The perfect work with thick accumulation and thin hair

Johnathon 2021-10-22 14:30:55

Back then, I saw the preview of this film with a glimpse of it, and it was nothing special. Inside, there is a heroic close-up shot of Captain Aubrey standing up on the mast. I thought, after so many years, how could anyone watch napoleon films from the era of Napoleon. The producer probably has his head shaking.

After I actually watched this film, I knew how talented a group of people co-produced the product. God bless the blessed audience, Hollywood teaches us: History is not the game of the great nautical era, but the devil is hidden in the details.

The so-called thick accumulation is naturally the original author Patrick O'Brian's twenty series of works centered on the theme of napoleonic battles in the Napoleonic era. Is it thin? It was director Peter Weir who dared-yes, he had the guts-to cut a section of 20 works and still create a group of flesh and blood. The images of Captain Aubrey and Doctor Maturin do not humiliate the original author.

The trinity of classical drama, except for some artistic avant-garde films, few people now dare to adopt it. In a closed space, in a short period of time, how to tell the stories of a few people who have traveled across five continents and experienced decades of wind and rain is a tempting and dangerous challenge for any drama or director. .

Peter Weir unceremoniously limited the space: 55 meters long and 35 meters wide. He had no plans to film the story before boarding the ship. He also unceremoniously limited the characters: there are no women, only a group of seamen standing next to each other, but with distinct levels. So the two protagonists each went through more than ten years of legendary experience, and they were all overwhelmed by the stormy sea. The doctor just mentioned casually: Hey, I also know about spies.

So, just such a ship, just such a group of people, is such a story of hunting at sea. If the audience is only attracted by the shadow of the sword, then the production team's hard work is all in vain. The so-called master of storytelling is a master of describing "people". What's more, in the closed time and space, the interaction between people naturally becomes the theme.

Captain Jack Aubrey is a typical hero and a natural leader. But no one will be interested in a high-level hero. The attraction of Aubrey is his stubborn and conservative style. When all the crew members are advancing with the times, even the doctors have fashionable Napoleon-style short hair, he still wears a traditional ponytail. Compared with the first officer, his way of wearing a hat is old-fashioned. When artillery and spears were used in naval battles, he was probably the only person on the ship who had been trained in classical swordsmanship. He is the only one who has seen Nelson, and he is the only one who has the responsibility to convey the legend of Britain to a new generation of sailors.

But he is definitely not a nobleman. The real nobles on this ship are others. He admires and adheres to the strict dogma of the British Navy, and believes that although the captain can make mistakes, he must be decisive. He didn't understand the hardships of the hapless trainee officer, because he had always claimed to be a strong one: from the stubble tied around his neck to the drunk sailor, he had his own set of rules to deal with. In a nutshell, this is an old age hero.

It was the true nobleman who surrendered this strong man, a lazy and modern doctor. While the doctor used superb means to rescue the crew, he also rescued the captain from stress and loneliness. To put it bluntly, the doctor is the savior on this ship.

Don't think this is an exaggeration. The author O'Brian boasts that he has a personality similar to that of a doctor. An author falls in love with his own image, mostly because that image is himself. Narcissus was everywhere. The doctor is silent and restrained. The leading actor P.Bettany's understanding of him is that you can put him in a confinement room for a month. He was still refreshed when he came out, because there were too many things in his head and he knew how to entertain himself. Coincidentally, Professor Hannibal (the Silent Lamb), who has great magical powers, is also such a person, and he has already put it into action.

I don't know whose insight has chosen P. Bettany to play the doctor. Bettany has the peculiar British actor's heavy-duty, leisurely and sensitive temperament. His "anti-authority" attitude coincides with that of doctors. Even before the filming, when all the actors were taken to military training, Bettany naturally used the image of a doctor as an excuse to escape.

The doctor is not here to travel. He likes to observe things, from animals and plants to people. One of the settings of the play is that the captain, a man who obeys the precepts but does not abuse authority, aroused the interest of this Darwinian fan. So the interaction between the two men led to a typical Plato picture: the doctor's deep and vigorous cello sound perfectly matched with the captain's sharp-edged violin.

Among other crew members, there are many outstanding characters. I believe that many people who watched 13-year-old Max Pirkis’ performance would conclude that this kid will become popular in the future. Later, he really starred in Rome's precocious to terrible Odavi.

British actors rarely snatch shots. But they can taste research every moment on the screen. The hapless reserve officer Hollom, he has reached adulthood, but can't bear the responsibilities of an officer. On the ship with poor supplies, he always wore an old-fashioned old military uniform with short trouser legs because he could not be promoted and had no money. In a few shots, this lonely, frightened and desperate image was imprinted in the minds of the audience.

The devil is in the details, and it's true.


PS: That first mate Tom Pullings is really eye-catching!

View more about Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World reviews

Extended Reading
  • Brett 2022-03-24 09:01:28

    Not a fan of naval battles...

  • Susanna 2021-10-22 14:40:19

    The sea is a man's romance! The best movie of naval battle

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World quotes

  • Capt. Jack Aubrey: England is under threat of invasion, and though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home. This ship *is* England.

  • Capt. Jack Aubrey: Right lads, now, I know there's not a faint heart among you, and I know you're as anxious as I am to get into close action. But we must bring them right up beside us before we spring this trap. That will test our nerve, and discipline will count just as much as courage. The Acheron is a tough nut to crack... more than twice our guns, more than twice our numbers, and they will sell their lives dearly. Topmen, your handling of the sheets to be lubberly and un-navy like. Until the signal calls, you're to spill the wind from our sails, this will bring us almost to a complete stop. Gun crews, you must run out and tie down in double quick time. With the rear wheels removed, you've gained elevation. and without recoil, there'll be no chance for re-load, so gun captains, that gives you one shot from the lardboard battery... one shot only. You'll fire for her mainmast. Much will depend on your accuracy... however... even crippled, she will still be dangerous, like a wounded beast. Captain Howard and the marines will sweep their weather deck with swivel gun and musket fire from the tops. They'll try and even the odds for us before we board. They mean to take us as a prize.

    [all chuckling]

    Capt. Jack Aubrey: And we are worth more to them undamaged. Their greed... will be their downfall. England is under threat of invasion, and though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home. This ship, is England. So it's every hand to his rope or gun, quick's the word and sharp's the action. After all... surprise is on our side.

    Crew: Huzzah, huzzah!