There's one detail i think you might have missed. Aubrey gives Blakeney the book about Lord Nelson, a reverred man and courageous leader who is also missing an arm.
This is the greatest Age of Sail movie that has been filmed. It feels like they really work and live on the ship, and it is almost like a character. And also just a wonderful skillfully made film in every way. :)
The Hornblower TV movies put out in the late 90's and early 00's are also up there, but not quite the same production values due to budgetary concerns. Anyone who loves this movie should really watch those Hornblower TV movies too.
It's one of the best. The Bounty (1984) starring Mel Gibson, Daniel Day Lewis, Liam Nielsen, Anthony Hopkins, and Sir Lawrence Olivier is certainly a very close second. Its based on a real historical event the Mutiny on the Bounty in 1789. Its worth watching just to see such a powerful cast of actors together in the same film and the soundtrack is magical. Forgotten gem from the 1980s.
When Mr. Blakeney shouts, "We must board her!" I get so hype! This like 11 year old, one armed boy who barely made a noise while his arm was cut off is just like, "F this! Me and this group of misfits are taking the fight to them!" It may just be my favorite part of the film!
It wasn't in this video, but the scene early on when Captain Aubrey gives Midshipman Blakney (the child who lost his arm) the book about Nelson, there's a slow push in on a portrait of Nelson. He's missing an arm. Aubrey was trying to tell Blakney that, despite the lost arm, he could still accomplish so much. He's too stiff-upper-lip to say it in words, but Jack Aubrey really wanted to comfort this child under his command. It's subtle, but so heartwarming, and one of my favourite moments in the movie
Taken as a whole the movie is a marvelous object lesson in leadership and real discipline. Aubrey leads with a combination of personal fearlessness, clarity in his expectations and positive reinforcement for the work of the crew (e.g., when Mr. Lamb has the hold secured after the shelling by the Acheron). He upbraids Hollom for not responding to Nagle's insult, but then gives him encouragement and guidance (which the unfortunate Hollom is entirely unable to grasp). When Nagle and Wally come to his cabin with a mockup of the Acheron's framing Aubrey takes them completely seriously and gives them a "bonus" in the form of an extra tot of rum. His last instruction to Hollom? "Neither do you have to be a tyrant." Aubrey was strong, tough, demanding, absolutely committed to doing his duty ... but he also knew the name of every man on the crew and had some personal contact with them all at one time or another. He was a successful commander because he was with them, not because he was over them (though he certainly was).
This is actually one of the finest and most historically accurate naval movies ever made about this period. The little kids you see on board were a real thing: officers and sailors used to start as young as 9 y.o. Sometimes, the powder monkeys (those young kids seen carrying gunpowder) were even younger.
I also have to wonder how many of the men and boys are actually volunteers since this is also the age of gang pressing. As the most powerful navy at the time, also Napoleonic wars, the RN I imagine would have had a constant need of manpower.
@@drfye The officers wouldn't necessarily have been pressed into service, but the enlisted men certainly would have, and for accuracy it's 'press ganging'.
@@mountianfolks In those days, the first born son would inherit the family's wealth, the second son is left to go into the military. The boys that follow might got to the seminary. Someone else can correct me on this.
By French practice the powder boys were 'boys first class' (the oldest), with the 'boys second class' and 'boys third class' helping the carpenter and surgeon in the orlop and hold. Powder is dangerous to handle, and delivering it to the guns requires steadiness. Much of the movement of powder was done by landsmen. The "young gentlemen" were officer track boys - they would have responsibility for a division of the ship/a watch or duty position, alongside lieutenants and mates. They would be educated and trained for the lieutenant's exam, and potentially a warrant or commissioned officer's role. The British were less clear about their practice, but I doubt the risky and important role of delivering powder was allocated to the youngest boys, where strength and steadiness was an advantage. The station bills are quite clear that the stations for general quarters for the midshipmen were command and liaison roles - while the gun crews and men serving the magazines and bringing powder to the guns were all allocated from the 'men of the crew', with most of the 'non-combatants' stationed in the cockpit with the surgeon and elsewhere in the hold and orlop, where they could be helpful, and not get in the way, including in the lightroom (where the lights for the magazine were installed behind glass). There was a strong risk of fire if powder was mishandled on the gun decks, or in the passageway from the magazines.
I don't think it's necessarily underrated, every person I've seen or heard who has watched this movie has been blown away by it, but I would perhaps describe it as under-seen. It didn't get the kind of Box Office that it should have, but it's stood the test of time and is these days regarded as one of the best films of recent times.
Funny story on Bach. My band teacher called me Johann when I was in 5th grade all the way through high-school so I Stuck with the nickname but I spell it Yoehon. Didn’t really no the actual Johann till I was 7th grade but I just like the nickname.
Since watching Master and Commander many years ago, this film, though it won several Oscars, is seriously underrated and underappreciated by the movie-going public at large. Russel Crowe gave an Oscar-worthy performance as Jack Aubrey and gave much more depth to his character than he did to his character in Gladiator. It is a shame there are no sequels to this film so masterful on so many levels.
I disagree because he brought a great deal of depth to Maximus, which is what set the film apart as an epic. I get ticked off that it is somehow seen as clever and fashionable to diss the film and his role because the reason it was sooo popular (and still is) was because the character he created was so human as well as heroic. The scene where he discovers his dead wife and son is amazing.
Despite being based on fictional novels, this movie is widely regarded of one of the most historically accurate films of life in the navel during the Napoleonic War. One of my favorite movies.
I've seen analyses of the battle scenes and the universal judgment was that they were completely historically accurate, especially the final battle with the Acheron.
10:58 Not sure if anyone picked up on this but the reason why the sailors stopped singing once the Mr. Hollum (he's an officer) started joining in and Capt. Aubrey (Russel Crowe) gave him a disapproving look was because during this period Mr. Hollum was "fraternizing" with the crew, which at this time was a BIG NO NO. The Royal Navy prohibited personal interactions between Officers and Enlisted men. Instead Officers should hangout with other officers and regular crew should also hangout with regular crew. This was to keep discipline on the ship and a clear chain of command.
The other thing is, you might have to order your "friend" to a suicide mission to save the ship. That's what gets me about sailors. It's all fun and games until you have to close the hatch on a friend that's to slow to get out of a space to save the ship.
Modern military hierarchy still has the clear segregation between officers and men in warships. But in some instances such as bombers and PT boats, a 10-20 men crew with 4 officers and 6-15 enlisted had to work together as an independent unit in a small craft, often with overlapping duties to defend their craft. Hence the segregation was not as pronounced.
This movie does not get the credit it deserves! It really is a masterpiece! I love how you laughed every time Killick grumbled and mumbled! Sailors were notoriously superstitious. The mere thought or mention of Jonah was just devastating.
There were lots of superstitions about ships in those days, surprisingly two of the three biggest taboos featured in this movie. 1.) Girls and women could only board a ship if it was in port because it would bring the ship bad luck to have females aboard at sea, M&C did not break this taboo but the Pirates movies did. 2.) It was bad luck to kill an albatross, clearly the marines aboard the Surprise did not know this but thankfully Capt. Howard missed the albatross and shot the doctor instead. 3.) It was also bad luck to change the name of a ship but I'm assuming it is only if you do it officially, because they changed the name of the Surprise to the Syren in order to lure the French.
@@krashd About the second point, if I'm not mistaken the idea of bad luck of killing an albatross comes from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner". It seems that it was a common sport for sailors to shoot them, hence why it was criticized by Coleridge in that very poem and the act results in a terrible curse. To drive the point further, Charles Baudelaire mentions in his poem "The Albatross" how the sailors would often kill them for amusement. I don't know if it was considered bad luck after the period of British romanticism and Coleridge (although Baudelaire does mention it much later as well), but at the time this movie is set, it would seem it wasn't considered as such.
Ships have traditionally been referred to as "she". They're beautifully constructed. They protect you through the worst of storms, and from those looking to hurt you. If you treat your ship like a lady, she'll always bring you home.
Master and Commander is a goddam masterpiece - and is often such a forgotten film, it was actually nominated for several academy awards, unfortunately for the film, it just so happened to come out the same year as LOTR: Return of the King, which just wiped the floor with the academy, but it makes me glad to see that today people are almost rediscovering what an incredible film M&C is
Absolutely! Cannot recreate the practical presence of that time period of Sailing. Even though Pirates of Caribbean is a blockbuster fantasy epic with Legolas, it’s more fantastical while M & C is just “you’re there!”
It also came out the same year as the first Pirates movie, which probably hurt it at the box-office (otherwise the planned sequels might have materialized).
One of the most powerful characters in this story was never onscreen - that being Lord Nelson. His legend is so great that it casts a huge shadow on Jack. Every character except Stephen sees Lord Nelson as absolutely beyond reproach. Every time Jack is tempted to be cautious, play it safe, give up the chase due to treacherous conditions... he knows that Lord Nelson would prevail and be victorious. It's as if Lord Nelson was on his ship, in a retired capacity, just watching him, weighing him, judging him. Just the mere knowledge of Lord Nelson's implausible victories completely destroyed any plausible excuse for failure. So much weight on Jack's shoulders - and in the end how many lives did he save by taking Acheron off the seas? So many merchant ships and lesser British warships that the Acheron, being faster, stronger, with more powerful guns, could have sunk.
very true, love jack's first story of him. Though Jack's character is actually partially based on another mythical British naval legend, one who perhaps even outshined Nelson with his deeds. There is a video done by Kings and Generals you should definitely check out about Thomas Cochrane if you don't know of him, his life was just crazy.
Lord Horatio Nelson is considered one of the finest Admirals in the history of the world. His battles were legendary and his men's love for him was almost religious.
In St. Paul's Cathedral there was a lavish sarcophagus made for a Cardinal in the 1500's. It genuinely looks like the tomb of a god. Due to protestantism becoming the mainstream Christian branch in England, the Cardinal fled the country and the sarcophagus was never used for 300 years. The English never buried anyone in the sarcophagus as they felt they hadn't seen anyone worthy of it. They buried Nelson in it.
We took his arm with a cannon ball when he was defeated trying to invade the Canary Islands and an spanish shooter killed him in Trafalgar. He was a good admiral for sure but a little overrated.
@@kennyclayton1 french sooter? the french were running away to the spanish port of Cadiz... I don't even know why in the movie they're chasing a french ship, considering how bad sailors french were. A spanish ship would be more fitting. Or an american one, like in the book
@@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures Hear him! I also like “you are like a bear in a whore’s bed” - a classic Aubreyism. Lucky Jack often mangled well know sayings such as “a bear with a sore head”.
