Anybody Else Seen "Master and Commander" Yet?

[Paladin]

I saw it today, and I thought it was just glorious, the best seafaring movie I've ever seen, by far. An extra ration of grog for my smart-as-a-whip wife, who spotted a crucial plot surprise at the end of the flick, right when it was first hinted at.

Would be interested to hear what some of you other DU'ers think of it.

[kyrasdad]

1. saw it earlier today...

good movie... i was thinking there were going to be more sea battles, but what was there was good. I did like the ending... I did not like the self operation scene... no no no no... my toes are still curled...

All in all I'd rate it a solid A.

[Catfish]

2. Going to see it

in about an hour. I've read good things about it here so I'm looking forward to it.

[Dudley_DUright]

3. I saw it yesterday

I also thought it was top notch. There is a good review of it in Slate magazine at:

http://slate.msn.com/id/2091195/

Predictably Christopher Hitchins bad-mouths it (which makes me like it even more)at:

http://slate.msn.com/id/2091249/

[DrBB]

4. So now go read the O'Brian novels!

...if you haven't already. They are absolutely superb--most intricately realized historical fiction I've ever read, and I've read a lot of it.

Haven't seen the flick yet--it opened on my birthday, which turned out to be a day from hell, but I'm hoping to go next weekend. The trailers and publicity have given incredibly short shrift to Maturin, who is all but co-equal in importance with Jack Aubry in the novels; I hope that's just the marketing people being idiots and not a reflection of what they do in the film.

[Paladin]

7. I've Read Most Of The Books.......

....and loved them all. I think you'll like the treatment of Maturin in the movie; the actor is first-rate, and the script devotes considerable time and effort to comparing and contrasting him with Aubrey.

What a great flick! If Sir David Lean were still arond, this is the kind of production he'd be favoring us with......

[dofus]

5. Excellent movie.

But it's based on a series of novels which, although I haven't read any of them, are reported to be wonderful. So instead of a dumb Hollywood high-concept story, it's based on a decent work of literature. What an idea!

[GR]

6. Definitely In The Running For Best Picture...

I would contrast the treatment of casualties in war with that of Smirk who tries to sweep them under the rug and ban all media from photographing them.

I also liked Mystic River...there have been several good ones lately with some to come...It's going to be a highly competitive year at the Oscars.

[Catfish]

8. Great movie.

I just got back from seeing it. I haven't seen many movies in the past few years but this will be a favorite for a long time. It did just what I like a movie to do, it took me out of my life into a very different place and time. Acting was superb, awesome photography and the emotion it conjures is not cheap. I have a short attention span and didn't look at my watch one time and I usually do in movies because I get bored. I had to cover my eyes just a couple of times due to blood and gore but it was not overdone.

[Fenris]

9. If Weir doesn't win something for that movie, it's a damn shame

The best movie I've seen this year, hands down. Nearly perfect.

[Fenris]

10. I would also like to note that Russell Crowe is a terrific actor

The interplay between he and Paul Bettany (as Maturin) was wonderfully done. Finally, a director who understands character development!

[indigo32]

11. I loved it

it was exciting and was very evocative of the time and place I thought.

[Zero Gravitas]

12. Excellent movie

I really enjoyed it. I'm a huge fan of O'Brian's books and the movie neccessarily can only scratch the surface of the books, but I think most O'Brian fans will enjoy it. The portrayal of Maturin is not really the Stephen of the books, but at least movie-Stephen doesn't do anything that book-Stephen wouldn't do. Readers will recognze and enjoy many little details from the books.

[Ernesto]

13. Took my family yesterday....Great!

The portrayal of the midshipmen was a great teaching tool for me. My 2 teenage boys got a bit of a wake-up call: as in the DRAFT means YOU... My 15 yr old says to me: "Dad there were no women in that movie..COOL!"

[Lorien]

14. I'm looking forward to it

even though I hate Russell Crowe (I dislike the real person, but his movies are usually pretty good). I really enjoyed the Horatio Hornblower series on A&E, and I'm sure this film is heads and shoulders above those!

[libertad]

15. I liked it, as did my two daughters. I did suspect the same thing

your wife figured out. Something about the exchange gave it away. I recommend the movie to everyone (of all ages). The only thing a really young or squeamish person might not like is the two "surgical" scenes.