This film is based on a novel written by Patrick O’Brian. In April of 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars, the H.M.S. Surprise, a British frigate is commanded by Captain Jack Aubrey. The current orders for the Surprise and Aubrey are to track and capture or destroy a French privateer ship Acheron. The Acheron is currently in the Atlantic off South America and she is headed toward the Pacific. Napoleon is extending his reach of the war. The Aubrey captain learns that the Acheron is a bigger and faster ship than the Surprise. This puts the Surprise at a definite disadvantage. The captain of the Aubrey has a single-mindedness in this impossible pursuit. This idea puts him at odds with the doctor and naturalist Stephen Maturin on the Surprise. Maturin is the Aubrey’s most trusted advisor on board and the closest friend of the captain. Additionally, the Aubrey has faced other internal obstacles and they have resulted in a string of bad luck?? Fortunately, the Maturin’s scientific exploits are used to figure out a way to achieve the ship’s seemingly impossible goal.
The captain’s orders are to sink, burn or take as a prize the Acheron. Captain Aubrey treats the men with dignity, kindness and respect. But, he realizes that the crew needs and requires him to be a strong leader. He cannot be their friend, he must show discipline and maintain distance. His nickname is Lucky Jack and the crew is counting on this!! In this film, there are prolonged and intense battles with violence and graphic scenes of surgery, bloody wounds affecting both adults and children. Crew members are shown being shot, whipped and committing suicide?? Drinking is frequent even among young officers. Adults make cigars and pipes. There are occasional, swear words and a few sexist remarks. If you are interested in history, boats, naval operations and war strategy, this film is for you!! 4* (I liked this movie)
138 min, Action directed and written by Peter Weir and also written by John Collee with Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D’Arcy, Edward Woodall, Chris Larkin, Max Pirkis, Jack Randall, Max Benitz, Lee Ingleby, Richard Pates, Robert Pugh, Richard McCabe, Ian Mercer, Tony Dolan, David Threlfall.
Note: Imdb 7.4* out of 10* with 200,137 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes, 85% with 217 critics, 80% with 141,087 audience scores, empire online 4* Colin Kennedy, The Guardian 4* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Common Sense Media Nell Minow, 4* out of 5*, age 13+, 3* positive, 2* role models, 4* violence, 1* sex, 2* language, 2* drinking, drugs & smoking, Amazon 4.& out of 5 with 83 reviews.
Special Note: Russelll Crowe learned to play the violin for this film and referred to it as the hardest thing he’d ever done in a film!!! The book is set in 1812 but the film is set 7 years earlier at 1805. This allowed the writers to make the enemy of the peace not the United States but France and England instead. England had declared war against Napoleon Bonaparte in this time period. This film was supposed to be the first in a franchise. Due to low box-office number, no sequels were made. This film did receive critical acclaim and multiple Oscar nominations.
Mistakes: The captain and his dinner guests sing "Don't Forget Your Old Shipmate" (at around 59 mins), a song composed by Richard C. Saunders, an officer in the Royal Navy who was not born until 1809. Dr. Stephen Maturin describes the iguana-like lizards that live in the Galápagos as "vegetarians", this is a word not coined until 1842. Throughout the fighting, pistols are seen to function well. During this time period, flintlock pistols failed to discharge up to 50% of the time and were considered a secondary weapon in close combat.
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