What a great movie. In my personal top ten favorites. I don't know why it doesn't get more frequent mentions.
I am no history buff, or naval expert. Maybe if I was, I'd notice errors that would erode the impression I get from it now. As it stands though: it friggin' rocks.
Great action, great atmosphere, great characters, and near-constant entertaining English sailor talk.
As far as I can tell, it's a one-of-a-kind film. The only other contemporary maritime film of similar scale might be In the Heart of the Sea, which is good, but not excellent, and doesn't have the warfare context.
Can anyone recommend similar films? Movies with naval ships with sails and cannons doing stuff? Damn the Defiant is another in the same historical period, but has less action (still a very good movie).
Posts: 2651 | Location: Northeast GA | Registered: February 15, 2021
My only problem with the movie was the "Jonah" angle that took up about 30 minutes in the middle of the film and dragged it to a halt. I think if that had been taken out, the movie would have flowed better and made more money at the box office and leave it for the DVD.
The only other one I can think of would be Gregory Peck's "Horatio Hornblower" from the 60's or 70's. It takes 3 Hornblower books and puts them into a 90 minute movie.
Posts: 4652 | Location: Kansas City, MO | Registered: May 28, 2004
"But, as luck would have it, he stood up. He caught that chunk of lead." Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock "If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it." Clarence Worley
The film is drawn from three of Patrick O’brians books. But its principal source is his tenth novel, the far side of the world. Various opinions have been offered with regard to which Royal Navy captain most closely matches the fictional character of Jack Aubrey. While no specific British naval officer is a complete match for Aubrey, the exploits of two naval captains are said to have inspired events in the novels, Captain lord Thomas Cochrane and Captain William Wolseley. The film grossed $212 million globally in 2003, recouping its $150 million budget.
______________________________________________ Life is short. It’s shorter with the wrong gun…
Posts: 13880 | Location: VIrtual | Registered: November 13, 2009
Originally posted by CQB60: The film grossed $212 million globally in 2003, recouping its $150 million budget.
It lost money at the box office. Studios only get to keep around half of the box office. I'm not sure if we were at the point where it would need another $75 million to cover the marketing budget, but the movie needed to hit $300-375 million worldwide to break even and why we never got a sequel.
Posts: 4652 | Location: Kansas City, MO | Registered: May 28, 2004
I own it. I always considered it just .. meh. It ended like they were trying to guarantee an audience for a sequel, but there was no sequel. I guess because movie goers considered it .. meh.
My only problem with the movie was the "Jonah" angle
That part doesn't bother me much, if at all. I thought it was a reasonable injection of the superstition that's common in military atmospheres; likely to the extreme, in the naval culture of the period. I also thought it did a good job of highlighting the difficulties some young men surely faced in those command positions, as well as the phenomenon of junior-enlisted deciding they don't like a leader, and their conspiracy growing in a an unjustified manner due to the social atmosphere and the cramped/stressful conditions. It also served to bolster the character of the youngest officer.
Posts: 2651 | Location: Northeast GA | Registered: February 15, 2021
I also disagree with the ending "setting things up" for a sequel. He turned the ship around to catch up with the other (now friendly) ship, so that he could have a face-to-face with the Acheron Captain, so the Frenchman could formally concede defeat. Just a final hint at ol' Lucky Jack's stubbornness, resolve, and dedication to military tradition and protocol.
Posts: 2651 | Location: Northeast GA | Registered: February 15, 2021
The movie was great, and at least try the first book in the series (which I've read three times, and perhaps time to start again).
► 6.4/93.6
“ Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed nonage. Nonage is the inability to use one’s own understanding without another’s guidance. This nonage is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one’s own mind without another’s guidance.” — Immanuel Kant
Posts: 48040 | Location: 10,150 Feet Above Sea Level in Colorado | Registered: April 04, 2002
Originally posted by Biker_dude: I own it. I always considered it just .. meh. It ended like they were trying to guarantee an audience for a sequel, but there was no sequel. I guess because movie goers considered it .. meh.
It was originally intended to be a three part movie series.
It did relatively poorly at the box office and that’s why that never happened.
Posts: 35300 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: November 12, 2007
I have always been fascinated in the history of and movies of wooden Navel sailing ships of war. Master and Commander is an excellent example of these. It's a wonderful movie that I watch every time I see it's on. It has a great cast spectacular battle scenes and great cinematography. I have to second what DanH said that Captain Horatio Hornblower is a must watch if you like Master and Commander. Now this is a 1951 movie with a great director Raoul Walsh a 35 year old Gregory Peck excellent ships and battle scenes.The cinematography has got some of the brightest and vivid color that enhances every scene. I first saw Captain Horatio Hornblower as a child in the 60's at home with my parents after dinner during TV time. Never saw it again until I found it on DVD and bought it about 15 years ago and I've probably watched it 20 times. The movie made a big impression on me as a child maybe it's the Pirate in me I don't know
THERE'S NO EXHILARATION LIKE ACCELERATION
Posts: 43 | Location: South | Registered: February 07, 2013