@@broadsword6650 Glorious! I've also always enjoyed Maturin's description of his friend's mother-in-law as, "... the most unromantic beast that ever urged her squat bulk across the face of the protesting earth." :D
The Age of Sail is a fascinating subject. Those ships were the most sophisticated vehicles that human beings had ever constructed up to that point and the science of designing, building, and operating them was cutting-edge for the time. Military vessels in particular were always overcrewed...this was mainly due to the expectation of losses from accidents, disease, and casualties in battle; but also because the main objective in naval combat was not to sink or destroy enemy ships but to capture them as 'prizes', which required large boarding forces. Naval service could be a very lucrative profession (particularly for the officers who came from the nobility) because any captured ship that was sailed into a friendly port would be assessed for the value of the hull (as well as any equipment and/or cargo it was carrying). A court would adjudicate and the ship and its contents could be purchased directly by the government or sold privately at auction...however, it was legislated that the crew would receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale as 'prize money', which was split between the captain, officers and the common sailors. So for many men the risk and discomfort was worth the potential fortune that they could earn if they were lucky.
it is. all the different nots, maneuvres but also knowledge you had to have about you environment... time of day, your location based on stars and maps, weather conditions, military tactics how and why your ship works/sails like it does and so on. in that regard, we may have technologically progressed but I feel in terms of being well rounded, great and hard working people, we have regressed. Sailors were a total separate breed of people and I guess they still are today but what people had to endure and be able to do in these times never stops to amaze me. Goes not only for naval ships but also for people who travelled to distant lands, seeing exotic animals and plants for the first time, maybe even indigenous people and so on.
A fantastic movie. Lord Nelson is considered the greatest Naval Sealord the UK had ever seen. His statue is the main focal point of Trafalgar Square. The "children" were part of the Navy back in the day and were equally important crew members. This film was very historically accurate. Glad you enjoyed it.
Seeing your comment about the men on the mast/yardarm reminded me: A lifetime ago when I was in the Navy,. We were in a storm very similar to that one portrayed. Although we were on a larger modern Navy ship, we were rocking and rolling, heeling over side to side. And then our port running light went out. Which is the red light on the end of the yardarm (that's the horizontal pole sticking out near the tops of the masts). Except in times of war, ships at sea MUST have that light illuminated. And unfortunately, that day it was my job to go up and repair it. As I climbed that ladder 100+ feet above the water and then shimmied my way out to the end of the yardarm, with the wind and the rain whipping...even though I was tied off, it was...ahem...quite an experience looking straight down at the ocean as the ship heeled over to port...and then even MORE of an experience as she then heeled over to starboard and i was looking straight down at the ocean again (from the tip of the PORT yardarm!) Also, as others have likely already said, the boys aboard that ship were midshipmen, essentially junior officers being trained to become senior officers. So even the blond boy who lost his arm outranked the oldest most grizzled deckhand/gunner. This was the way of things in the 19th century navies around the world.
This whole movie is like watching a painting in motion! So many gorgeous shots, especially of the Galapagos! Fun fact, this is the only film that has been allowed to film there!
Cutting the ropes is one of those command decisions that has to be made, unfortunately. In a storm like that if they hadn't cut the ropes, the ropes would have de-stabilized the ship in an already unstable environment, and greatly increase its risk of capsizing. If it goes over, everyone dies, the mission fails, etc. It is terribly unfortunate, but has to be done in conditions like that. It is especially true for a sailing ship relying on windpower, but even a modern ship with an engine has to angle itself very carefully in heavy seas to avoid swamping and rolling over.
Yeah once those top sails broke and fell in, the added drag to one side would have swamped the whole ship as it forced the ship to list heavily in that direction :( :( :(
That part shows the burden of leadership. I found it particularly sad when all the men below deck cheer when the ship rights itself after they cut the ropes, unaware of the cost of saving themselves and the ship.
@Adam Grant Military officers of that time were given substantial leeway for judging the changing local situation. This didn't change too much until electronic communication came into being, with telegraph and then radio. But even these could take a few days for a ship at sea as the radio needed the right atmospheric conditions to skip around the earth's curve and there would be a series of stations relaying the message each direction.
there's a wonderful episode of star trek TNG where troi is taking the test for a promotion and she keeps failing it until she realizes her first priority is the ship, not the men, and she finally orders one of the men to their death to save the ship. so yeah, the captain knows, the men are important, but the ship is life itself.
My favorite role of his is in The Mummy with Tom Cruise. His acting in it is one of the few good points of the movie (I give it a 6/10). This is his best movie overall :)
I loved the subtle humor of the scenes on the Galapagos, the implication being that if the ship had stayed longer the doctor might have discovered the principles of evolution long before Darwin. I also loved the reference to Coleridge’s “The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.” The old seaman shoots the albatross, a symbol of good luck - and accidentally shoots the doctor.
Russell Crowe is simply brilliant and I absolutely love this film, especially the sound editing and the cinematography. Every shot could be a picture on my wall. My favorite film after Lord of the Rings.
THIS!!!!! This is the one!! Most point to Gladiator as the pinnacle of Crowe! This is the one and also an extremely underrated movie. This has been lauded by historians and is a largely practical effects movie. Can't wait!!!!
Gladiator, Master and Commander, A Beautiful Mind..... Russel Crowe kills it and in my opinion is underrated as an actor.. He's seldom mentioned in his generation as top 5
She has been the flagship of the First Sea Lord since October 2012 and is the world's oldest naval ship still in commission, with 243 years' service as of 2021.
@@mrjohn.whereyoufrom Never understood why she is still commissioned as she's been in drydock for the past 99 years. She might be 40 years older than USS Constitution but Constitution can still sail under her own power and does so regularly.
@@krashd Probably due to her actions at Trafalgar resulting in the defeat of the french and Spanish navy and enforcing Britain’s domination of the open seas. Also carried back to England, Nelson’s body.
@@mrjohn.whereyoufrom Apparently a First Lord of the Admiralty in the 19th century had decided there was no point keeping the Victory around and signed the order to break her up. He happened to mention it to his wife over dinner and she insisted that he needed to go back to his office that minute and rescind the order.
Like the knights of the middle-ages, officers in this era were mostly from wealthy and priviliged families. They typically entered service aroound 12-13 years old as a midshipman than became a commissioned officer after ~6 years of service and they "looked" 20.
Royal Navy was still using 15-18 year olds as late as the start of WW2. In 1939, 134 were killed in when HMS Royal Oak was sunk in Scapa Flow by a U-boat (shameless plug for you to review 'Das Boot')
This is one of the best naval films I've ever seen, and does a fantastic job of not cutting out the rough or mundane stuff to make it more "exciting". It's a fantastic "slice of life" story from its time and place.
The music that plays during Worley's death scene and the funeral scene at the end is "Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis" composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams more than a century ago. The entire ~15-minute piece is available on RUclips and it's one of the most beautiful pieces of music... Ever. It's incredibly beautiful and moving. The respect I had for this movie shot up higher than I ever thought possible when I heard it in this movie!
The soundtrack to this film is absolutely incredible. The use of period correct classical music (fantasia on a theme...just, it' doesn't get better) just makes this one of the comfiest films ever made.
@@alanhigh8125 A tiny bit anachronistic, perhaps, but the Tallis choral is from the 1600's, so we'll allow it. Just think, Ludwig Van was premiering the 5th in Vienna at the exact time poor Aubrey & Maturin were engaging on the far side of the world..
this movie is so good AND it is so accurate in its depiction of life at sea in the age of sail..........its so accurate that for some years the Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth used clips from it demonstrate period gun drills....... its well acted, brilliantly directed, and is probably the best movie of its genre ever.........Russel Crowe came to Portsmouth while filming this movie just to walk the decks of Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, (which is preserved and open to the public as a museum ship) in order to get a "feel" for what these ships were actually like..........that "feel" is very evident in this entire movie
I adore this film and I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it. You’re the first reactor I’ve seen comment on the relationship between Stephen and Blakeney, which I really like - even though one is a grown man and the other is a boy they seem to look out for each other and share a lot of interests. The books are also really good and really show the complexities of the friendship between Stephen and Jack. Thanks for reacting to this gem of a movie!
One of the sea shanties that the crew sings is the same one we hear Quint singing in Jaws: "Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies, farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain."
As Capt Aubrey says to Lord Blakeney: “You really should read the book!” The story in the film is drawn from at least three of the 20 novels in the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian (and none of those three is Master & Commander, the start of the series!). The latest news is that a new series of films based on the books is in development, still at the scriptwriting stage. A long way to go before anything reaches the screen but exciting nonetheless. I wish them Godspeed - there isn’t a moment to lose!
The books are great, but I feel more confident than with any other media in saying they are not for everyone. They are incredibly genuine feeling because O'Brian deliberately writes them in the fashion of a contemporary novel for the era, and that combined with the massive density of sailing jargon means that you really need to be in the right headspace for them, imo. I would only recommend them for people who already have a strong interest in historical fiction.
@@JPH1138 I get what you’re saying. I think most people who finish the first will be hooked, but many might give up part way through Master & Commander. However, I’d recommend them to any intelligent reader with imagination and a love of adventure. They are exciting, amusing, intriguing, packed with amazing characters and detail, and they transport the reader to a very different time and place. They deal with violence but unlike, say Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels, they are never gratuitous or revel in the horror and gore.
I usually recommend that people try one of the fun later ones first, and if that lights their fire to then go back and start from the beginning. That usually suckers them in. 😈
Being "becalmed", as we saw in the scenes ending with the young officer's suicide, was the terror of every sailor, even moreso than storms. The ocean is properly thought of as a "blue desert"; despite the popular idea that you can find life anywhere, much of the ocean's surface consists of vast tracts of empty water. Being becalmed meant burning through your supplies of food and, more importantly, fresh water, without ever knowing if the wind would return before your agonizing drawn-out death.
Yes. I the atlantic there is a region thats called the (german) Ross Kalmen (Horse calms). Thats because the spanish often had to eat their horses if they lost their wind there.
When the officers were playing 'classical' music you have to remember they were playing 'contemporary' music like we might play jazz from the 20's, blues or rock from the 60's or popular music from the 2020's Great job PiB
I was captain of the Private Armed Barque Lioness for five years. This movie is a treat to watch as they accurately portrayed the efforts needed to control a "square-rigger" under sail. I appreciate your level of emotional imvolvement in the story. Thank you.
Russell Crowes character is actually based off of a very famous Napoleonic wars British Captain Lord Thomas Cochrane. His real life exploits are so utterly insane. He captured multiple ships that were x2 to x3 bigger than his own ship with significantly more firepower on those ships. With a crew of under a hundred capturing crews over 200 in size.
Yeah, I read all like 21 books They're pretty impressive knowing the back story makes it all the better. You have to learn some nautical language which takes some adjustment but what they did is compressed 2 different Books for the movie from right in the middle of the series.
the movie actually changed a key element of this story, in the novel it was infact an American ship - the USS Norfolk - which was the adversary of Jack Aubrey. the studio changed it as they feared an American audience would find it hard to root against an American ship.
Correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a long time since I read the book. As I recall they also never came to blows in the book as the war ended before the two encountered each other.
You need to watch 'Das Boot' - yes, it has subtitles, but it's another incredible movie about the sea; this time on a German U-Boat during WWII. It is truly a serious work of cinematic and acting genius!
I agree. Das Boot is incredible. I have the Director’s Cut myself, but I don’t regret it one bit. Similar to All Quiet On The Western Front, you feel like rooting for the German crew just to survive. Despite being on the “enemy” side, for lack of better phrasing, the U-96 crew was just trying to make it out in one piece.
In the past (and not too distant, like our grandparents and before), as soon as you hit puberty, you're considered an adult and treated as such. You're expected to work and hold your own.
@@adaeptzulander2928 Sometimes I think we need to go back to that. People point out how horrible life was back then and that being a reason, but I say humbug. Our medical technology, and working quality is so much higher now, there really is no reason that we aren't putting younger kids into apprenticeship situations more often. I am from the age of "don't worry you don't have to work until you're ready" Went to school, went to college... now I'm too lazy to do shit I need to do, and I honestly believe that's because of this nonchalant idea that it's perfectly okay for teens, and younger kids to not work, or at least start learning something.
Trivia: Captain Jack Aubrey wasn't a real person, but he is based on a real ship's captain from that era, Lord Thomas Cochrane, who was an insanely gifted naval officer, who almost never lost an engagement, even with the odds drastically against him. The French nicknamed him The Sea Wolf. The Admiralty in England hated him, and gave him just a small schooner to command in the Mediterranean against the entire French navy, but that didn't stop him from bagging 53 enemy ships, many much larger than his. (After the war, he left for Chile and helped them build their navy, then went to Brazil and did the same there, carrying on his amazing naval skills. He literally once sailed into an enemy port with one ship, and they just surrendered the whole port to him rather than fight him, based solely on his reputation!)
@@St4rryN1ght760 Cochrane was a big mouth, basically. He was always picking a scrap with someone in the Admiralty, disagreeing with their policies, showing general disrespect. He wasn't easy to get along with, apparently.
This was my dads favorite movie from the last 20 years. Whenever hed get back from some movie my mom dragged him to hed always comment " how come they dont make ones like M and C anymore?". Awesome movie. Does the books more than proud.
Russell Crowe was on a roll when this was made. He was knocking out a slew of great films. Cinderella Man, The Insider, A Beautiful Mind, L.A. Confidential, and of course Gladatore. His ten-year run at the top of Hollywood was quite EPIC.
@@dirus3142 Strange that you say that as in March the studio announced that they are making another Jack Aubrey movie, a prequel to M&C. So it only took them 18 years to get around to it.
You watched (/posted) this one day after the 4th year anniversary of my grandfather’s passing. He was in the navy. He took me to see this movie a long time ago when it came out in theaters. Taught me a lot about what sea life was like. Thank you for bringing back more fond memories of him to me.
This film is a modern classic. I have read all of Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin novels and this film is a brilliant adaptation. Kudos to the young lady for watching and enjoying it.
The Bounty (1984) starring Anthony Hopkin, Mel Gibson, Lawrence Olivier, Edward Fox and Daniel Day-Lewis is another good movie about the Age of Sail in the British Royal Navy.
"Was Lord Nelson real? He sounds like a great sea captain..." Oh, my, he was not only real, he may have been the greatest ever. He always won. He won with different tactics every time. And sometimes he won by disobeying direct orders. Before the time of his final battle, he had lost an eye and an arm. His men loved him.
As a Captain Lord Nelson spoke of patenting his method of boarding a French Ship of the line when he boarded it from another French ship he captured. Lord Nelson won a series of fleet actions where he lost various pieces of himself culminating in his life at Trafalgar. His victory saved England from French and Spanish invasion.
I remember being in Trafalgar square in the 90's. I asked a random passerby who the man was that had lions around him, and holy cow did I get a history lesson. I read a biography about him on the flight home... That was a good book to give a young English officer that just lost his arm
For some reason, I always forget about how good this film is. Historically I'm pretty confident this was done very well-and amazing performances by the cast. I wanted to note though, every video I have watched has downvotes. Everyone certainly has their opinion but for those of you downvoting, why? Do you not like the film, her reaction to it, both? Cassie, keep killin it. I love watching these films with you and think you are doing an amazing job with pace, comments, editing, and reaction. I look forward to your videos so much!
When Peter Weir wroth the script for this movie the Ascheron was modeled after the USS Constitution. That’s why it was built in Boston. He realized the move wouldn’t do as well if the British won over the US so he changed it to French and gave it a new name. Also Peter Weir took many parts from different books in the Master and Commander series, so it’s more of an amalgamation of a series that has its own dedicated dictionary of navel terms.
The Galapagos Islands were a huge scientific discovery in the old days because there were so many new species of animals on them. Still to this day, there are several species that can only be found on those islands. That's why the doctor was so excited about going there.
A Masterful film. One of the few showing young boys as junior officers and powder boy or powder monkey, they would be of 12 to 14 years of age, because of their speed and height going from the power magazine in the lower decks of the ship, the lower you go, the lower the deck height. I enjoyed your reaction.
@@knoahbody69Master and Commander is the name of the 1st novel, while Far side of the World is the name of the tenth, inspiration was also taken from other novels such as the chase with the Acheron was actually with the Dutch 74 wakamhazeid or something like that in the 5th novel and, desolation island and aubrey was on the leopard, and If I can remember correctly, that famous joke about the lesser of the weevils was actually made in the 6th novel.
glad to see, for a reason I recommended the film) is definitely one of the most underrated films. Especially from the technical side - the team was building a real copy of the historic sailing ship, having bought and rebuilt the brig. In addition, an artillery deck was built overlooking the real sea to make everything look natural.
Love this movie! And cool fact about Master and Commander in the historical aspect is that the movie is overall historically authentic to what naval warfare and British maritime practices were like in the period (even though the story and characters are made up). So this includes the depiction of certain crew members being very young being historically authentic. If u want to know more details about the movie, I suggest watching History Buffs review of Master and Commander!
Commanding a naval vessel in this era was such a complicated profession that there was no choice but to start future captains and admirals at such a young age. The amount of skills you have to absorb and math you have to be able to do in your head, with no calculators or comms or weather reports or anything to assist you is beyond insane.
Fantastic movie. One of my absolute favorites. I've watched this 100 times and can watch it 100 more and still be fascinated. The cinematography is amazing. The script is wonderful. CGI is not noticeable. The acting is impeccable. I highly recommend this movie.
My first entrée into tall-ships and seamanship was Treasure Island, both book (of which I had an illustrated/annotated edition) and film (the 1950 Disney version, first).
@@barefootanimist I read Treasure Island at least 15 times as a kid, but I still haven’t treated myself to the movie. The book is absolute gold, for sure
@@nickmachovina7399 You should. It's such a fun adventure! There are numerous retellings of the tale, including those starring young Kevin Zegers and teenage Batman, Christian Bale. You could also check-out "Kidnapped!" which is a similar tale, based on a Scandinavian(?) novel.
Admiral Nelson who is referenced throughout the film is most famous for the battle of Trafalgar where he died, "Nelson's column" in London is monument for his life, he had 1 eye and 1 arm so he defeated the French "singlehanded" quite literally 😂
If you like this, you will enjoy "Hornblower". A BBC series with eight episodes with less budget of course but equally enjoyable. Same time period, characters that are great and a lot of sailing.
I remember watching this in theaters, and I fell in love with this film for the same reasons you did. Such intriguing times where savagery was common place, formality and duty was upheld in British Navy. I love how this film romanticizes that era.
This film is such a delight as movies involving period ships and "other period ships" are simply not made in Hollywood anymore mainly due to their high production costs involving "on set photography" and other special effects. Certainly this motion picture faced many production hurdles during its creation! Well done Russel Crowe and Cast!
When I first got a good surround sound system & big screen TV, this was the movie that I'd use to show it off. The sound design for this movie was soo good. Pretty sure it won an Oscar for it.
I like how baffled you were during the entire film and how you showed concern for the children onboard the ship. Also, that grin when Jack went "Surprise is on our side" was just heart warming
If you're on a Russell Crowe kick i highly recommend Cinderella Man. True story where he plays a heavyweight boxer who makes a legendary comeback during the Great Depression after having lost everything. Basically fighting for his family and ends up taking on a champion who had killed 2 guys in the ring. Amazing cinematography, amazing writing, amazing cast, and the fights are super realistic as well. Muhammud Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee is in the film and helped train Russel Crowe for the role.
I never would have expected to like this movie either, but it’s one of my absolute favorites. It’s so well made, and it’s a crime there hasn’t been a sequel. There’s a whole series of books!
The Lord Nelson that kept getting mentioned was an actual, highly decorated admiral of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era. He's one of the most respected man in British history.
An island nation will pride itself on its sailors, and fighting sail foremost. When the Admiralty hosted a galaxy of capable commanders, Nelson held them all in awe. (For a grand classical movie about him and the great love of his life, look to That Hamilton Woman from 1941, with Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. No greater endorsement than that it was Sir Winston Churchill's favorite movie.) ⛵ ☺️
This movie is a masterpiece. I think his director, Peter Weir, doesn't get the recognition and praise he deserves. I mean, he has directed Gallipolli, The Truman Show, Witness, this Master and Commander, Dead Poets' Society,.. Come on! Love your reaction as usual, Cassie. It's great to see you genuinely enjoying a movie like this, or tearing up at the apparition of the civil boats in Dunkirk. You are the embodiment of the wonder of cinema, and why we love it so much.
Peter Weir surely has made a name for himself and is well recognized for his magnificent movies, even if he is a little less known, that doesn't matter, makes Weir even more special, i think.
This film certainly deserved a sequel, but at this point, I think too much time has passed. I’m okay that they never made a sequel since sequels rarely live up to the original. This one is packed with so much, I don’t know what else they could do.
@@williamscott3123 I agree, too much time has past. But as the story was taken from a 20 novel series about Jack Aubrey, by Patrick O’Brian, I feel sure that there must of been enough material for another film or two.
They're working on a prequel now. Based on the first book in the series when the doctor and Capt first met and established their friendship. It will however be an entirely different cast.
Your point is taken (why is a ship at sea referred to in the feminine yet it's still called a Man-o-war?), but the relationship between Aubrey and Maturin is the love story. Maybe not homoerotic, but more than Platonic.
This is one of my favorite movies. By the way the captains used to know the constellations and use them to navigate by night. Also "Lord Nelson" was a real captain. People that I've spoken with he was a brilliant naval captain. I'm looking forward to reading about him and General Patton.
