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On my schedule,
I have read great reviews, lots of action and still true to the book. I have only read the first two in the series but I cannot wait to see how they deal with the relationship between Commander Aubrey and Dr. Maturin. The sailing detail in the books is amazing. Hard to believe that Patrick O'Brian was not actually aboard a frigate during the Napoleonic war.
I have read great reviews, lots of action and still true to the book. I have only read the first two in the series but I cannot wait to see how they deal with the relationship between Commander Aubrey and Dr. Maturin. The sailing detail in the books is amazing. Hard to believe that Patrick O'Brian was not actually aboard a frigate during the Napoleonic war.
You won't be disappointed.
There seems to be a whole lot of attention paid to sailing detail. In fact all but about 5 minutes of the whole movie takes place on board the good ship "SURPRISE". Besides being a good story, it was fun to see how sailors earned their keep in the 1800's. Now I'll have to read the book.
There seems to be a whole lot of attention paid to sailing detail. In fact all but about 5 minutes of the whole movie takes place on board the good ship "SURPRISE". Besides being a good story, it was fun to see how sailors earned their keep in the 1800's. Now I'll have to read the book.
Lots more surgery than usual
I saw it Sunday with my wife. I enjoyed it lots of yelling, cannons and jumping about. Most of this leads to a lot of surgery so the doctor proves his worth. However, if you are not interested in that period and the sailing, you might get kind of bored. There were lots of navy/sailing jokes that most of the audience didn't get. I loved it. I liked the ending also. Markdb
I saw it Sunday with my wife. I enjoyed it lots of yelling, cannons and jumping about. Most of this leads to a lot of surgery so the doctor proves his worth. However, if you are not interested in that period and the sailing, you might get kind of bored. There were lots of navy/sailing jokes that most of the audience didn't get. I loved it. I liked the ending also. Markdb
One of the best
Aside from the movie, "Wind" this one is super. Great scenes. I can't believe the conditions that sailors went through in those times. Very realistic and a movie for the kids too. A little bloody, but not overdone. Russel Crow should get an award. John Richard s/v Jack's Place
Aside from the movie, "Wind" this one is super. Great scenes. I can't believe the conditions that sailors went through in those times. Very realistic and a movie for the kids too. A little bloody, but not overdone. Russel Crow should get an award. John Richard s/v Jack's Place
Thanks, Patrick O"Brien
I read all 20 Patrick O'Brien novels. They really are serial, and just get better and better. I hated to read the last few because after that there were no more. If the movie even remotely approaches the book, as it seems to have done, and if there are sequels, they are truly "no miss" affairs. But for those of you sailors who have not read them I cannot recommend them highly enough. Ivan Bekey H356 "Victoria"
I read all 20 Patrick O'Brien novels. They really are serial, and just get better and better. I hated to read the last few because after that there were no more. If the movie even remotely approaches the book, as it seems to have done, and if there are sequels, they are truly "no miss" affairs. But for those of you sailors who have not read them I cannot recommend them highly enough. Ivan Bekey H356 "Victoria"
Aw, C'mon John!
