VANITY - "Master And Commander" Movie Inspired by Books

Murph's Place : Russell Crowe - The Far Side of the World - Premiere Mag article ^ | 10-31-03 | Alkhin

[Alkhin]

MASTER AND COMMANDER : THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD

Avast ye swabs who have been searching the seas for a Man's Captain and a ship to sail.

Coming to theatres on November 14 is Peter Weir's adaptation of Patrick O'Brien's series of books chronicling the adventures and lives of two extraordinary men living in extraordinary times : Stephen Maturin and Jack Aubrey.

I have just begun reading these books and am completely taken in. I am beginning this thread in the hopes of garnering other fans who are either long time afficianados of O'Brien's writing, or bookworms (like me) who are always looking for something new to read. While I am on the rather neutral side of fandom for Russell Crowe himself, am lookign forward to his portrayal of Aubrey, because I have developed this crush on the character, and wish to share! "Lucky Jack Aubrey" is a character that is hard to find nowadays and I am loving every book I read (I am up to "Ionian Mission" at this time)

A Glass of Wine With You!

[Wneighbor]

I ought to be reading and trying to catch up with you in the next couple of weeks Alkhin! You got me worked up about it again.

As an aside, I will be off work for several days toward the end of next week and am planning on traveling down to spend a couple of days with My Back Yard. Looking forward to it!!

[resistmuch]

I'm ready for this manly movie. My wife knows that shortly after November 14, I'll be insufferable. "England expects that every man will do his duty!"

[RLK]

It's probably going to be a fine movie and Crowe is an excellent actor. It would be nice, though, if Crowe hadn't gone out of his way to put himself squarely into the Barbra Streisand spectrum of politics.

--------------------------

I'm sorry to hear Crowe has moved left, if that is true. However he does have the scent of manhood about him and can turn in a good male role.

[Califelephant]

I'm a bit sad they were not able to get Ralph Fiennes to play Maturin; he would have been absolutely perfect.

I'll second that -- Fiennes would be the ideal casting choice -- and I'm a little worried that Maturin won't get his due in this movie.

[John H K]

If Diana is ever in one of the movies it HAS to be Catherine-Zeta Jones.

I can see her in a nice plunging-neckline period gown with a bigass blue diamond around her neck :-).

[Molly Pitcher]

A great series of books! The question is - will the movie be faithful to them? The trailer I've seen looks promising, at least.

[Caipirabob]

I'll have to check out the books. I enjoyed C.S. Forester's "Hornblower" series but they came off as "so dry" for a series of nautical tales. I kept reading just because I liked the hero.

[Mercat]

For the newbies who are just starting this series, I strongly recommend that you slog through the first two which are important to read to set the scene and establish the characters. By the third "Surprise" is the title, you are hooked. Also, buy CDs of the music which is played by Aubry and Maturin. Enjoy.

[VeritatisSplendor]

nah, Fiennes is way too handsome

Mrs VS

[Alkhin]

Mercat

I agree!! I ended up skipping parts because the technological bits got to be a bit too much for me, but even Post Captain was where it got to be interesting because there were women that Stephen and Jack were eyeing. When I returned to M&C after having gone through the books to The Surgeon's Mate, I found I was able to understand things a bit better...

...will still need that book of nautical terms though, and may have to recruit the help of visual aids to "see" the movements on the ship. Which is one thing I am hoping the movie will help cure (probably not though..I'll be too busy playing "Spot the Coxwain")

[Alkhin]

Is this the book you got your recipe from?

LOBSCOUSE AND SPOTTED DOG

Here for more information

[Alkhin]

Just out of curiosity, and this is directed in general, who comes to mind when you think of Jack or Stephen? Who would you have cast? It was remarked on another forum that Patrick O'Brien was asked that himself and he said that for Jack Aubrey a blonde Gerard Depardieu was close to how he visualized Jack Aubrey.

Depardieu is so...sooo....FRENCH though!!! I can't think of him as anything but "ICK!"

Would you believe my visual hits closer to Jack Hale ???? (yes, he of Gilligan's Island!!)

[buffyt]

Talking to Alkhin on the phone right now. One of my BEST friends on earth!!!!!!

[Alkhin]

BUFFY!!!! BESTEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD

[Alkhin]

Here's a still from a "making of" video...

[SuziQ]

I read The Golden Ocean which started the series, but haven't had the chance to read any more. FR is a real timesink, you know!

I DO want to see the movie though. I'm wanting to see Billy Boyd as much as Russell Crowe!

[Alkhin]

It will be good to know I will be playing "Spot the Coxwain" with other people of like mind! LOL

[Alkhin]

I mentioned that Patrick O'Brian said he imagined a blonde Depardieu would be the closest to his idea of Jack Aubrey.

Well...

Here's a blonde Depardieu...

and here's Russell Crowe

And I meant to say ALAN Hale Jr. *HE* is the one that keeps popping into my mind when I try to imagine Jack Aubrey. Turns out he was quite an interesting actor, once you got past the Gilligan's Island thing. Which is okay with me...I used to watch that show religiously...and I knew a guy in college who I SWEAR looked just like Bob Denver.

[VeritatisSplendor]

well, Liam Neeson is too old and a tad too Celtic for Jack Aubrey but I would have loved to see him in that role a few years back. Stephen Rea for Maturin (I saw him in Princess Caraboo - when was that? he's probably too old too now)

ideal casts transcend time

Mrs VS

[Alkhin]

So true Ms. V!!

Have been trolling the net like mad to find pictures of Alan Hale OTHER THAN Gilligan's Island...am coming up nil!!! frustrating...

found this one on a listing at eBay...for a b&w still...hardly recognizable...but handsome!!