Movie Review: The Adventurer: The Curse of The Midas Box

The Adventurer: The Curse of The Midas Box 

Starring: Michael Sheen, Lena Headey, Sam Neill, Ioan Gruffudd, Aneurin Barnard, Keeley Hawes, Tristan Gemmill, Daniel Wilde, Mella Carron, Xavier Atkins, Will Payne, Oliver Stark, Sule Rimi, Arthur Byrne, Elaine Caulfield, Ryan Davies, Simon Blood DeVay, Richard Elfyn, Antony Gabriel, Marc Geoffrey, Glyn Grimstead 

Director: Jonathan Newman 

Dreamcatchers,  Entertainment Motion Pictures, Arcadia Motion Pictures, Telefónica Studios, The Kraken Films, Cronos Entertainment, et al. UK, Spain, Belgium, 2013. 

A powerful Midas Box can turn anything to gold, the owner could rule the world. There is a map that tells it location. In 1885 a nasty guy Luger (Sam Neill) finds the map. In London youngsters Felix Mundi (Xavier Atkins) and Mariah (a boy) Mundi (Aneurin Barnard) have trouble staying awake in their father Charles' (Ioan Gruffudd) lecture. They wander into museum where Mariah meets strange wounded man Will Charity (Michael Sheen). Will gives an amulet to boys' mother Catherine (Keeley Hawes). 

Felix and Mariah Mundi

Catherine and Charles Mundi

Captain Will Charity

The parents are kidnapped and the lost boys end up in reformatory after stealing food. Will helps Mariah escape but Felix is still captured. They must save brother and parents and stop Luger from getting the box. Mariah has to do some secret agent style investigations. 

Baddie Otto Luger

Reformatory awaits

Island hotel

In an island hotel owned by Luger, Mariah meets hotel manager Monica (Lena Headey) and friendly and poor dressmaker Sacha (Mella Carron). Of course Sacha at once belives everything Mariah tells about the box. There is also a monster that is something lifted from "Dr. No". Then there is the task of saving child slaves from underground mines à la "Temple of Doom" lite.

Hotel manager Monica

Dressmaker Sacha

Dr. No dragon, Victorian style

The movie is based on Mariah Mundi novels by G. P. Taylor aimed for young adults. The movie has the premise of Indiana Jones- style treasure hunting with some fantasy elements. The cast has good established actors such as Sam Neill, Ioan Gruffudd, Lena Headey and Michael Sheen. 

Will Charity is the liveliest character

Movie looks good. Unfortunately the movie never gets into action until the end. The solving of the mystery is almost too easy. The fun of the adventure is missing. For example films like "The Librarian" had some humorous winks, that were enough to compensate the holes in the story or effects. Also Harry Potter and Indiana Jones- films had some humorous moments and comic relief. This movie takes itself too seriously and only lively character is Will Charity. Also if the film was meant to be gritty, that was not very successful either. Minor characters come and go but their importance to the story is vague, possibly they hoped to introduce those characters better in sequels (not likely because the movie flopped). This is a movie that could have been much better, rating comes mainly from good production values and some excitement in the final half hour. 

Rating:  Average