This IS about our boats. Don't tell me that you grew up dreaming about Hunters, Catalinas or Beneteaus. Chances are the first sailboats you ever learned about were the square-riggers of yore. Perhaps, in your heart of hearts, your present "yacht" is a somewhat watered-down substitute for those dreams (although you might not even be willing to confess this to yourself). And why do you think gun threads are so immensely popular among sailors that some bulletin boards have had to outlaw them? Right.....many of us think of ourselves as intrepid Nelsons, Hornblowers or D'Aubreys. Perhaps some of us feel more of a resemblance with a Morgan or a Blackbeard. However, give any of them a flare pistol in their hands and they hear the distant rumble of 18-pounders in their ears...... The point is: very few really want to be "John with the Jeanneau (or whatever it is that you sail)". So, just let sailors be sailors. Flying Dutchman PS I thought the movie was good. However, the amount of fraternization between the captain and his lieutenants and even midshipsmen was totally of the mark (as a concession to the moviegoing public no doubt). Even on many modern-day European navy vessels the captain usually dines alone unless he specifically invites someone to join him in his cabin. Especially the German navy maintains this type of isolation that makes the captain a bit of a lonely figure (except in the heat of the battle). HM
This IS about our boats. Don't tell me that you grew up dreaming about Hunters, Catalinas or Beneteaus. Chances are the first sailboats you ever learned about were the square-riggers of yore. Perhaps, in your heart of hearts, your present "yacht" is a somewhat watered-down substitute for those dreams (although you might not even be willing to confess this to yourself). And why do you think gun threads are so immensely popular among sailors that some bulletin boards have had to outlaw them? Right.....many of us think of ourselves as intrepid Nelsons, Hornblowers or D'Aubreys. Perhaps some of us feel more of a resemblance with a Morgan or a Blackbeard. However, give any of them a flare pistol in their hands and they hear the distant rumble of 18-pounders in their ears...... The point is: very few really want to be "John with the Jeanneau (or whatever it is that you sail)". So, just let sailors be sailors. Flying Dutchman PS I thought the movie was good. However, the amount of fraternization between the captain and his lieutenants and even midshipsmen was totally of the mark (as a concession to the moviegoing public no doubt). Even on many modern-day European navy vessels the captain usually dines alone unless he specifically invites someone to join him in his cabin. Especially the German navy maintains this type of isolation that makes the captain a bit of a lonely figure (except in the heat of the battle). HM
John is Cranky
John is losing his sense of humor because he can't figure out why he is having a continuing problem with his prop (see his posting). And when he figures it out, he'll find out how much fun these boards can be when people want to chat about things that interest them - including movies. How do I know this? HE'S MY HUSBAND!
John is losing his sense of humor because he can't figure out why he is having a continuing problem with his prop (see his posting). And when he figures it out, he'll find out how much fun these boards can be when people want to chat about things that interest them - including movies. How do I know this? HE'S MY HUSBAND!
Enjoyed the film ...
... greatly. Not even any mushy romance scenes. I don't care much for violence, so the swashbuckling didn't interest me, but the cannon fire was awesome. At times it did seem like that 1805 boat was motoring along pretty good. Most of the time very authentic. And those were real Cape Horn waves, filmed for the movie during an unrelated boat's expedition. We're new to sailing, but I know my wife is hooked because on the way home from the movie she was asking if those secondary sails were jibs. I said they were stays'ls and after checking my Royce's Sailing Ill. realized there were some of both. PG-13, I believe, and I don't even remember any bad language. Go see it. Mac
... greatly. Not even any mushy romance scenes. I don't care much for violence, so the swashbuckling didn't interest me, but the cannon fire was awesome. At times it did seem like that 1805 boat was motoring along pretty good. Most of the time very authentic. And those were real Cape Horn waves, filmed for the movie during an unrelated boat's expedition. We're new to sailing, but I know my wife is hooked because on the way home from the movie she was asking if those secondary sails were jibs. I said they were stays'ls and after checking my Royce's Sailing Ill. realized there were some of both. PG-13, I believe, and I don't even remember any bad language. Go see it. Mac
John is cranky - Great Toni Great: ;D
I almost fell off my chair laughing!! I'm still laughing. That would be something my wife would do. ;D;D;D Jim
I almost fell off my chair laughing!! I'm still laughing. That would be something my wife would do. ;D;D;D Jim
Henk and Toni. . .
are very smart people. I hope Toni's husband is chuckling too. Henk, they must have taken some license with the book. I have only read a couple of the series but I recollect that Aubrey does invite dinner guests. Usually just his friend, Dr. Maturin. Can't wait to see the movie.
are very smart people. I hope Toni's husband is chuckling too. Henk, they must have taken some license with the book. I have only read a couple of the series but I recollect that Aubrey does invite dinner guests. Usually just his friend, Dr. Maturin. Can't wait to see the movie.
