{"id":514,"date":"2003-11-17T09:00:28","date_gmt":"2003-11-17T15:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zanthan.com\/wordsintobytes\/uncategorized\/master-and-commander"},"modified":"2019-03-05T19:54:01","modified_gmt":"2019-03-06T01:54:01","slug":"master-and-commander","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zanthan.com\/wordsintobytes\/reviews\/movie\/master-and-commander\/","title":{"rendered":"Master and Commander"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nFirst, let me say that I’m not a big Russell Crowe<\/a> fan, on or off screen. He’s not my type<\/a>, at all. So the fact that he’s in Master and Commander<\/a>, did not predispose me to it; if anything it might have swayed me against it. That said, it’s interesting to realize that as a woman, I’m not attracted to him. But if I were a man, I’d follow him to the far ends of the earth.\n<\/p>\n

\"photo:<\/p>\n

\nRussell Crowe doesn’t so much play Jack Aubrey as become him. You never have the feeling that Crowe’s donned a costume. He seems of the time and place.\n<\/p>\n

\nCaptain Jack is not a “manly-man”. He’s not about bluster or muscle-flexing or bedding the hot babes. He knows it’s not about him. It’s about the mission. His eyes are on the prize, not on the mirror. No, he’s a man’s man: a man perfectly in command of the situation, the man to whom all eyes look in a moment of crisis, a man who inspires our confidence in him and instills confidence in ourselves. Things will be because he wills them to be. Is this the difference between ego and egotistical. Jack Aubrey has a strong sense of self and purpose. Only his best friend, ships surgeon Dr. Stephen Maturin, sometimes wonders if Jack’s isn’t a selfish purpose. Master and Commander <\/i> explores complex relationships other than romantic ones. Maybe that’s why this movie is such a tonic to anoth movie we saw this week, Love Actually<\/a>, which seems insipid in comparison.\n<\/p>\n

\nWhat elevates Master and Commander<\/i> above the typical action movie, is that it’s not about the action. It’s about men taking action. The characters in this movie are not pawns to the plot; they are not in place just as props for a body count. Nor is Master and Commander<\/i> about following or fulfilling a destiny (LOTR, Matrix, Star Wars). It’s about making your destiny. This is a time before doubt, before self-loathing, before twentieth century existential angst. Purpose is clearly defined. Everyone has a job to do and everyone depends on you doing your job. If you waver, you are lost. It is brutal, but exhilarating. The reviewer in our local paper<\/a> complained that this movie was too serious, that there was no joy. I find it incomprehensible that anyone could fail to be moved to joy watching this movie. Time and again you want to give a rousing cheer. It’s simply thrilling, especially watching everyone fall into place and do whatever needs to be done. They think quickly and act more quickly.\n<\/p>\n

\nIf, as a child, you were thrilled by the voyages of the Starship Enterprise, stirred by the words of Captain Kirk, inspired by the camraderie of a crew, then be happy. This is the grown-up version of that dream–meaty, not cheesy, with no saccharine or other artificial additives.\n<\/p>\n

Bottom Line: Highly recommended. Sign me on for another voyage.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you’ve spent the last forty years or so complaining that “they just don’t make movies like that” anymore, then you’ll be happy to know they just have.<\/p>\n

Bottom Line: Highly recommended. Sign me on for another voyage.<\/h4>\n
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