One of the reasons I think we all love your channel is how absolutely enchanted you are when something pricks your delight, such as how they "figured things out in those days" like using knots on the rope to calculate their speed. Fun fact: To this day, ships' speeds are still measured in "knots". :)
This film exemplifies close male friendships and mentorships, in an amazing way, as does "White Squall." There's something about sailcloth and sea-spray that bonds men.
It was considered Bad Luck to have a woman on board. I guess we all know why, as the men lose focus and their loyalties get all mixed up. I was in the USN 1983-1989, when women were put on ships, subs last thankfully.
naval warships maintain tight discipline. even the slightest infractions are punished. there is reason for this. its due to a breakdown in the discipline necessary to maintain the organization of the ship. once discipline is lost, literally all else goes with it.
The punishments in the Royal Navy at this time, including that portrayed here in the movie, were less severe than the punishments for the same things for civilians. The Royal Navy was actually an instrument of reform in this regard, as shocking as it may seem.
You are so sweet Cassie! Thank you again for these movie reactions. Master and Commander is a brilliant period film that accurately portrays naval warfare during the Age of Sail. Now to answer some of your questions; 3:38 It was common for ensigns and midshipmen to be that young in the 1800s. They are “apprentices” undergoing naval training. 7:01 Unfortunately there were no anesthetics back in 1805. I couldn’t even imagine how painful it was back in those days to undergo an amputation. 10:16 Actually he was an Admiral. Captains command ships, Admirals command entire fleets of ships. That’s a whole other level. Lord Horatio Nelson was renowned for his leadership, and brilliant strategic mind. He is best remembered for leading the British Fleet to victory over the combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Even today Lord Nelson is hailed as a national hero in Great Britain. 18:58-19:07 Conducting combat drills like this are absolutely essential. It maintains discipline, develops teamwork, and conditions the crew to perform their duties as quickly and efficiently as possible. If they do well in practice, they are less likely to die in battle. 27:50-27:59 The Acheron’s mission was to seize British merchant vessels as prizes of war, or destroy them. This would deal a major blow to the British economy, while at the same time expanding Napoleon’s reach across the globe. That’s why it was so important for Captain Aubrey to capture or destroy this ship. 28:53 Starboard is the right side of a ship. Battery refers to the line of cannons on a ship. 30:00 He’s okay love, don’t worry! Captain Aubrey caught the French sailor in time before he got stabbed. His shirt is just bloody from the battle. 31:24-31:37 They didn’t destroy the Acheron. It was badly crippled, like the HMS Surprise was during the first battle in the film. They can still make repairs and get the Acheron to a British-friendly port. Also Captain Aubrey detached a number of his men, including Marines to oversee the Acheron and its crew. For your next historical movie, you should totally see Braveheart or Glory!
Thank you Daniel for recommending Glory. The physical and facial resemblance of Matthew Broderick to the actual Col. Robert Gould Shaw is amazing (see the monument to the 54th Mass. in Boston). As for the movie, it was as moving to me as was Saving Private Ryan. Not quite as intense, but I thought that it had better interplay between the characters. "We's ready, Colonel" choked me up every time that I heard it for years after I first saw the movie. Most lines fade, but that line never did. Perhaps, as a history buff, I realized what was in store for the 54th and it made me accept how great a debt we owe to men like that.
This film is widely considered the most accurate depiction of life at sea during the Nepoleanic era. Lord Nelson was our most decorated and celebrated Admiral of the Royal Navy, his most famous battle (The Battle of Trafalgar) is honoured with his statue at Trafalgar Square in Central London. I really enjoy your film reactions, keep up the good work. 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
There are two references I hope people notice: sailors can be very superstitious and killing an albatross is thought to bring very bad luck. They were though to have the souls of lost sailors. This superstition is a key plot point in the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner which also occurs near Antartica. In the movie, even attempting to shoot an albatross brings misfortune. The second is historical: the doctor's trip around South America and the Galapagos is an obvious reference to Mr Darwin's part in the Voyage of the Beagle, which "seemed to throw some light on the origin of species-that mystery of mysteries, as it has been called by one of our greatest philosophers"
To be honest, the scientific world at that time had already long suspected that life changed and evolved. That was not really a new idea. What they were really struggling with, and what Darwin found out, was the mechanism to facilitate that change.
A lot of common phrases we use today came from naval terminology used in those days. "Learning the ropes". Midshipmen had to learn the names types size of all the ropes (lines) on the ship. "Square meal". Meals were served on trays with square borders to keep the food from spilling out in rolling seas.
2:33. Midshipmen (the lowest officer rank in the navy) were pretty commonly 13 years or older back in the day. Even Horatio Nelson, the British Grand Admiral, was a midshipman at 13.
There's one detail i think you might have missed.
Aubrey gives Blakeney the book about Lord Nelson, a reverred man and courageous leader who is also missing an arm.
Blakeney is a small coastal village in Norfolk, England. Exactly the sort of place that would send their sons to sea.
@@mccleod6235 But I think young Blakeney's father is a duke or some such BMOC, so he has "connections" in London and/or the Admiralty.
"Name a shrub after me, something prickly and hard to eradicate." One of my favourite quotes from this movie.
Lots of good ones
Makes up for the dreadful weevil pun.
A shrub? Nonsense! I shall name a great tortoise after you
@@BlaneNostalgia Testudo aubreii (aw-bree-eye) -- the tortoise in scientific parlance!
@@artbagley1406 😂
This is the greatest Age of Sail movie that has been filmed. It feels like they really work and live on the ship, and it is almost like a character. And also just a wonderful skillfully made film in every way. :)
The Hornblower TV movies put out in the late 90's and early 00's are also up there, but not quite the same production values due to budgetary concerns. Anyone who loves this movie should really watch those Hornblower TV movies too.
Yes, the Hornblower movies were great too. Those are what I think of after this movie. Both are based on books. :)
@@pullmyfinger336 my brother-in-law has that series on DVD. I was jealous of him for that...
It's one of the best. The Bounty (1984) starring Mel Gibson, Daniel Day Lewis, Liam Nielsen, Anthony Hopkins, and Sir Lawrence Olivier is certainly a very close second. Its based on a real historical event the Mutiny on the Bounty in 1789. Its worth watching just to see such a powerful cast of actors together in the same film and the soundtrack is magical. Forgotten gem from the 1980s.
When Mr. Blakeney shouts, "We must board her!" I get so hype! This like 11 year old, one armed boy who barely made a noise while his arm was cut off is just like, "F this! Me and this group of misfits are taking the fight to them!" It may just be my favorite part of the film!
It wasn't in this video, but the scene early on when Captain Aubrey gives Midshipman Blakney (the child who lost his arm) the book about Nelson, there's a slow push in on a portrait of Nelson.
He's missing an arm. Aubrey was trying to tell Blakney that, despite the lost arm, he could still accomplish so much. He's too stiff-upper-lip to say it in words, but Jack Aubrey really wanted to comfort this child under his command. It's subtle, but so heartwarming, and one of my favourite moments in the movie
Taken as a whole the movie is a marvelous object lesson in leadership and real discipline. Aubrey leads with a combination of personal fearlessness, clarity in his expectations and positive reinforcement for the work of the crew (e.g., when Mr. Lamb has the hold secured after the shelling by the Acheron). He upbraids Hollom for not responding to Nagle's insult, but then gives him encouragement and guidance (which the unfortunate Hollom is entirely unable to grasp). When Nagle and Wally come to his cabin with a mockup of the Acheron's framing Aubrey takes them completely seriously and gives them a "bonus" in the form of an extra tot of rum. His last instruction to Hollom? "Neither do you have to be a tyrant." Aubrey was strong, tough, demanding, absolutely committed to doing his duty ... but he also knew the name of every man on the crew and had some personal contact with them all at one time or another. He was a successful commander because he was with them, not because he was over them (though he certainly was).
This is actually one of the finest and most historically accurate naval movies ever made about this period. The little kids you see on board were a real thing: officers and sailors used to start as young as 9 y.o. Sometimes, the powder monkeys (those young kids seen carrying gunpowder) were even younger.
I also have to wonder how many of the men and boys are actually volunteers since this is also the age of gang pressing. As the most powerful navy at the time, also Napoleonic wars, the RN I imagine would have had a constant need of manpower.
@@drfye The officers wouldn't necessarily have been pressed into service, but the enlisted men certainly would have, and for accuracy it's 'press ganging'.
Yes, the young boy's story was similar to Nelson's.
@@mountianfolks In those days, the first born son would inherit the family's wealth, the second son is left to go into the military. The boys that follow might got to the seminary. Someone else can correct me on this.
By French practice the powder boys were 'boys first class' (the oldest), with the 'boys second class' and 'boys third class' helping the carpenter and surgeon in the orlop and hold. Powder is dangerous to handle, and delivering it to the guns requires steadiness. Much of the movement of powder was done by landsmen.
The "young gentlemen" were officer track boys - they would have responsibility for a division of the ship/a watch or duty position, alongside lieutenants and mates. They would be educated and trained for the lieutenant's exam, and potentially a warrant or commissioned officer's role.
The British were less clear about their practice, but I doubt the risky and important role of delivering powder was allocated to the youngest boys, where strength and steadiness was an advantage.
The station bills are quite clear that the stations for general quarters for the midshipmen were command and liaison roles - while the gun crews and men serving the magazines and bringing powder to the guns were all allocated from the 'men of the crew', with most of the 'non-combatants' stationed in the cockpit with the surgeon and elsewhere in the hold and orlop, where they could be helpful, and not get in the way, including in the lightroom (where the lights for the magazine were installed behind glass).
There was a strong risk of fire if powder was mishandled on the gun decks, or in the passageway from the magazines.
Such an incredibly underrated movie. One of the finest scores ever, too.
Thanks to Bach and Ralph Vaughn Williams
I don't think it's necessarily underrated, every person I've seen or heard who has watched this movie has been blown away by it, but I would perhaps describe it as under-seen. It didn't get the kind of Box Office that it should have, but it's stood the test of time and is these days regarded as one of the best films of recent times.
@@JackRabbitSlim "Under-appreciated" then
Funny story on Bach. My band teacher called me Johann when I was in 5th grade all the way through high-school so I Stuck with the nickname but I spell it Yoehon. Didn’t really no the actual Johann till I was 7th grade but I just like the nickname.
@@JeffKelly03 Underappreciated is a fair description.
Since watching Master and Commander many years ago, this film, though it won several Oscars, is seriously underrated and underappreciated by the movie-going public at large. Russel Crowe gave an Oscar-worthy performance as Jack Aubrey and gave much more depth to his character than he did to his character in Gladiator. It is a shame there are no sequels to this film so masterful on so many levels.
If it had come out just a year later, it would have fared better.
@@ecthelion1735 yeah very hard to compete against Return of the King
The makes have promised a second part since forever, but so far, no luck for us.
