventure diversion.

Imitate and worse

[gurubesar · 1/10 · 17 February 2014]

The movie was produced with the idea of similar like Indiana Jones, Lara Croft and all the other similar movies. However, there was one important thing the producer forgot. There is so such thing as Midas Box. Midas was a king with the touch that can turn other things into gold and in order to do that, he just had to touch the item. But it is a fantasy movie, anything goes....

The story line is not very clear and sometimes even confusing. It shows an American train style and the set was supposed to be in England. On top of that the kid actor was acting like as if it was on stage performance. I can not understand what they see behind the camera that they did not catch this kind of bad acting...

And of course, there is this Hollywood things. Part of the act was when they try to steal something from the office. Being a thief does not make somebody being cautious, but hey.... take as much time as you need and explore instead of getting the important information. There is no sense of urgency that you can see on the face of the actors who's doing it. And if you have something valuable given to you to safeguard; flaunt it so that everybody can see that you have it so they can steal or take it.

For something with a budget of $25 millions, I expect more on the script. Better make-up, better plot and consistent story are the least that they can do. I would have considered this one as a B grade movie, but the budget seems a bit too much for a B grade. If you don't have anything to do and have a bit of extra money to waste, then this might be the movie to see.

A clean movie for kids

[heather-foxworthy · 9/10 · 9 June 2014]

I am surprised at the other reviewers; I think the one point that most reviewers are missing is that it's a children's movie based on a children's book. My ten year old son loved it. It's hard to find clean action-adventure movies that appeal to boys and this one worked well. Sword fights, near death moments, supernatural content, chase scenes all without excessive gore, cleavage, or foul language.

Several comments have been made about the poor acting. I didn't see that. Come on folks, Sam Niell is the main bad guy.

This movie is available on Netflix. There is a sequel in the making and we'll watch that when it comes out.

UK Cinema has caught the Hollywood disease

[kmichaelpm · 6/10 · 27 January 2014]

How very very sad, to see a UK movie turn out the same as the utter drivel coming out of Hollywood in recent times. UK Cinema has always been a safe fallback, guaranteeing a decent story and decent acting. The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box...not only equals the lacklustre movies offered by Hollywood, but in some cases surpasses it for wasting movie lovers time and money. There is absolutely no viable story, and the script is brutal. Mariah Mundi (Aneurin Barnard), the supposedly main character, not only figures clues out in 2seconds, when various so called geniuses have been struggling to do so for a long time, but he also tells all and sundry the secrets which he has been sworn to keep. I believe he has a great future ahead of him if he get's a good agent who will protect him from this sort of career destroying rubbish. Sam Neill, Michael Sheen,Ioan Gruffudd and Leana Headey, are all old hands at the movie game and should have some conscience about foisting this so called movie on their fans, but I suppose money talks..shame.. Avoid this movie for health and sanity reasons.

Frrrom your powers combined... I am one of the worst movie ever!

[Stingster · 4/10 · 27 January 2014]

OK... where do I begin...

First thing that caught my attention was the really poor acting of the not-known actors from the movie, I don't know why pretty good actors like Michael Sheen agree to play next to such greenhorns.

Second thing is the 'missing parts' feeling that the movie gives you. It lacks those elements in charge with the smooth and logical transfer from one scene or plot to another. This is gymnasium level directing and/or editing, really.

Third thing is the amount of unnecessary and unrelated to the movie scenes. I will not give an example so I will not spoil the movie for you but there are some scenes that really give you the feeling that were cut from another movies and accidentally introduced here.

Also, although the movie suppose to take you into the late 19th century London, somehow you have the feeling that cell phone could ring anytime.

It is somehow bad directing, bad editing, bad screenplay, bad acting, bad etc. shook hands to make fun of a good idea.

That is really a shame. I would have liked this movie.

I deserve to die for watching this movie!

[jemm1978 · 1/10 · 31 January 2014]

Yes, as the title suggests, I deserve to die for watching this. When I get to my old age, and look to the past I will torture myself with the memory of wasting 90 minutes of my youth years, I deserve to die now and save myself from further self inflicted torture caused by the memory of having watched this atrocious film. I had more amusement reading the comments of other users; oh I should have paid attention to them, instead I had to venture into the dreadful experience of watching this. Terrible acting, not even Sam Neill could make it look decent. If I was to believe in hell, I would imagine Lucifer punishing the doomed souls by making them watch this movie.

