Ebert gives "Master and Commander" thumbs up

[drnuncheon]

The characters were even wearing their cocked hats in the proper navy fashion.

I also found Capt. Aubrey's hero-worship of Admiral Nelson to be rather amusing.

Fun fact: did you notice how Aubrey wore his bicorn side to side, while Pullings wore his fore-and-aft? Absolutely accurate to the books - Aubrey made a point of wearing his in that way even though it was not the current naval fashion, because that's the way Lord Nelson did it.

The entire movie was filled with little 'easter eggs' like that for those of us who've sailed with Aubrey through twenty novels. And if you haven't, might I suggest a visit to your local bookstore or library? The first book is Master and Commander, the author is Patrick O'Brian, the entire series is excellent (and I'm glad that O'Brian got it to where he did before he passed away - the last book ends the series perfectly, even if there could have been more).

J

 

[Particle_Man]

I also like the fact that they didn't dumb it down so "landlubbers" could grasp everything, it was liberally peppered with sailor-speak, and even tacking the ship I could find no inaccuracies in the sequence of commands or the actor's execution of them.

My dad is a huge fan of the books, and he says that O'Brien made no compromises for Landlubbers either. In fact, someone else came up with a book just to explain the sailorspeak in O'Brien's series.

 

[Particle_Man]

Drunken scuffles hardly make one a "real macho man tough guy"...

John Wayne would never have needed his female personal trainer to come to his rescue.

I agree that drunken scuffles by the actor are irrelevant, either way. But Crowe is a real macho man tough guy, nonetheless.

And more seriously, I was talking about his screen presence (which Wayne had). His tough guy characters have authority, not just muscles/fighting ability. That's why (and here I will make enemies) Crowe is able to make his characters more macho than even Arnold could. In D&D terms, Crowe's macho characters have Charisma, and (in this movie) Leadership.

And (back to the irrelevant drunken scuffles of the actor) I hope that you are not implying by the "female" adjective that women are too feeble to be adequate "back up" for real macho men tough guys. This is the 21st century. Go see Kill Bill. Or Indiana Jones. Or Alien. Or Terminator 2. Or Xena (particularly a Callisto episode). Or play Macho Women With Guns. Women can kick butt too. Mind you, I would like to see more movies with a woman in an "leadership-authority" position (Some Xena episodes might come close to this), rather than just a "kick butt" position. (And now let's see if Hong is able to reply before this thread is closed).

 

[drnuncheon]

My dad is a huge fan of the books, and he says that O'Brien made no compromises for Landlubbers either. In fact, someone else came up with a book just to explain the sailorspeak in O'Brien's series.

Well...not entirely true. Dr. Maturin was an utter lubber, and frequently had to have things explained to him (and thus the reader).

J

 

[Farganger]

Drunken scuffles hardly make one a "real macho man tough guy"...

John Wayne would never have needed his female personal trainer to come to his rescue.

I was thinking exactly this!

I decided my opinion, based on meeting Mr. Crowe once, was somewhat irrelevant, but on balance I would have to agree that Crowe *plays* a good tough guy. Let's not forget he's an actor . . . and convincing us he's something he's not is his gift.

 

[Krieg]

I would have to agree that Crowe *plays* a good tough guy. Let's not forget he's an actor . . . and convincing us he's something he's not is his gift.

I'll give you that one.

In real life he seems to be little more than a bully who falls back on others when he gets into trouble.

To be fair John Wayne received criticism early on in Hollywood because he made the decision to stay home & work on his movie career while many Hollywood actors went off to fight in Europe & The Pacific. The only time Marion Morrison put on a uniform was on the set of his films. He did however play FB at USC.

 

[Aaron2]

I thought the movie was pretty well done and wasn't a check-your-brain-at-the-door movie (like Revolutions). Anyway, I've only read 2.5 of the book and the movie almost seemed like a highlight reel. Several of the scenes and situations I kinda remember but I didn't read whatever book the movie is based one.


Aaron

 

[Sirius_Black]

Several of the scenes and situations I kinda remember but I didn't read whatever book the movie is based one.
Aaron

If I recall correctly, the film is based on two of the books. The first one Master and Commander is where they based many of the friendship scenes between the Captain and Doctor. However, the 10th book features the nemesis the crew faces and from where the screenwriters drew that portion of the story.

Any O'Brian fans out there wish to clarify please do.....