It was nominated, but only won two ( in technical areas).
I disagree because he brought a great deal of depth to Maximus, which is what set the film apart as an epic. I get ticked off that it is somehow seen as clever and fashionable to diss the film and his role because the reason it was sooo popular (and still is) was because the character he created was so human as well as heroic. The scene where he discovers his dead wife and son is amazing.
Despite being based on fictional novels, this movie is widely regarded of one of the most historically accurate films of life in the navel during the Napoleonic War.
One of my favorite movies.
I've seen analyses of the battle scenes and the universal judgment was that they were completely historically accurate, especially the final battle with the Acheron.
Ah the Napoleonic navel battle of Bellybutton Bay
@@terrortorn -- And I thought "navel battle" was a term describing sumo wrestling matches.
10:58 Not sure if anyone picked up on this but the reason why the sailors stopped singing once the Mr. Hollum (he's an officer) started joining in and Capt. Aubrey (Russel Crowe) gave him a disapproving look was because during this period Mr. Hollum was "fraternizing" with the crew, which at this time was a BIG NO NO. The Royal Navy prohibited personal interactions between Officers and Enlisted men. Instead Officers should hangout with other officers and regular crew should also hangout with regular crew. This was to keep discipline on the ship and a clear chain of command.
I think they stopped singing for 2 reasons. 1. Hollum was not liked among the crew 2. They felt he was bad luck and shunned him from joining in.
Crewmen had to be quiet whenever an officer spoke. Hence the phrase..."permission to speak sir."
The other thing is, you might have to order your "friend" to a suicide mission to save the ship. That's what gets me about sailors. It's all fun and games until you have to close the hatch on a friend that's to slow to get out of a space to save the ship.
@@sparky6410 There's also "By your leave, sir", and the more formal "By your command".
Modern military hierarchy still has the clear segregation between officers and men in warships.
But in some instances such as bombers and PT boats, a 10-20 men crew with 4 officers and 6-15 enlisted had to work together as an independent unit in a small craft, often with overlapping duties to defend their craft. Hence the segregation was not as pronounced.
It’s not a romance it’s a historical bromance. The ending when they play together is one of my favorite scenes from any movie. So beautifully done.
To be fair - it's a love triangle - Aubrey, Maturin and the ship.
This movie does not get the credit it deserves! It really is a masterpiece!
I love how you laughed every time Killick grumbled and mumbled!
Sailors were notoriously superstitious. The mere thought or mention of Jonah was just devastating.
There were lots of superstitions about ships in those days, surprisingly two of the three biggest taboos featured in this movie.
1.) Girls and women could only board a ship if it was in port because it would bring the ship bad luck to have females aboard at sea, M&C did not break this taboo but the Pirates movies did.
2.) It was bad luck to kill an albatross, clearly the marines aboard the Surprise did not know this but thankfully Capt. Howard missed the albatross and shot the doctor instead.
3.) It was also bad luck to change the name of a ship but I'm assuming it is only if you do it officially, because they changed the name of the Surprise to the Syren in order to lure the French.
@@krashd Seems like it's bad luck to attempt to kill an albatross too!
@@krashd About the second point, if I'm not mistaken the idea of bad luck of killing an albatross comes from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner". It seems that it was a common sport for sailors to shoot them, hence why it was criticized by Coleridge in that very poem and the act results in a terrible curse. To drive the point further, Charles Baudelaire mentions in his poem "The Albatross" how the sailors would often kill them for amusement.
I don't know if it was considered bad luck after the period of British romanticism and Coleridge (although Baudelaire does mention it much later as well), but at the time this movie is set, it would seem it wasn't considered as such.
It is a masterpiece. I concur 100%
Ships have traditionally been referred to as "she". They're beautifully constructed. They protect you through the worst of storms, and from those looking to hurt you. If you treat your ship like a lady, she'll always bring you home.
Marry me. I am a dude and not gay, and I do not know if you are a dude or gay, but I want you to marry me. In other words, well said!
@@Waffalish I'll.....take it under consideration lol
But to Russians a ship is a 'he'.
Wokeness will soon end that.
@@stanmann356 Interesting!!
Master and Commander is a goddam masterpiece - and is often such a forgotten film, it was actually nominated for several academy awards, unfortunately for the film, it just so happened to come out the same year as LOTR: Return of the King, which just wiped the floor with the academy, but it makes me glad to see that today people are almost rediscovering what an incredible film M&C is
Absolutely! Cannot recreate the practical presence of that time period of Sailing. Even though Pirates of Caribbean is a blockbuster fantasy epic with Legolas, it’s more fantastical while M & C is just “you’re there!”
It also came out the same year as the first Pirates movie, which probably hurt it at the box-office (otherwise the planned sequels might have materialized).
@@genghisgalahad8465 Very true, also while Pirates does have Legolas - at least M&C has Pippin!
@@jordanbooth4470 yes!! But what about second sequel?
@@distinguishedflyer Yep. I remember being confused as to which was which at the time. The marketing for M&C was also lacking
"Name a shrub after me. Something prickly and hard to eradicate." One of my favorite lines. 🤣
One of the most powerful characters in this story was never onscreen - that being Lord Nelson. His legend is so great that it casts a huge shadow on Jack. Every character except Stephen sees Lord Nelson as absolutely beyond reproach. Every time Jack is tempted to be cautious, play it safe, give up the chase due to treacherous conditions... he knows that Lord Nelson would prevail and be victorious. It's as if Lord Nelson was on his ship, in a retired capacity, just watching him, weighing him, judging him. Just the mere knowledge of Lord Nelson's implausible victories completely destroyed any plausible excuse for failure. So much weight on Jack's shoulders - and in the end how many lives did he save by taking Acheron off the seas? So many merchant ships and lesser British warships that the Acheron, being faster, stronger, with more powerful guns, could have sunk.
very true, love jack's first story of him. Though Jack's character is actually partially based on another mythical British naval legend, one who perhaps even outshined Nelson with his deeds. There is a video done by Kings and Generals you should definitely check out about Thomas Cochrane if you don't know of him, his life was just crazy.
Lord Horatio Nelson is considered one of the finest Admirals in the history of the world. His battles were legendary and his men's love for him was almost religious.
In St. Paul's Cathedral there was a lavish sarcophagus made for a Cardinal in the 1500's. It genuinely looks like the tomb of a god. Due to protestantism becoming the mainstream Christian branch in England, the Cardinal fled the country and the sarcophagus was never used for 300 years. The English never buried anyone in the sarcophagus as they felt they hadn't seen anyone worthy of it.
They buried Nelson in it.
We took his arm with a cannon ball when he was defeated trying to invade the Canary Islands and an spanish shooter killed him in Trafalgar. He was a good admiral for sure but a little overrated.
@@davidlopez6703 French shooter
Nelson won the Battle of Trafalger single-handed
@@kennyclayton1 french sooter? the french were running away to the spanish port of Cadiz... I don't even know why in the movie they're chasing a french ship, considering how bad sailors french were. A spanish ship would be more fitting. Or an american one, like in the book
Is it just me or is the “always choose the lesser of two weevils” the best line in this movie?
It's the best line in any movie
It's one of the best lines in the series of novels too, alongside, "Jack you have debauched my sloth!"
@@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures Hear him! I also like “you are like a bear in a whore’s bed” - a classic Aubreyism. Lucky Jack often mangled well know sayings such as “a bear with a sore head”.
@@broadsword6650 Glorious! I've also always enjoyed Maturin's description of his friend's mother-in-law as, "... the most unromantic beast that ever urged her squat bulk across the face of the protesting earth." :D
He who would pun would pick a pocket
The Age of Sail is a fascinating subject. Those ships were the most sophisticated vehicles that human beings had ever constructed up to that point and the science of designing, building, and operating them was cutting-edge for the time.
Military vessels in particular were always overcrewed...this was mainly due to the expectation of losses from accidents, disease, and casualties in battle; but also because the main objective in naval combat was not to sink or destroy enemy ships but to capture them as 'prizes', which required large boarding forces. Naval service could be a very lucrative profession (particularly for the officers who came from the nobility) because any captured ship that was sailed into a friendly port would be assessed for the value of the hull (as well as any equipment and/or cargo it was carrying). A court would adjudicate and the ship and its contents could be purchased directly by the government or sold privately at auction...however, it was legislated that the crew would receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale as 'prize money', which was split between the captain, officers and the common sailors. So for many men the risk and discomfort was worth the potential fortune that they could earn if they were lucky.
The ingenuity really is incredible. Sail ships are still an awe-inspiring sight.
Very interesting so the note at the beginning, 'Or take her a prize' was just that. Taking her a prize for the crew and officers.
it is. all the different nots, maneuvres but also knowledge you had to have about you environment... time of day, your location based on stars and maps, weather conditions, military tactics how and why your ship works/sails like it does and so on. in that regard, we may have technologically progressed but I feel in terms of being well rounded, great and hard working people, we have regressed. Sailors were a total separate breed of people and I guess they still are today but what people had to endure and be able to do in these times never stops to amaze me. Goes not only for naval ships but also for people who travelled to distant lands, seeing exotic animals and plants for the first time, maybe even indigenous people and so on.
A fantastic movie. Lord Nelson is considered the greatest Naval Sealord the UK had ever seen. His statue is the main focal point of Trafalgar Square. The "children" were part of the Navy back in the day and were equally important crew members. This film was very historically accurate. Glad you enjoyed it.
Seeing your comment about the men on the mast/yardarm reminded me: A lifetime ago when I was in the Navy,. We were in a storm very similar to that one portrayed. Although we were on a larger modern Navy ship, we were rocking and rolling, heeling over side to side. And then our port running light went out. Which is the red light on the end of the yardarm (that's the horizontal pole sticking out near the tops of the masts). Except in times of war, ships at sea MUST have that light illuminated. And unfortunately, that day it was my job to go up and repair it. As I climbed that ladder 100+ feet above the water and then shimmied my way out to the end of the yardarm, with the wind and the rain whipping...even though I was tied off, it was...ahem...quite an experience looking straight down at the ocean as the ship heeled over to port...and then even MORE of an experience as she then heeled over to starboard and i was looking straight down at the ocean again (from the tip of the PORT yardarm!)
Also, as others have likely already said, the boys aboard that ship were midshipmen, essentially junior officers being trained to become senior officers. So even the blond boy who lost his arm outranked the oldest most grizzled deckhand/gunner. This was the way of things in the 19th century navies around the world.
This whole movie is like watching a painting in motion! So many gorgeous shots, especially of the Galapagos! Fun fact, this is the only film that has been allowed to film there!
I wondered if that could really be them (there)! Thanks for the info!
the DP for this movie was Russell Boyd, who won an oscar for his work..what's bizarre is that the same man shot the nic cage flick ghostrider??