Crowe Oscar?
Although I like the movie, I think that an Oscar for Crowe would be ridiculous. Acting drunk, shouting, and pretending to play the violin (badly) are not what I consider award winning. His co-star, Paul Bettany, was much better and showed greater range as Marturin. Did you know: Paul Bettany played Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight's Tale. Very Funny! Markdb
Although I like the movie, I think that an Oscar for Crowe would be ridiculous. Acting drunk, shouting, and pretending to play the violin (badly) are not what I consider award winning. His co-star, Paul Bettany, was much better and showed greater range as Marturin. Did you know: Paul Bettany played Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight's Tale. Very Funny! Markdb
All right, I'm a Hornblower fan
If the truth be known, as a young teen I read every one of the Hornblower books, saw the original '50s Hornblower movie and got the hots for Maureen O'Hara. Also recently watched the series on TV (believe it was A & E). I plan to see Master & Commander with some guys because Toni doesn't do movies with violence. ;-)
If the truth be known, as a young teen I read every one of the Hornblower books, saw the original '50s Hornblower movie and got the hots for Maureen O'Hara. Also recently watched the series on TV (believe it was A & E). I plan to see Master & Commander with some guys because Toni doesn't do movies with violence. ;-)
The Hornblower Series was Great
For a TV series I thought the Hornblower series was great. Usually movies like these are so transparent as you can hear the echo on the Hollywood set and see the fake-o storm waves and the prop-echo from walking across the deck but Hornblower was pretty good; pretty much only the fake-o waves and an occasional model in the swimming pool, but done good. In grade school for reading assignments my choices were often the "*beard" book, you know, Blackbeard, Redbeard, Bluebeard... Anybody ever hear of a Greybeard? Always wanted to find one of those lost treasure chests. With regard to Toni's post, I read it because "John" was in the title and didn't realize it was his wife until the last few words. Thought it was some other poster til then. I can sympathize with John, though, because something like a prop problem, under water and all that, is a pain in the you-know-what. Under the circumstances I think a really nice wife would give him a new three-blade Max Prop for Christmas!
For a TV series I thought the Hornblower series was great. Usually movies like these are so transparent as you can hear the echo on the Hollywood set and see the fake-o storm waves and the prop-echo from walking across the deck but Hornblower was pretty good; pretty much only the fake-o waves and an occasional model in the swimming pool, but done good. In grade school for reading assignments my choices were often the "*beard" book, you know, Blackbeard, Redbeard, Bluebeard... Anybody ever hear of a Greybeard? Always wanted to find one of those lost treasure chests. With regard to Toni's post, I read it because "John" was in the title and didn't realize it was his wife until the last few words. Thought it was some other poster til then. I can sympathize with John, though, because something like a prop problem, under water and all that, is a pain in the you-know-what. Under the circumstances I think a really nice wife would give him a new three-blade Max Prop for Christmas!
Looking forward to it....
I look forward to seeing it this weekend despite the fact that I am the one person in the entire world who does NOT like the novels. At all. And I have tried, really tried multiple times, to like them. I do love C.S. Forester and most other "Age of Sail" novels, but for many reasons I find O'Brian just unreadable. A minor quibble; the movie is misnamed. A master and commander would never have command of a frigate. That job is one for a post captain; in fact, being given such a command would automatically bring promotion to captain ("being made post"). Master and Commander is the command rank for a smaller vessel. Say, a 1981 Hunter 27. John G. New Master and Commander H.M. Sloop Dulcinea
I look forward to seeing it this weekend despite the fact that I am the one person in the entire world who does NOT like the novels. At all. And I have tried, really tried multiple times, to like them. I do love C.S. Forester and most other "Age of Sail" novels, but for many reasons I find O'Brian just unreadable. A minor quibble; the movie is misnamed. A master and commander would never have command of a frigate. That job is one for a post captain; in fact, being given such a command would automatically bring promotion to captain ("being made post"). Master and Commander is the command rank for a smaller vessel. Say, a 1981 Hunter 27. John G. New Master and Commander H.M. Sloop Dulcinea
...also another series
There is also another series of sailing books about the British navy (1700's) by Alexander Kent, you might have to find them in used book stores, I have the whole collection and it is one of the best...right there with the Hornblower series.
