Jane Austen discussion
Summer Movies 2010
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July 2nd: Master & Commander
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Tonight's the night to watch Master and Commander. I can't put my husband off any longer! I am really looking forward to it! :)
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Ah, what an enjoyable way to spend the evening! I really do like this movie. The cast is excellent; Crowe and Bettany are well-suited to their respective roles. And, along with the nautical action, the battles, and the human struggles, we have a liberal sprinkling of humor.
Jack to Stephen: "Name a shrub after me, something prickly and hard to eradicate!"
"the lesser of two weevils" "Aubrey, pass me the salt"
Some of the scenes come from the first book, and some from later books, but the whole is very entertaining. It did help that I had read the book; it gave me a greater understanding of what was happening on the ship.
Jack to Stephen: "Name a shrub after me, something prickly and hard to eradicate!"
"the lesser of two weevils" "Aubrey, pass me the salt"
Some of the scenes come from the first book, and some from later books, but the whole is very entertaining. It did help that I had read the book; it gave me a greater understanding of what was happening on the ship.
Ok, I put this on my Netflix but I do have to watch Mrs. Brown first and return it though, so I will join in the discussion probably this coming weekend.
I hope you can get the movie soon, Sarah! We own it. I think I gave it to my husband for Christmas one year. I think Crowe makes a great Aubrey, big, gruff, with a boyish twinkle in his eye when the action begins. This movie runs the gamut of emotions, too. Startling to see how young some of the officers are.
Mod
Well, the Fourth ran by in a blur, so I'm hoping I can find a copy and watch it this weekend? Onward and upward!
I hope someone will be watching it soon or that Chris will add to the discussion. :)
Jeannette wrote: "I hope someone will be watching it soon or that Chris will add to the discussion. :)"
I will be back from vacation this weekend and hope to watch it.
I will be back from vacation this weekend and hope to watch it.
Mod
If the script doesn't follow O'Brian's writing closely, it certainly keeps the style and tone of the first book that I have read at least. And it was fun picking out the parts of the movie that I was familiar with from Book One.
Favorite scene: last scene -- for several reasons -- the casual realization of what had taken place with the French ship; the interaction of the friendship; the music-playing, just as I had imagined.
So were there no more movies made with Crowe as Aubrey? If not, my glaring question is why in the world not? Russell, if you're listening.....
Someone asked me the same thing. To have 20 books and only one film, does seem odd. I suppose if the BBC had serialized it, we would have many more.
It sounds like you did enjoy the movie. I think Crowe and Bettany were very good in their roles, even if Bettany is too tall.
I think one of my favorite scenes is when Jack agonizes over his decision to chase the Acheron or to take Stephen to dry land. There was a real emotional depth to many of the scenes in the movie.
It sounds like you did enjoy the movie. I think Crowe and Bettany were very good in their roles, even if Bettany is too tall.
I think one of my favorite scenes is when Jack agonizes over his decision to chase the Acheron or to take Stephen to dry land. There was a real emotional depth to many of the scenes in the movie.
Mod
Yes, I wonder what happened to prevent other movies of this. I know not everyone agrees here, and all due respect, but those two are good actors.
Jeannette wrote: "I hope someone will be watching it soon or that Chris will add to the discussion. :)"I got it in the mail today, so I'll be watching it soon, too. I think I saw it when it was in the theater, but I remember nothing about it.
I am looking forward to your opinion of it. I hope you enjoy it! :)
Sorry I don't like Russell Crowe, but I am still being a good sport and am going to watch the movie!
Joy wrote: "Sorry I don't like Russell Crowe, but I am still being a good sport and am going to watch the movie!"
Good for you, Joy! Get out of your comfort zone! Who knows where it will lead to?? :p
Good for you, Joy! Get out of your comfort zone! Who knows where it will lead to?? :p
I've watched about half the movie, and agree Russell Crowe is great as Jack Aubrey. It's great seeing what things were like below deck, watching the men climbing up and down the rigging, what it was like in rough weather, and especially during a battle. I'm enjoying seeing the books brought to life, but if I weren't interested in it because of that, I would probably think this movie was pretty boring. Does anyone know why they put the boats into the water when they were "beating to quarters" (preparing for an attack)?
So I did. Again, because I've watched it many times as a go to since we own it. I like Crowe, a wonderful actor over all, and would love for anyone to make more Jack movies, even if they do mess them up, but don't care for Crowe in the role. Maybe because I've read all 20 several times [great summer reads if you're not doing anything else and I've got a nice matched set:] I have an OPINION. I think he's got Jack a bit wrong and he's also too short! That said, if Crowe decides to do another he's got my blessing. Better Crowe than none.P.
I just watched it. Overall, I liked Crowe as Aubrey but I also pictured him as bigger and more of a presence. I don't know about Bettany - good but not what I pictured. I thought Pullings and Killick were quite fun. I thought the below decks scenes were good. I guess I liked it and thought it did okay as far as the books... or as close as a film is going to get!
I agree about Maturin. He's always seemed a bit gnomish [although the series doesn't truly bear this out:] to me. However, for those of you contemplating reading all 20 and maybe even giving 21 [posthumous and unfinished:] a go both A&M change in slow character arcs that make excellent reading - as if O'Brian needed more praise!
Master & Commander