Great fun fact, thanks for sharing that amazing fact
Ever see The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford? Same thing!! Cinematography, acting, script…. Everything is beautifully done!!
@@texella73 huh???
Cutting the ropes is one of those command decisions that has to be made, unfortunately. In a storm like that if they hadn't cut the ropes, the ropes would have de-stabilized the ship in an already unstable environment, and greatly increase its risk of capsizing. If it goes over, everyone dies, the mission fails, etc. It is terribly unfortunate, but has to be done in conditions like that. It is especially true for a sailing ship relying on windpower, but even a modern ship with an engine has to angle itself very carefully in heavy seas to avoid swamping and rolling over.
Yeah once those top sails broke and fell in, the added drag to one side would have swamped the whole ship as it forced the ship to list heavily in that direction :( :( :(
That part shows the burden of leadership. I found it particularly sad when all the men below deck cheer when the ship rights itself after they cut the ropes, unaware of the cost of saving themselves and the ship.
@Adam Grant Military officers of that time were given substantial leeway for judging the changing local situation. This didn't change too much until electronic communication came into being, with telegraph and then radio. But even these could take a few days for a ship at sea as the radio needed the right atmospheric conditions to skip around the earth's curve and there would be a series of stations relaying the message each direction.
Another harrowing instance of this is in Black Sails, the TV show.
there's a wonderful episode of star trek TNG where troi is taking the test for a promotion and she keeps failing it until she realizes her first priority is the ship, not the men, and she finally orders one of the men to their death to save the ship. so yeah, the captain knows, the men are important, but the ship is life itself.
This was such a well made, such an underrated film. Gladiator was amazing, but this is Russel Crowes masterpiece as far as I'm concerned.
My favorite role of his is in The Mummy with Tom Cruise. His acting in it is one of the few good points of the movie (I give it a 6/10).
This is his best movie overall :)
Agreed... He could have made a trilogy as Jack Aubrey and it would all have been watchable.
What about LA Confidential?
@@Perfectly_Cromulent351 Bud White beats them all for sure.
Romper stomper is a contender surely
I loved the subtle humor of the scenes on the Galapagos, the implication being that if the ship had stayed longer the doctor might have discovered the principles of evolution long before Darwin. I also loved the reference to Coleridge’s “The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.” The old seaman shoots the albatross, a symbol of good luck - and accidentally shoots the doctor.
Russell Crowe's acting during the scene where he gives young Blakeney a book is nothing short of miraculous...
Russell Crowe is simply brilliant and I absolutely love this film, especially the sound editing and the cinematography. Every shot could be a picture on my wall. My favorite film after Lord of the Rings.
THIS!!!!! This is the one!! Most point to Gladiator as the pinnacle of Crowe! This is the one and also an extremely underrated movie. This has been lauded by historians and is a largely practical effects movie. Can't wait!!!!
Gladiator, Master and Commander, A Beautiful Mind..... Russel Crowe kills it and in my opinion is underrated as an actor.. He's seldom mentioned in his generation as top 5
@@pudder68 Cinderella Man was great too...
Yes! The practical effects like “you’re there!” is magnificent!
Admiral Nelson's Flagship the HMS Victory is in Portsmouth England. She is a beautiful ship to go and tour.
She has been the flagship of the First Sea Lord since October 2012 and is the world's oldest naval ship still in commission, with 243 years' service as of 2021.
@@mrjohn.whereyoufrom Never understood why she is still commissioned as she's been in drydock for the past 99 years. She might be 40 years older than USS Constitution but Constitution can still sail under her own power and does so regularly.
@@krashd Probably due to her actions at Trafalgar resulting in the defeat of the french and Spanish navy and enforcing Britain’s domination of the open seas. Also carried back to England, Nelson’s body.
@@mrjohn.whereyoufrom Apparently a First Lord of the Admiralty in the 19th century had decided there was no point keeping the Victory around and signed the order to break her up. He happened to mention it to his wife over dinner and she insisted that he needed to go back to his office that minute and rescind the order.
Funny, My Dad went there last year. One massive vessel.
Like the knights of the middle-ages, officers in this era were mostly from wealthy and priviliged families. They typically entered service aroound 12-13 years old as a midshipman than became a commissioned officer after ~6 years of service and they "looked" 20.
so, enter service at 13, serve 6 years and at 19yo you look like 20? how terrible XD
@@asperhes this for Lutz or for DamienDrake?
@@asperhes how is that a bad thing?
Royal Navy was still using 15-18 year olds as late as the start of WW2. In 1939, 134 were killed in when HMS Royal Oak was sunk in Scapa Flow by a U-boat (shameless plug for you to review 'Das Boot')
@@asperhes Stay mad
This is one of the best naval films I've ever seen, and does a fantastic job of not cutting out the rough or mundane stuff to make it more "exciting". It's a fantastic "slice of life" story from its time and place.
Did you see the slugs coming out of the hardtack? The rum was probably the purest food or drink you could get.
The music that plays during Worley's death scene and the funeral scene at the end is "Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis" composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams more than a century ago. The entire ~15-minute piece is available on RUclips and it's one of the most beautiful pieces of music... Ever. It's incredibly beautiful and moving. The respect I had for this movie shot up higher than I ever thought possible when I heard it in this movie!
The soundtrack to this film is absolutely incredible. The use of period correct classical music (fantasia on a theme...just, it' doesn't get better) just makes this one of the comfiest films ever made.
Yup, the final duet is from Boccherini's "the streets of Madrid" -great choice!
The soundtrack is fantastic.
@@alanhigh8125 A tiny bit anachronistic, perhaps, but the Tallis choral is from the 1600's, so we'll allow it.
Just think, Ludwig Van was premiering the 5th in Vienna at the exact time poor Aubrey & Maturin were engaging on the far side of the world..
If you liked the sea songs they sang checkout Home Free's Sea Shanty Medley
For me, this movie is EVERYTHING. Great choice!!
this movie is so good AND it is so accurate in its depiction of life at sea in the age of sail..........its so accurate that for some years the Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth used clips from it demonstrate period gun drills....... its well acted, brilliantly directed, and is probably the best movie of its genre ever.........Russel Crowe came to Portsmouth while filming this movie just to walk the decks of Nelson's flagship HMS Victory, (which is preserved and open to the public as a museum ship) in order to get a "feel" for what these ships were actually like..........that "feel" is very evident in this entire movie
For those who want to see the HMS Surprise in real life, she's part of the collection of the San Diego Maritime Museum. And well worth a visit, too.
I adore this film and I’m so pleased that you enjoyed it. You’re the first reactor I’ve seen comment on the relationship between Stephen and Blakeney, which I really like - even though one is a grown man and the other is a boy they seem to look out for each other and share a lot of interests. The books are also really good and really show the complexities of the friendship between Stephen and Jack. Thanks for reacting to this gem of a movie!
Both of the leads are grooming him to be in their image, in this case, a 'fighting naturalist'
I love that this movie never dumbed it down for the audience.
Except for the comment above :)
One of the sea shanties that the crew sings is the same one we hear Quint singing in Jaws: "Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies, farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain."
Also you can hear it sung in the SHARPE series with SEAN BEAN
But this one has the original lyrics, unlike Quint's.
It's also sung by Blackthorne in Shōgun.
As Capt Aubrey says to Lord Blakeney: “You really should read the book!”
The story in the film is drawn from at least three of the 20 novels in the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian (and none of those three is Master & Commander, the start of the series!).
The latest news is that a new series of films based on the books is in development, still at the scriptwriting stage. A long way to go before anything reaches the screen but exciting nonetheless. I wish them Godspeed - there isn’t a moment to lose!
The books are so good! I didn't hear about the potential for a new series of films that's amazing!
Loved the books!
The books are great, but I feel more confident than with any other media in saying they are not for everyone. They are incredibly genuine feeling because O'Brian deliberately writes them in the fashion of a contemporary novel for the era, and that combined with the massive density of sailing jargon means that you really need to be in the right headspace for them, imo. I would only recommend them for people who already have a strong interest in historical fiction.
@@JPH1138 I get what you’re saying. I think most people who finish the first will be hooked, but many might give up part way through Master & Commander.
However, I’d recommend them to any intelligent reader with imagination and a love of adventure. They are exciting, amusing, intriguing, packed with amazing characters and detail, and they transport the reader to a very different time and place.
They deal with violence but unlike, say Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels, they are never gratuitous or revel in the horror and gore.
I usually recommend that people try one of the fun later ones first, and if that lights their fire to then go back and start from the beginning. That usually suckers them in. 😈
Being "becalmed", as we saw in the scenes ending with the young officer's suicide, was the terror of every sailor, even moreso than storms. The ocean is properly thought of as a "blue desert"; despite the popular idea that you can find life anywhere, much of the ocean's surface consists of vast tracts of empty water. Being becalmed meant burning through your supplies of food and, more importantly, fresh water, without ever knowing if the wind would return before your agonizing drawn-out death.
Yes. I the atlantic there is a region thats called the (german) Ross Kalmen (Horse calms). Thats because the spanish often had to eat their horses if they lost their wind there.
The doldrums.
@@magtovi Excellent point!
@@robertbretschneider765 We call those the horse latitudes in English.
When the officers were playing 'classical' music you have to remember they were playing 'contemporary' music like we might play jazz from the 20's, blues or rock from the 60's or popular music from the 2020's Great job PiB
I was captain of the Private Armed Barque Lioness for five years. This movie is a treat to watch as they accurately portrayed the efforts needed to control a "square-rigger" under sail. I appreciate your level of emotional imvolvement in the story. Thank you.
Russell Crowes character is actually based off of a very famous Napoleonic wars British Captain Lord Thomas Cochrane. His real life exploits are so utterly insane. He captured multiple ships that were x2 to x3 bigger than his own ship with significantly more firepower on those ships. With a crew of under a hundred capturing crews over 200 in size.
Thomas Cochrane lived such an epic life; a total madman in the best possible way.
Thomas Cochrane and Horatio Nelson were the two most badass sailors, and its crazy that they were in the navy at the same time.
Yeah, I read all like 21 books They're pretty impressive knowing the back story makes it all the better. You have to learn some nautical language which takes some adjustment but what they did is compressed 2 different Books for the movie from right in the middle of the series.
@@YekouriGaming cough cough "Commodore Stephen Decatur".
@@samellowery Do not exactly know who that guy is, but I can see that he was American and was a part of the Barbary Wars.
the movie actually changed a key element of this story, in the novel it was infact an American ship - the USS Norfolk - which was the adversary of Jack Aubrey. the studio changed it as they feared an American audience would find it hard to root against an American ship.
Yes this movie is really 2 different books put together but it's good
Correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a long time since I read the book. As I recall they also never came to blows in the book as the war ended before the two encountered each other.
