"G&G" failed primarily because the liberal critical media will not permit a favorable portrayal of the South and the Southern cause, and eviscerated the film in their reviews. "Master and Commander" was a gorgeous film. I know nothing about the sea, nothing about the Aubrey and Maturin novels, but I sat transfixed, unaware that time was passing. So did my friend. So did my ten-year-old son. So did everyone I know. I can hardly wait 'til the DVD comes out. And I am a chick. If you think that movie was a disappointment, I can't even imagine what it would take to thrill you.
I LOVED Master & Commander, I failed to include "box office" before "disappointment"...I meant it was disappointing at the box office.
(Only problem is I know SO much about sailing ship combat, having helped to design and test age of sail wargames, I'm a bit too good at picking out the historical inaccuracies it did have :-)
It will be lucky to break even financially. Maybe with really strong DVD sales. I'll be first in line Tuesday to buy the DVD.
And I've run into many people and remember a variety of posters on internet boards claiming it was "Boring" which I find incomprehensible.
I went to see it with great anticipation. I have probably never been more disappointed by a flick in my life. It had boring pretentious dialog, and managed to make the Battle of Chancellorsville boring, which I would have given long odds wasn't possible. It was also at least an hour too long. Decent editing would have improved it immensely.