Adventure, Light Hearted, Little bit of action, and a pleasant ending

[jokejong · 6/10 · 1 October 2014]

If you're looking for a light-hearted evening show that gives a fun atmosphere, I'd say this is a show to go for. Not much special effects, kids friendly, simple and not-that-easily predictable.

I enjoy this show, I won't say that I love it, nor I think it's very well done. I think the acting and scenes are nicely put, just that the story and conversations, as well as how the flow should go, can be done better.

I'd definitely look forward to a sequel if there ever will be (i-doubt it), and i think the twists along the story are pretty neat.

I would say that there are moments that I went.. "come-on... he shouldn't have done that..", or "oh man, that's so stupid".. Still, if you like adventure, little-bit of the national treasure kinda flick, you'd like this movie sense of adventure and its ride.

Michael Sheen was the best part

[punisherversion1 · 3/10 · 8 May 2020]

The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box Directed by Jonathan Newman. Written by Christian Taylor and Matthew Huffman

Movie number two for Angelique takes over the Chicken Shack is a small British young adult adventure movie based on a series of books. I bet you're thinking how amazing it is that they made a movie about the Mariah Mundi series. Wait you've never heard of it. It did make about 6,000 dollars at the box office. I'm not surprised. This movie plays as if you know exactly who this is. I didn't so it took a bit to catch up with who everyone was and what was happening.

I will attempt to explain the plot of this film. Please be patient and bear with me. Mariah Mundi and his brother Felix are separated from his parents who were kidnapped by a megalomaniac named Luger played by Sam Neill. He believes they know the location of something called the Midas Box. Legends about it say it turns whatever you put into it turns to gold. This is not true. Nobody knows what the thing does. Felix is taken by Luger and Mariah heads to an island hotel to find him. That's pretty much it.

Mariah enlists the help of a teenage Scottish maid who knows the layout better than anyone. This movie is a mess. The entire beginning before we settle on the hotel flies by. The movie can't be bothered to offer any real explanation beyond a basic set up. You don't learn much about Mariah and you should because you're going to be spending the entire movie with him. He is an older brother that feels guilty about what happened to his brother. He falls in love with the maid. It's a whole thing.

It is very difficult not to laugh at his name. It's not quite as funny Det. Harry Hole from The Snowman but it is certainly pretty close. It might have been a regular name back in the Victorian age but it is commonly associated as a female name. Now if the film just had him surviving by his wits and the help of the Scottish maid then maybe it might have been okay. This movie however has the gall to introduce an infinitely more entertaining character into the mix played to perfection by Michael Sheen. I believe his name is Will Charity and I have a sneaking, gnawing feeling that he is the Adventurer of the title.

He is a debonair type with a penchant for the theatrical literally. You can't do that movie. You can't have a character pop in who piques your audience's interest and then throw back into the blah story with ole Mariah. That's not cool.

This is a strange film. It races through its runtime while engaging in slow motion downtime. It feels rushed and inadequate at the same time. The lead is a glorified cardboard cutout of a human being. This is not necessarily his fault but the writing sure didn't do him any favors. I can't imagine anyone not familiar with this book series getting into this movie. There is a better version of this story somewhere else. If you decide to check it out, don't say that you weren't warned. I give this one a D.

weak but OK

[jeffbenefiel · 7/10 · 27 July 2014]

Harry Potter ala Steampunk. Yep, I think that sums up this movie pretty good. The level of writing is about the same with the same suspensions of disbelief. It would be an OK movie for young teens, like the Harry Potter crowd. Funny seeing Lena Heady being the same mean spirited woman she is in Game of Thrones, guess she decided she was Cersei Lannister in a bustle skirt :) Wish I could raid their wardrobe department for clothing, there is a celluloid collar manufacturer somewhere that was brought back from the grave for this film. I'm not sure it was worth seeing on the big screen, there isn't enough SFX that demand it.

