Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander

[ydejin]

Any Patrick O'Brian fans out there? The Teaser Trailer (http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox/master_and_commander/) for the new movie based on the 10th book of the Aubrey/Maturin series is up on Apple's trailer website.

I'm definitely looking forward to this one -- the Aubrey/Maturin books are my absolute favorites. However, I'm not real convinced there will be enough interest from the general public to sustain more than one movie. Ah well even if it's not a success we'll have at least one big budget Napoleanic sailing movie.

[Supertanker]

I'm a fan of the books, so I'll probably go see the movie, but I am disappointed by a few things (most of which were probably necessary to get the movie made). First and foremost is the casting of Crowe as Jack Aubrey. He is too small to play Jack! I'm also disappointed by the substitution of a French frigate for the Norfolk, but that is to be expected in an American film. Despite my nitpicky complaints, I hope it is at least as good as A&E's Hornblower series.

[Russ]

I am also disappointed that Russell Crowe is cast in this. He doesn't exactly leap to mind when thinking of Jack Aubrey. As far as the trailer goes, where's Maturin? It definitely looks like the focus will all be on Aubrey even though the books share time between the lead characters pretty evenly.

[graller]

I love the books - read the entire series in the last 2 years. Russell Crowe is not Aubrey! They needed someone like an ex football player for this...a bit of a paunch, 30's but with a core body that still has the size and muscles.....

[Miramon]

The thing I'm afraid of, well, I guess it is a minor point in a way, is that they are not going to be able to find any realistic ships to use for the film.

Of course there are lots of historic and replica sloops and brigs out there, but how many honest to god 1800-ish frigates are there in the world? I doubt there are any sailing at all. The only one I know of which even exists is the Constitution, and it's not sailing anywhere these days. Are there any ships of the line sailing anywhere? I know the Victory is a museum in the UK, but like the Constitution it's not going to be sailing anywhere either. Maybe at least there is something like the Diane available, but where are they going to find a xebec-rigged frigate for the (heh) Cacafuego?

I guess they can just use CGI for any ships that are far away, and can use made-up sets for closeups, but I suspect they will just wind up not giving a damn at all, and show whatever anachronistic or just plain wrong boats and ships they can get their hands on. Considering the amount of research that went into the books, it would be a shame if they cut corners for the movie.

[Miramon]

Well, you know they can make pretty much anyone look any height they want just with camera angles and cleverness, not even bothering with post-production silliness as in the Lord of the Rings. But it will be extremely weak if Aubrey doesn't look tall and burly and Maturin doesn't look short, scrawny, and ugly.

[Russ]

In the trailer, he doesn't look big and burly to me. Also, did you notice the title of the movie is Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World? It seems they are possibly going to mix and match storylines from different books. After seeing the trailer, I am pessimistic that the books will be followed faithfully. As far as using authentic ships, most people won't know the difference. I am more interested in seeing an authentic story with authentic characters.

[Anonymous]

I'm worried about this film myself. When I first heard about this film late last summer one of the things I heard (sorry can't provide a link) is that they are completely removing any reference of Maturin being an intelligence agent. If the movie sticks to the first book in the series that would be alright as it isn't really mentioned until Post Captain. I also read a quote from Crowe who basically said they didn't have to really follow the characters as portrayed in the book because O'Brian is dead. I'm guessing if O’Brian was still alive he would have raised a royal bitch about the way his work was being treated if he would have allowed the movie to be made at all.

[Miramon]

Well, what the hell is the point of the Maturin character even existing if he isn't an intelligence agent? It's like having the Gray Mouser hang around with Fafhrd, but not know how to use a sword. Sure, in the first book Maturin is kind of tagging along to some extent, but I think they found the Cacafuego (shitfire?) because of his contacts, though I agree he isn't actually revealed as an agent till the next book. In the sequence after Wray enters as a traitor, though which I think includes the Far Side of the World (there are a couple of Pacific trips, so I forget which is which), everything revolves around intelligence.

[Russ]

Well, Maturin is also the ship's surgeon so there's that. I agree that removing the spy stuff would be unfortunate. Looks like they're probably going for a straight action movie. I 'm curious which actors the people on this board think would make a good Aubrey and Maturin? After seeing FOTR, I think Sean Bean would be good as Aubrey. For Maturin, I'm not so sure. Ah, well. A true version of the stories likely won't happen anytime soon.

[Supertanker]

If you really want to talk about O'Brian novels, go to The Gunroom: http://www.hmssurprise.org/

There have been lengthy and repetitive discussions about the best person to cast for Aubrey/Maturin/Sophie/you name 'em. "The Casting Thread" even has its own webpage: http://www.io.com/gibbonsb/sag.html

Personally, I would prefer Gerard Depardieu as Jack, but I would accept Liam Neeson if he put on about 75 pounds.

[Jim Hoffman]

Personally, I would prefer Gerard Depardieu as Jack, but I would accept Liam Neeson if he put on about 75 pounds.

I immediately thought of him, as well. He looks the part. If only he could trade in his French accent for and English one!

[Miramon]

Depardieu is too old now, even with a proper accent. However, he is the physical type, anyway. I'm trying to think of someone who would do a good job as Aubrey and also looks the part, and not coming up with anyone. Maturin is I think easier to cast, you just need someone a bit undersized and dark, and the movies and theatre are lousy with people like that; so you just need to find one of them who can also act.