The ship was made in Boston in this movie.
I believe the USS Constellation of this era was known to bounce cannon shot off her sides.
Yes the book has it set in The War of 1812.
I see you have also watch History Buffs lol.
You need to watch 'Das Boot' - yes, it has subtitles, but it's another incredible movie about the sea; this time on a German U-Boat during WWII. It is truly a serious work of cinematic and acting genius!
German language with subtitles is best, but englished dubbed version is good for some.
If you haven't already then its worth watching the whole full length 6 part series that they cut down to make the movie.
Watching movies with voice over should be a crime.
I agree. Das Boot is incredible. I have the Director’s Cut myself, but I don’t regret it one bit. Similar to All Quiet On The Western Front, you feel like rooting for the German crew just to survive. Despite being on the “enemy” side, for lack of better phrasing, the U-96 crew was just trying to make it out in one piece.
@@mitchellneu Exactly.
The “children” are Midshipmen who would join at around the age of 14. These were the most junior officers onboard, basically apprentice officers.
Some were cabin boys, before the mast.
And they still outranked the entire enlisted crew...
In the past (and not too distant, like our grandparents and before), as soon as you hit puberty, you're considered an adult and treated as such. You're expected to work and hold your own.
@@adaeptzulander2928 Sometimes I think we need to go back to that. People point out how horrible life was back then and that being a reason, but I say humbug. Our medical technology, and working quality is so much higher now, there really is no reason that we aren't putting younger kids into apprenticeship situations more often.
I am from the age of "don't worry you don't have to work until you're ready" Went to school, went to college... now I'm too lazy to do shit I need to do, and I honestly believe that's because of this nonchalant idea that it's perfectly okay for teens, and younger kids to not work, or at least start learning something.
14 is old enough... when 35-40 is a full life.
Trivia: Captain Jack Aubrey wasn't a real person, but he is based on a real ship's captain from that era, Lord Thomas Cochrane, who was an insanely gifted naval officer, who almost never lost an engagement, even with the odds drastically against him. The French nicknamed him The Sea Wolf.
The Admiralty in England hated him, and gave him just a small schooner to command in the Mediterranean against the entire French navy, but that didn't stop him from bagging 53 enemy ships, many much larger than his. (After the war, he left for Chile and helped them build their navy, then went to Brazil and did the same there, carrying on his amazing naval skills. He literally once sailed into an enemy port with one ship, and they just surrendered the whole port to him rather than fight him, based solely on his reputation!)
Why did the Admiralty hate him?
@@St4rryN1ght760 Cochrane was a big mouth, basically. He was always picking a scrap with someone in the Admiralty, disagreeing with their policies, showing general disrespect. He wasn't easy to get along with, apparently.
This was my dads favorite movie from the last 20 years. Whenever hed get back from some movie my mom dragged him to hed always comment " how come they dont make ones like M and C anymore?". Awesome movie. Does the books more than proud.
Russell Crowe was on a roll when this was made. He was knocking out a slew of great films. Cinderella Man, The Insider, A Beautiful Mind, L.A. Confidential, and of course Gladatore. His ten-year run at the top of Hollywood was quite EPIC.
It bothers me that another Jack Aubrey movie was never made. Crowe was a perfect fit for that character.
@@dirus3142 leave it to Hollywood to remake everything but never make a sequel to anything good
I will say Cinderella Man has my vote! Please give it a look!
Nice to see someone give Cinderella Man some recognition. My favorite Boxing film of all time.
@@dirus3142 Strange that you say that as in March the studio announced that they are making another Jack Aubrey movie, a prequel to M&C. So it only took them 18 years to get around to it.
You watched (/posted) this one day after the 4th year anniversary of my grandfather’s passing. He was in the navy. He took me to see this movie a long time ago when it came out in theaters. Taught me a lot about what sea life was like. Thank you for bringing back more fond memories of him to me.
One of the things that this film doesn't get praised for enough is the soundtrack. It's fantastic.
This film is a modern classic. I have read all of Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin novels and this film is a brilliant adaptation.
Kudos to the young lady for watching and enjoying it.
It truly is the best depiction of Napoleonic warfare to be found on big or small screen……though I will take the sharpe books over the Aubrey ones. Lol
The Bounty (1984) starring Anthony Hopkin, Mel Gibson, Lawrence Olivier, Edward Fox and Daniel Day-Lewis is another good movie about the Age of Sail in the British Royal Navy.
That is different from Mutiny on the Bounty 1962 US Film.
There is another older one w Bogart as the Captain, which is great but gives me anxiety!
"Was Lord Nelson real? He sounds like a great sea captain..." Oh, my, he was not only real, he may have been the greatest ever. He always won. He won with different tactics every time. And sometimes he won by disobeying direct orders. Before the time of his final battle, he had lost an eye and an arm. His men loved him.
And the English women loved him as well. He is still regarded as their finest hero.
As a Captain Lord Nelson spoke of patenting his method of boarding a French Ship of the line when he boarded it from another French ship he captured. Lord Nelson won a series of fleet actions where he lost various pieces of himself culminating in his life at Trafalgar. His victory saved England from French and Spanish invasion.
"No captain can do wrong by bringing his ship alongside the enemy." - Standing Order by Adm Nelson to his fleet
Even literally being dead would not stop him from winning.
I remember being in Trafalgar square in the 90's. I asked a random passerby who the man was that had lions around him, and holy cow did I get a history lesson. I read a biography about him on the flight home... That was a good book to give a young English officer that just lost his arm
For some reason, I always forget about how good this film is. Historically I'm pretty confident this was done very well-and amazing performances by the cast. I wanted to note though, every video I have watched has downvotes. Everyone certainly has their opinion but for those of you downvoting, why? Do you not like the film, her reaction to it, both?
Cassie, keep killin it. I love watching these films with you and think you are doing an amazing job with pace, comments, editing, and reaction. I look forward to your videos so much!
When Peter Weir wroth the script for this movie the Ascheron was modeled after the USS Constitution. That’s why it was built in Boston. He realized the move wouldn’t do as well if the British won over the US so he changed it to French and gave it a new name. Also Peter Weir took many parts from different books in the Master and Commander series, so it’s more of an amalgamation of a series that has its own dedicated dictionary of navel terms.
This movie has always been on my “best movie you’ve never seen” list when talking with friends! Glad you enjoyed it 🤟
The Galapagos Islands were a huge scientific discovery in the old days because there were so many new species of animals on them. Still to this day, there are several species that can only be found on those islands. That's why the doctor was so excited about going there.
It’s where Darwin did much of the research that eventually resulted in his “On The Origin Of Species” and the Theory of Evolution.
A Masterful film. One of the few showing young boys as junior officers and powder boy or powder monkey, they would be of 12 to 14 years of age, because of their speed and height going from the power magazine in the lower decks of the ship, the lower you go, the lower the deck height.
I enjoyed your reaction.
Peter Weir is a great director.
This was one of the most underrated films I’ve ever seen. Glad you got to watch it. God bless
Yes! Actually underrated!
Perhaps the finest film made in the last 30 years. I was so sad when they decided not to continue the series of films.
Wow this was meant to be a series ?
@@moneyball7908 there are multiple books, i think 3, so they probably would have made atleast 1 more movie or maybe 2
@@agidotexe7167 Someone upthread said they combined elements of the 2nd and 3rd novel and ignored the first, which was the title of the movie.
@@agidotexe7167 There are twenty novels, plus number twenty-one, unfinished when O'Brian died in 2004.
@@knoahbody69Master and Commander is the name of the 1st novel, while Far side of the World is the name of the tenth, inspiration was also taken from other novels such as the chase with the Acheron was actually with the Dutch 74 wakamhazeid or something like that in the 5th novel and, desolation island and aubrey was on the leopard, and If I can remember correctly, that famous joke about the lesser of the weevils was actually made in the 6th novel.
One of my absolute favourites. A masterpiece.
It's a shame we didn't got more like this.
You keep picking great movies! This one is so underrated.
This is not underrated. Movie needs over average IQ from audience.
@@mikakorhonen5715 Plus the misfortune to find itself competing against LOTR: ROTK.
@@mikakorhonen5715 I know. Some people said it was boring. Apparently not enough explosions and car chases.
glad to see, for a reason I recommended the film) is definitely one of the most underrated films. Especially from the technical side - the team was building a real copy of the historic sailing ship, having bought and rebuilt the brig. In addition, an artillery deck was built overlooking the real sea to make everything look natural.
Love this movie! And cool fact about Master and Commander in the historical aspect is that the movie is overall historically authentic to what naval warfare and British maritime practices were like in the period (even though the story and characters are made up). So this includes the depiction of certain crew members being very young being historically authentic. If u want to know more details about the movie, I suggest watching History Buffs review of Master and Commander!
Commanding a naval vessel in this era was such a complicated profession that there was no choice but to start future captains and admirals at such a young age. The amount of skills you have to absorb and math you have to be able to do in your head, with no calculators or comms or weather reports or anything to assist you is beyond insane.
Yes, but avoid History Buffs review of Elisabeth unless you want a laugh.
The detail the director put into the ship was amazing. The ropes they used were specially made like they had been in the 1800s.
Fantastic movie. One of my absolute favorites. I've watched this 100 times and can watch it 100 more and still be fascinated. The cinematography is amazing. The script is wonderful. CGI is not noticeable. The acting is impeccable. I highly recommend this movie.
This movie was everything I ever wanted when I first saw it as a 12 year old adventure seeker 😁
My first entrée into tall-ships and seamanship was Treasure Island, both book (of which I had an illustrated/annotated edition) and film (the 1950 Disney version, first).
@@barefootanimist I read Treasure Island at least 15 times as a kid, but I still haven’t treated myself to the movie. The book is absolute gold, for sure
@@nickmachovina7399 You should. It's such a fun adventure! There are numerous retellings of the tale, including those starring young Kevin Zegers and teenage Batman, Christian Bale. You could also check-out "Kidnapped!" which is a similar tale, based on a Scandinavian(?) novel.
Admiral Nelson who is referenced throughout the film is most famous for the battle of Trafalgar where he died, "Nelson's column" in London is monument for his life, he had 1 eye and 1 arm so he defeated the French "singlehanded" quite literally 😂
And they brought his body back to England in a cask of rum...😜
@@george217 Which gave rise to the term used for rum, "Nelson's blood."
@@george217 thats an urban legend, they used brine, i doubt sailors would allow their precious rum to be used to store a body
@@george217 actually it was brandy they put him in, rum was for the rank and file and brandy was for Officers and Gentleman
If you like this, you will enjoy "Hornblower". A BBC series with eight episodes with less budget of course but equally enjoyable. Same time period, characters that are great and a lot of sailing.
I remember watching this in theaters, and I fell in love with this film for the same reasons you did. Such intriguing times where savagery was common place, formality and duty was upheld in British Navy. I love how this film romanticizes that era.
