| Reviewed on 2003-11-17 |
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| Patrick O'Brien's legendary sea novels have been praised as the best historical novels every written. There are 20 books, detailing life in the British Navy during the Napoleon era. This film captures the sprit of the books and puts you in the picture so it seems like you are there alongside Russell Crow. Peter Weir's hugely entertaining film is authentic, panoramic and breathtakingly real. The year is 1803 and the H.M.S. Surprise is sailing the coast of Brazil with orders to find a French ship that has been preying on British ships. "Lucky Jack" Aubrey (Russell Crow) are attacked in heavy fog by the much larger and faster French ship. They barely limp away and regroup. The rest of the movie is a cat and mouse game with these two ships. Although you get to know the crew of Jack's ship, you never see the French crew until the end of the film and this adds suspense to the film as this faceless enemy proves a worthy foe. The key relationship here is between Aubrey and his ship's surgeon, Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany). While the captain is a military man who leads through charisma, the doctor is a man of science, who deplores the military way. Think of Star Trek and the relationship between Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy. Peter Weir has done well to emphasize characterization over plot and his actor are convincing. Enjoy a spectacular motion picture. |
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