"...it actually isn't a rugby film you know"

[anteros_lmc]

esteven's lovely post marking the anniversary of the premier of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World reminded me of a review of the film I saw at the time on the BBC's Newsnight Review programme. I remember it vividly because the panellists, Germaine Greer, Ian Rankin and Paul Morley, gave it an absolutely scathing review. Greer in particular

Comments

[sidlj]

*takes notes* Terminator, rugby, masculine masculinity, grotesque decency.

With classical music!

Sounds like the best movie EVAH! What is wrong with these people? :-D

[alltoseek]

I have to agree with many of the comments expressed by the reviewers, to tell the truth.

When I first say the film, I hadn't read nor heard of the books. And I went just to see SHIPS! WAVES! STORMS! and I loved all that - it was great :D

But the film didn't sell me on the relationship between the Captain and the Doctor at all. Their friendship didn't rise organically from the film - it felt forced. To me it seemed like a complete rip-off from Star Trek on Kirk/Spock/McCoy, with Maturin being a combo of Spock & McCoy both.

All the plot aspects felt forced, honestly. I pretty much ignored them. They were in there for fucking with the audience emotions, they weren't honest. And interestingly, those hard-hitting ones were exactly the ones that weren't from the books - they didn't have to sacrifice Warley or anyone else to save the ship (in the closest example from the books, Jack heaves the ship to to save a squeaker, even tho they are being chased by a huge French ship); Jack never had to choose between "duty" (chase) and saving

[sidlj]

I came at the movie having begun reading the first book, and having seen the names Aubrey and Maturin with a / between them on many a slashfic website! So I was pre-sold on the relationship and expecting the duets. *g*

I do remember thinking, after watching the trailer: Who do they think is going to want to see this movie?

I was only interested because I'd gotten into the Hornblower A&E movies and started in on the novels. Mmmm, Ioan...

Missing the target!

[lefferson]

Well, as my father would say... everyone is entitled to express their opinion.

I don't know if any of these critics read one page of POB's books, and from what they managed to say, I would say they have not.

One went from a inane discussion of some women aboard to the deliberate exclusion of them. Apparently not knowing or caring why no women were in the film.

But on the whole, thank you for posting this, and once again I see why I don't read what critics have to say about a movie. Since it is obvious to me in this instance they did not see the same movie that I am watching this very minute.

Re: Missing the target!

[alltoseek]

Yeah, I don't know that they read the books - but they shouldn't have to, to enjoy the film, if the film does its job properly.

I think the discussion of women was appropriate - that the film ignored the historical (and book, for that matter) accuracy that there were women on board; in order to what - emphasis the masculine nature of the adventure? Allow men to show their sensitive "feminine" sides because they don't have to pose as all macho in front of the women? For convenience because the filmmaker just didn't want to deal with issues of women? Because women are "other" and don't belong on the "ocean battlefield"? I think these are all useful and relevant issues to discuss, honestly.

Re: Missing the target!

[lefferson]

I believe Peter Weir said he wanted to make a movie without women in it. That is all I got from it., nothing more.

[eglantine_br]

Wow. I am speechless.

[rifleman_s]

I think what I take away from all their comments is that none of them has actually read "...this unreadable tosh by O'Brien.

(They can't even spell his name!!)

If they had any inkling about the books they would have seen how marvellously the stories translated to film and - in my very humble opinion - Russell Crowe was born to play that part!

They all seem rather pedestrian in their comments. Thankfully we (and so many others!) now better . . .

[lefferson]

Before the movie I never thought of Jack looking like RC, but after the movie, I could not think of Jack looking any other way.

[alltoseek]

(They can't even spell his name!!)

As they note at the beginning, the transcript is from the subtitling done live during the original broadcast, so that's a little harsh for the poor typists scrambling to keep up with the speakers, typists who can't possibly know the details of every subject they are expected to subtitle on the fly.

this unreadable tosh by O'Brien.

That struck me too - but then think how often we are struck by the amount of nautical jargon included at the beginning of M&C - we warn ppl we are encouraging to read the books about it, saying it's OK if they don't understand or follow it, it's not necessary to enjoy the series, you can skim past it. Some fans even recommend ppl start with HMS Surprise, to avoid all that jargon

[alcyone301]

Thank you for posting this - so interesting. I imagine if any of these people are still around they are hoping there *aren't* any transcripts available. :D

[alltoseek]

The opinions of insane obsessed fen/fangirls aren't likely to impress or concern folks who engage in debate on a very wide variety of topics, and try to stay current and knowledgeable on many many issues *g*

[alcyone301]

Of course nobody would lose a lot of sleep over what fen think of them. No. It's the thought of being on record as having called the Aubreyad "unreadable tosh".

*imagining a sweaty, restless tossing and murmuring in sleep 'No! No! That's not what I meant!'*