This film is such a delight as movies involving period ships and "other period ships" are simply not made in Hollywood anymore mainly due to their high production costs involving "on set photography" and other special effects. Certainly this motion picture faced many production hurdles during its creation! Well done Russel Crowe and Cast!
"On a wiggly ship" she said........that might well have got a short lived smile from Russel Crowe.
When I first got a good surround sound system & big screen TV, this was the movie that I'd use to show it off. The sound design for this movie was soo good. Pretty sure it won an Oscar for it.
I remember seeing it at the cinema. The sound made it feel like cannonballs were passing under your feet. It was great.
I absolutely love how emotionally affected you are to these movies, the connection you have to all the moments. Big fan
I like how baffled you were during the entire film and how you showed concern for the children onboard the ship.
Also, that grin when Jack went "Surprise is on our side" was just heart warming
The scene where the two ships shoot at eatch other in the beginning must be one of the coolest ever
If you're on a Russell Crowe kick i highly recommend Cinderella Man. True story where he plays a heavyweight boxer who makes a legendary comeback during the Great Depression after having lost everything. Basically fighting for his family and ends up taking on a champion who had killed 2 guys in the ring. Amazing cinematography, amazing writing, amazing cast, and the fights are super realistic as well. Muhammud Ali's trainer, Angelo Dundee is in the film and helped train Russel Crowe for the role.
I loved that movie. Wish it got more recognition.
I never would have expected to like this movie either, but it’s one of my absolute favorites. It’s so well made, and it’s a crime there hasn’t been a sequel. There’s a whole series of books!
did not make a large enough profit.
The Lord Nelson that kept getting mentioned was an actual, highly decorated admiral of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era. He's one of the most respected man in British history.
And it's his statue in Trafalgar Square in London.
An island nation will pride itself on its sailors, and fighting sail foremost. When the Admiralty hosted a galaxy of capable commanders, Nelson held them all in awe. (For a grand classical movie about him and the great love of his life, look to That Hamilton Woman from 1941, with Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. No greater endorsement than that it was Sir Winston Churchill's favorite movie.) ⛵ ☺️
This movie is a masterpiece. I think his director, Peter Weir, doesn't get the recognition and praise he deserves. I mean, he has directed Gallipolli, The Truman Show, Witness, this Master and Commander, Dead Poets' Society,.. Come on!
Love your reaction as usual, Cassie. It's great to see you genuinely enjoying a movie like this, or tearing up at the apparition of the civil boats in Dunkirk. You are the embodiment of the wonder of cinema, and why we love it so much.
Not to mention Picnic at Hanging Rock. Peter Weir is probably the greatest film director ever to come from Australia. Only George Miller comes close.
Peter Weir surely has made a name for himself and is well recognized for his magnificent movies, even if he is a little less known, that doesn't matter, makes Weir even more special, i think.
Greatest film ever! hands down! Russell Crowe was perfect for the role of Captain Jack ' Lucky Jack' Aubrey!
This is a brilliant movie and, to my mind, Russell Crowes finest. It’s just a shame they didn’t do more of them.
I heard they're making a sequel
@@samellowery Lets hope its done in the same fashion as the first.
This film certainly deserved a sequel, but at this point, I think too much time has passed. I’m okay that they never made a sequel since sequels rarely live up to the original. This one is packed with so much, I don’t know what else they could do.
@@williamscott3123 I agree, too much time has past. But as the story was taken from a 20 novel series about Jack Aubrey, by Patrick O’Brian, I feel sure that there must of been enough material for another film or two.
They're working on a prequel now. Based on the first book in the series when the doctor and Capt first met and established their friendship. It will however be an entirely different cast.
The visuals in the movie, particularly the battle scenes, remind me a lot of the epic paintings of tall ships you see in museums.
The HMS Surprise is on display in San Diego Harbor, San Diego CA. It's a really cool exhibit.
Is it? I thought I read somewhere that it sank, but that may have been the ship from "Pirates of the Carribean".
No the Bounty, from the movie was caught in a hurricane, and floundered killing two.
I've seen it: HMS Rose played HMS Surprise.
Yeah, sadly they kinda ruined it imo by making it comply with Coast Guard regulations even though as far as I know they never sail her anymore.
There was a love story. The girl, She, was the ship. Love how you have broadened your cinematic horizons.
The setting shouldn't really matter, it's the story that propels the film.
Your point is taken (why is a ship at sea referred to in the feminine yet it's still called a Man-o-war?), but the relationship between Aubrey and Maturin is the love story. Maybe not homoerotic, but more than Platonic.
This is one of my favorite movies. By the way the captains used to know the constellations and use them to navigate by night. Also "Lord Nelson" was a real captain. People that I've spoken with he was a brilliant naval captain. I'm looking forward to reading about him and General Patton.
Midshipmen were officers in training and were very young. "Powder monkeys" were even younger.
midshipmen usually came from wealthy families while powder monkeys were usually the children of sailor's and prostitutes.
One of my favorite movies, and praised for its historical accuracy depicting the period.
One of my favorite films! I'm also a fan of Patrick O'Brian's novels too.
His Sharpe series and his series on the US Civil War are great page turners as well.
@@dzed9191
O'Brian didn't write those other series. You're thinking of Bernard Cornwell.
One of the reasons I think we all love your channel is how absolutely enchanted you are when something pricks your delight, such as how they "figured things out in those days" like using knots on the rope to calculate their speed. Fun fact: To this day, ships' speeds are still measured in "knots". :)
4 words every man wants whispered in his ear:
"Oceans are now Battlefields"
This film exemplifies close male friendships and mentorships, in an amazing way, as does "White Squall." There's something about sailcloth and sea-spray that bonds men.
It was considered Bad Luck to have a woman on board. I guess we all know why, as the men lose focus and their loyalties get all mixed up. I was in the USN 1983-1989, when women were put on ships, subs last thankfully.
@@TheGunderian Ridiculous to consider, but look at literally any dorm hall lobby, and it's unfortunately true
naval warships maintain tight discipline. even the slightest infractions are punished. there is reason for this. its due to a breakdown in the discipline necessary to maintain the organization of the ship. once discipline is lost, literally all else goes with it.
The punishments in the Royal Navy at this time, including that portrayed here in the movie, were less severe than the punishments for the same things for civilians. The Royal Navy was actually an instrument of reform in this regard, as shocking as it may seem.
You are so sweet Cassie! Thank you again for these movie reactions. Master and Commander is a brilliant period film that accurately portrays naval warfare during the Age of Sail. Now to answer some of your questions;
3:38 It was common for ensigns and midshipmen to be that young in the 1800s. They are “apprentices” undergoing naval training.
7:01 Unfortunately there were no anesthetics back in 1805. I couldn’t even imagine how painful it was back in those days to undergo an amputation.
10:16 Actually he was an Admiral. Captains command ships, Admirals command entire fleets of ships. That’s a whole other level. Lord Horatio Nelson was renowned for his leadership, and brilliant strategic mind. He is best remembered for leading the British Fleet to victory over the combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Even today Lord Nelson is hailed as a national hero in Great Britain.
18:58-19:07 Conducting combat drills like this are absolutely essential. It maintains discipline, develops teamwork, and conditions the crew to perform their duties as quickly and efficiently as possible. If they do well in practice, they are less likely to die in battle.
27:50-27:59 The Acheron’s mission was to seize British merchant vessels as prizes of war, or destroy them. This would deal a major blow to the British economy, while at the same time expanding Napoleon’s reach across the globe. That’s why it was so important for Captain Aubrey to capture or destroy this ship.
28:53 Starboard is the right side of a ship. Battery refers to the line of cannons on a ship.
30:00 He’s okay love, don’t worry! Captain Aubrey caught the French sailor in time before he got stabbed. His shirt is just bloody from the battle.
31:24-31:37 They didn’t destroy the Acheron. It was badly crippled, like the HMS Surprise was during the first battle in the film. They can still make repairs and get the Acheron to a British-friendly port. Also Captain Aubrey detached a number of his men, including Marines to oversee the Acheron and its crew.
For your next historical movie, you should totally see Braveheart or Glory!
They did use laudanum as an anesthetic, a blend of alcohol and opium.
Thank you Daniel for recommending Glory. The physical and facial resemblance of Matthew Broderick to the actual Col. Robert Gould Shaw is amazing (see the monument to the 54th Mass. in Boston). As for the movie, it was as moving to me as was Saving Private Ryan. Not quite as intense, but I thought that it had better interplay between the characters. "We's ready, Colonel" choked me up every time that I heard it for years after I first saw the movie. Most lines fade, but that line never did. Perhaps, as a history buff, I realized what was in store for the 54th and it made me accept how great a debt we owe to men like that.
This film is widely considered the most accurate depiction of life at sea during the Nepoleanic era. Lord Nelson was our most decorated and celebrated Admiral of the Royal Navy, his most famous battle (The Battle of Trafalgar) is honoured with his statue at Trafalgar Square in Central London.
I really enjoy your film reactions, keep up the good work. 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The cast in this movie is absolutely stellar. An easy 10/10.
Excellent choice. I feel this is something of an under-rated movie.
Waaay underrated
The first time “underrated” is perfectly used and actually historically accurate film-wise! Thanks man!
@@613and802 actual perfect use of “underrated”!
Love this movie. Only sad that it didn't have lots of sequels base on the many Jack Aubrey novels by Patrick O'Brian.
Those are great books!
There are two references I hope people notice: sailors can be very superstitious and killing an albatross is thought to bring very bad luck. They were though to have the souls of lost sailors. This superstition is a key plot point in the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner which also occurs near Antartica. In the movie, even attempting to shoot an albatross brings misfortune.
The second is historical: the doctor's trip around South America and the Galapagos is an obvious reference to Mr Darwin's part in the Voyage of the Beagle, which "seemed to throw some light on the origin of species-that mystery of mysteries, as it has been called by one of our greatest philosophers"
This also made me think of Dr. Leonid Rogozov, a Soviet doctor, who removed his own appendix during the 60-61 Antarctica expedition.
Origin of species? Huh...that could make a dandy book title!
Tis bad luck to kill a sea bird!
To be honest, the scientific world at that time had already long suspected that life changed and evolved. That was not really a new idea. What they were really struggling with, and what Darwin found out, was the mechanism to facilitate that change.
Cue "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner".
A lot of common phrases we use today came from naval terminology used in those days. "Learning the ropes". Midshipmen had to learn the names types size of all the ropes (lines) on the ship. "Square meal". Meals were served on trays with square borders to keep the food from spilling out in rolling seas.
2:33. Midshipmen (the lowest officer rank in the navy) were pretty commonly 13 years or older back in the day. Even Horatio Nelson, the British Grand Admiral, was a midshipman at 13.