There is also another series of sailing books about the British navy (1700's) by Alexander Kent, you might have to find them in used book stores, I have the whole collection and it is one of the best...right there with the Hornblower series.
Hornblower/Aubrey/Rampage
Is the Kent series about Lord Rampage? I have one-- meant it for reading on the boat this summer-- didn't get to it. (Didn't get to much else in fact.) Before 'M+C' even came out there was a print book about the making of it. They filmed MOST of the scenes on a mock-up ship in a pool on Baja. This is called an 'infinite-horizon tank' because when filmed from water level the water of the tank appears to blend into the water of the open ocean beyond the beach. The tank is 300 ft long and 100 ft wide, has a 40-ft-deep area for the machinery needed to heel and rock the boat, a 15-ft-deep area for waves, and the rest is 3-1/2 ft deep. A 162-ft derrick holds lights, fans and a camera pod for overheads. The film crew stationed a guy up on that thing for a whole 8-hr shift. Most of the rest of it was filmed using a model on a New Zealand beach, and a very little of it used the Rose, a repro of a 1757 frigate built in 1970 in Rhode Island. The Rose was for sale or lease and they ended up buying it because the movie people thought it was too inauthentic. They 'chain-sawed' the whole stern off it and rebuilt it. This and the model were used as computer-copied clones for multiple-ship scenes. One more thing-- Thinking of that scene in Peck's 'Hornblower' (1951; BTW one of my dad's favourite films) in which they wage a broadside battle in open water, it never ceases to thrill and scare me to imagine these naval guys of old running into an enemy out there and just going at it-- regardless of the inevitable consequences of losing. If it were me I'd want to be within rowboat distance of land! --but imagine all those guys who were KIA or went down with the ship simply because there was no practical way of being saved. Pretty hairy... very akin to science-fiction depictions of spacecraft being blown to smithereens in deep space. No wonder my dad the WW2 B-24 pilot felt a kinship with those sea-battle films. (shiver) JC 2
Is the Kent series about Lord Rampage? I have one-- meant it for reading on the boat this summer-- didn't get to it. (Didn't get to much else in fact.) Before 'M+C' even came out there was a print book about the making of it. They filmed MOST of the scenes on a mock-up ship in a pool on Baja. This is called an 'infinite-horizon tank' because when filmed from water level the water of the tank appears to blend into the water of the open ocean beyond the beach. The tank is 300 ft long and 100 ft wide, has a 40-ft-deep area for the machinery needed to heel and rock the boat, a 15-ft-deep area for waves, and the rest is 3-1/2 ft deep. A 162-ft derrick holds lights, fans and a camera pod for overheads. The film crew stationed a guy up on that thing for a whole 8-hr shift. Most of the rest of it was filmed using a model on a New Zealand beach, and a very little of it used the Rose, a repro of a 1757 frigate built in 1970 in Rhode Island. The Rose was for sale or lease and they ended up buying it because the movie people thought it was too inauthentic. They 'chain-sawed' the whole stern off it and rebuilt it. This and the model were used as computer-copied clones for multiple-ship scenes. One more thing-- Thinking of that scene in Peck's 'Hornblower' (1951; BTW one of my dad's favourite films) in which they wage a broadside battle in open water, it never ceases to thrill and scare me to imagine these naval guys of old running into an enemy out there and just going at it-- regardless of the inevitable consequences of losing. If it were me I'd want to be within rowboat distance of land! --but imagine all those guys who were KIA or went down with the ship simply because there was no practical way of being saved. Pretty hairy... very akin to science-fiction depictions of spacecraft being blown to smithereens in deep space. No wonder my dad the WW2 B-24 pilot felt a kinship with those sea-battle films. (shiver) JC 2
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