I saw the movie adaptation of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin novels the weekend before last. I've been mentally digesting it, considering things, discussing it with friends.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie for what it is, which is an adaptation of a series of novels. There's no way the movie could do justice to the books. It's not possible.
The books are far, far too deep and far, far too detailed. O'Brian challenges his readers by not telling them every single thing that occurs in the story. Often, many important events in the storyline occur "off screen" as it were. Additionally, O'Brian uses the main character's journals, letters and third person narrative. If I were to have my dream production of this series of novels, it would be a TV series.
Despite the medium's shortcomings, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World [Oh, that title is awkward] is a great movie and worth seeing. Director Peter Weir took some of the best parts of the Aubrey/Maturin novels and brought them to the big screen, introducing O'Brian neophytes to what makes these characters so endearing, and allowing O'Brian fans to see it on the big screen.
I admit I was concerned about Russell Crowe being cast as Jack Aubrey. However, he pulls off a creditable performance, although I see Aubrey a bit fatter. Like O'Brian's Aubrey, Crowe plays the supremely competent, and strict yet friendly and jocose man we read about in the novels. But as I mentioned above, He's not fat enough, however, consessions have to be made to modern ideals of beauty, it seems. Heroes cannot be fat these days, apparently.
Paul Bettany plays Stephen Maturin. Bettany also performs well, but he is too good looking to be Maturin. "An ill looking son-of a bitch" and "a rum cove" were two descriptions in the books.
It would have been nice if Stephen could be portrayed as being a little more awkward as well.
But, like Crowe, Bettany brings his character's passions that are revealed to the screen with competence. Sadly, the story allows no time for Maturin to engage in the intelligence gathering activities which are central to many of the novels.
He does, however, perform his surgical duties, including performing a trepanning operation on poor old Joe Plaice, able seaman, caught under a falling yard, or some large piece of the ship cut down durng battle. He also removes a musket ball from his own side, in a variation of what happened in "HMS Surprise".
I was happy to finally see a movie set in Nelson's days where the captain isn't a tyrant like Captain Bligh or a single minded paper cut out like Horatio Hornblower. I like the Hornblower novels, but he's a shadow of a character when compared to Jack Aubrey.
The visuals, and the special effects are as realistic as can be. If I knew nothing about how the filming was done, I would have sworn it was done on location.
If you're at all curious about this series of novels and have not started reading them, this may be a good way to introduce yourself to them. Go see it if you like some action in movies, but also enjoy drama. I think you'll be happy with this movie.
Posted by Bob at November 24, 2003 04:28 PM