Slow Pace and Weekly designed for sequels

[docm-32304 · 5/10 · 14 November 2020]

I was hoping for a great fantasy adventure film, but the writers and director clearly were more interested in starting a film franchise like the Mummy or Raiders of the Lost Ark than creating a great stand alone film. The pace could bore you to death and the acting only so so. The production and sets were the high point and were outstanding. However, not enough was put into this first film and the fact that a sequel never materialized, indicates what a let down this one was. The ending was so contrived and just simply stupid.

Interesting

[erallambert · 7/10 · 21 January 2020]

Interesting, on the edge of my seat the whole time

The penance for all your sins

[Maleplatypus · 2/10 · 2 February 2014]

What do you get if you combine a fair amount of funds (too much, that's for sure), bad script, even worse acting and terrible direction? This movie. You watch it and all your sins shall be forgiven, since you've suffered more than enough! Know this, you poor man: this movie is a curse itself, and fate more horrifying than the destiny shall befall all its makers. Don't let your children watch it (unless, of course, they are younger than 3 years) for they shall be doomed too. But the idea could be well carried out well as a movie by someone else. Anybody else. Even (God forbid!) Indiana Jones.

A word of advice: keep your sins and stay away from this "movie". Fires of hell will be a walk in the park compared to watching this. So it it written, so it shall be done.

worth watching and hope there is a sequel

[info-937-524562 · 9/10 · 1 March 2014]

This was a great movie for the whole family. A bit of a sleeper because it was better than expected. Shame it did not get the adds it should have so more people could have watched it and perhaps done better at the box office. I am surprised at the bad reviews on this web site and hope more people get a chance to see it. I am eager to see a sequel. The story line was good. The settings were full of interesting things to see. The cinematography was excellent. Actors did a great job of making their characters believable. This film took me on a journey, a true adventure and was not predictable. There was a mysterious air to this film. I could see some influence from Harry Potter and Indiana Jones and others but this film was better in keeping your attention without the use of sex, drugs, foul language, excessively violence or bloody scenes. Well done.

The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box - Not that bad, terrible, horrible as Alexander's Day

[roen99 · 7/10 · 21 October 2014]

I just read some of the other reviews and I can't say I didn't like it. So I decided to write my review. I really have to say that those were not the correct actors. I didn't feel any emotion in some scenes. And the way he was saving his brother. He was hurting him. Man, do the Heimlich next time. Or the part when Sacha's father died. I think she cried too much (irony). However, I have to say I liked the imagination and all other fiction stuff. If you want to see this film, make sure you are not in a bad mood, you have a big orange bowl of popcorn and a family member or a friend by your side. I think that would be the best way! Good bed-time story! :) Enjoy!

It was poo

[pdagless · 1/10 · 5 April 2015]

To quote my 11 year old daughter after watching this film "it was was poo and it smelt horrible too" and my 15 year old son added "it was like a freshly served cow pat pancake" really I have nothing to add to the review of this film It was really that bad. Oh Keely, Martin, Sam what were you thinking. Really if you are thinking of watching this film do not bother, it is 90 minutes of your life you will not get back. It has been a long time since I have sat through a film as bad as this and I am only adding more as the review rules require 10 line of text as a minimum. I therefore apologise for the extended nature of this review, everything we had to say was delivered in the first 4 lines.

Unwarranted negativity

[hollygriwach · 7/10 · 23 May 2014]

Okay, this movie is far from award-worthy, but it is nowhere near as awful as people think it is. After discovering it online and reading several mixed reviews, I had to see for myself. Yes, the plot is thin and predictable, and the acting is one-dimensional. Some of the characters are actually quite laughable. But it's a fun, easy-to-watch movie that is excellent for kids since there is very little violence. It starts out really good, but it gets pretty silly as it goes along. It would have been a lot better if they hadn't tried to make it so challenging. If they had made it what it really was, a fun, lightweight kids' movie, it would have been a lot better. But some parts (avoiding spoilers here, but you'll see what I mean if you watch it) are absolutely ridiculous. Had they not included those absurd sub-plots, this would have been throughly watchable and more enjoyable. All in all, it's not the horrible disappointment that people are claiming it to be. But if you go in with high expectations, it will be. It's nothing more than a fun, simple adventure movie targeted at kids that i, as an adult, still found more than watchable.