I got em!!
Posted on 10/16/2006 5:23:13 AM PDT by John Carey
A film that came and went in 2003 deserves another viewing if you saw it then and if you missed it you might pick it up for a family viewing. The film “Master and Commander” with Russell Crowe gives new insight into the at-sea culture of 1805 Britain; and sadly, speaks volumes about the degenerated world we occupy in 21st century America. “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” strikes viewers as an old-fashioned sea saga that few thought Hollywood could still produce. This is not just a war movie but a lesson in leadership, teamwork and character.
Most movies today offer us pabulum and fantasy. They don’t encourage us to greater good but instead emphasize the darker side of human conduct. Drug abuse, homosexuality and fantasy often fill the screen. Computer graphics so sophisticated they remove us from reality have enthralled Hollywood and thrilled viewers. Many of our “leading men” are pretty-boy weak sisters who may have a certain appeal to 14-year-old girls but have none of the raw manliness and power of John Wayne. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves come to mind, but they are not alone.
It seems Hollywood and television producers want us to worship the gay, lighthearted and without-depth in our culture today. Powerful men are largely taboo.
(Excerpt) Read more at johnib.wordpress.com ...
Another interesting leadership study is by watching three different films of 'Mutiny on the Bounty'. Even with the same storyline and same script in many scenes, the deliveries differ dramatically with completely different meanings between Clark Gable, Marlon Brando and Mel Gibson as Mr. Christian, Charles Laughton, Trevor Howard and Anthony Hopkins as Capt Bligh.
yeah, I love that movie. P. O'Brian's books are great also.
They also serve who stand in the back row carrying a spear.
One of the most fun things I ever did.
Now is your chance. Some of the interior scenes shot for the film were taken aboard HMS Surprise now berthed next to the Star of India in San Diego and is open to the public (for a small entrace fee). Both are going to sea on the 11-12Nov and accomodations may be scheduled now to go aboard. Check it out. Of course, the Star of India is reputed to be the oldest active seagoing ship in the US and haunted by ghosts....just in case you were worried about becoming seasick...
http://www.sdmaritime.com/ContentPage.asp?ContentID=25
I love Master and Commander!!
Russell Crowe plays Jack Aubrey with excellence and the right amount of power to the part of a naval captain dealing with crew and personal obstacles. I became a POB fan shortly before the film came out and suprisingly, not because of Crowe, but since then have become a very big fan of his.
This film is one that got in under the radar and is one of the best films I have ever seen. Some say it should have won the Oscar instead of LOTR:ROTK but as far as I am concerned, the Oscars and Hollywood laurels are far beneath the actors and director who produced this film. Hollywood is no longer able to see what is real and good and worthy of praise. All they see is money and pandering and elitism.
Thanks for posting this!!
Works for me!!
Thanks. Bookmarked. This isn't the first time I wish I lived in San Diego.
I got em!!
I still think the single best "Jack Aubrey" moment in the movie is when the canoes filled with natives are alongside the ship and Crowe spots a pretty girl. The wink/leer on his face is vintage Aubrey!
The Manchurian Candidate?
I am in agreement with you here, although I do feel like I should say something in Mr. Crowe's defense, simply because I dont see him playing the same games in his publicity that other Hollywood jerks perform ie running off to Iraq to pretend to be a peacemaker and then deliberately inciting the insurgents against our men and women in uniform. The most political thing I have seen/heard Mr. Crowe do is say "God bless America, God bless Australia, and God save the Queen" (because he is a British subject.)
I am also of the opinion that the media we so love to call on the carpet for political manipulation has managed to take words of someone who does not kiss their *ss and use them against him so that he appears to be a "collassal jerk." Every interview I have ever read of those who have worked with him have said he is one of the most generous "team players" in acting that they have seen...IN FACT, word had it when M&C came out that RC himself went OUT OF HIS WAY to make sure that those who got less billing got lots of face time in the movie. I daresay that if he and Bettany had not pulled off their roles so extremely well, other actors like Billy Boyd and Max Pirkis could have darn near stolen the show.
As (an obvious) fan, I tend to think that the "jerk" we see is partly because of a media that uses his personality against him. I have heard nothing but good personal experiences about him.
And would love to see more of those kind of looks in another movie! LOL
I have the biggest crush on the Book Jack Aubrey anyway, so watching that scene is a personal delight!
It was used as a leadership training film in the Navy years ago.
John Wayne may not have been the master thespian. But I never had to work my mind around him portraying a man who was a MAN. When DiCaprio tries to pull off a tough guy kind of role, his physical mannerisms betray him and he can't pull it off. Maybe that makes THAT part of his acting deficient?
In his latest work, I had a couple of ladies tell what they thought after watching the movie. They thought he was cute, but also thought that he moved and ran like a girl.
This picture is from a movie that pretty much sealed my fandom:
ping
Yes, that has been reported among the fan-circles I roam in...but like you, have not heard anything more about it. Personally, while I would love to see "Jack at sea" - there is also a wealth of story in what happens to Jack and Stephen on land - a certain scene of a dancing bear and an attempt to leave France without being caught come to mind. Stephen's "spying" activities could easily make for some thrilling movie works, especially since Jack on land is not the same as Jack at sea. And it would be far cheaper for them to film more of it on land than anything else.
But Crowe is full up for the next year in "American Gangster" (Ridley Scott) and a remake of "3:10 to Yuma". I keep hoping Scott will take up Weir's mantle of doing another M&C movie, but I dont know how well he knows the books...
'Told ya'.
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