There were only a few Napoleonic era sailing movies made. Which one is your favorite?
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There were only a few Napoleonic era sailing movies made. Which one is your favorite?
Only seen one, so had to pick it! lol
Must have been Master and Commander. Turner Classic Movies occasionally shows the first three in the poll. I haven't seen the Horatio Hornblower series on TV in a long time. It was produced by A&E and shown on their channel. I haven't seen it anywhere else. It is eight separate TV movies following Hornblower's career from midshipman to ship captain. I have the DVD set and it is worth getting if you enjoyed Master and Commander. There are several clips on You Tube. Here is one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc_MIxPeAXc
Master and Commander.
The Hornblower Series is too expensive at the moment*. I read the books, so I'am still interested.
*Collides with the WW II planes from Ares Games...
The full 8 movie Hornblower series can be had for about $50, which isn't cheap, but not a bad value at $6.25 a movie. I was lucky and got my set a few years back as a Christmas present. I haven't watched it for a long while and may have to have my own Hornblower marathon this weekend. (I've pretty much wore out my Master and Commander DVD.)
Seen them all, liked them all
Watched each of them, but have to go for Master and Commander. It is just that the cinamatography is so good.
Bligh.
I've watched them all (many times), Master and Commander is by far the best.
It's got to be the original Horry with Greg the Peck. Still have a copy.
I agree Alistair.
At first I felt that it was simply better because it was more modern than the rest, but on reflection, the Director seems to have added that extra ingredient that the rest lack. It is totally believable, and the dialogue is not stilted in any way. He has followed the flavour of the novel very well.
Rob.
While the changing of the American frigate in the book to a French privateer frigate (although American built) in the movie was done so that the movie would better appeal to American audiences, it also made the change of the ending for the movie a bit more believable. The taking of a U. S. Navy 44-gun frigate by a sloop, instead of the frigate wrecking in a storm in the book, would have been totally unbelievable.
I thought the Horatio Hornblower TV Series 1998-2003 was excellent - great production value, acting, and story development. I appreciated the character of Hornblower - felt like someone I could follow. Same can be said of Crowe's character.
Here's the movie trailers.
Captain Horatio Hornblower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtqwbcmf8TM
Billy Budd:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dECixog8KIw
Damn The Defiant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l75IWRcTuXk
Master and Commander:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpNhN-L9L-g
Master and commander, for me the best
I don't think it will happen. Back in 2010 Russell Crowe was pushing to do a sequel but Peter Weir was not wanting to do another. There was some talk of the Fox studios perhaps doing one, but that's been some time ago and it seems everyone may have given up on the idea. The original movie did OK at the box office but not to the extent a sequel was financially appealing. In my opinion todays public is just not that interesed in realistic (with some leaway given for entertainment) historical movies. Things like Pirates of the Caribbean capture the publics fancy.
That is America, in it's dying glory. 'Ignorance is bliss' as the saying goes, must be true.
For whom and for how long? When what a given "star" wore on a red carpet is a national headline of the day, it might be time to move.
As for age of sail films, we should not forget some wonderful pirate/swashbuckler movies - not quite Napoleonic, but worth the watch.
Master and Commander opening scene was terrific, middle of the film I felt dragged (burn the heretic!) but overall it was a great film.
I hear that! I have the Blu-Ray and DVD, at home and where I work respectively. I usually navigate to the scene selection and play the opening scene and then the end battle scene. I also love the ending when Aubrey and Stephen are playing and Aubrey realizes the French doctor is really the captain, the last scene of the prize Acheron and the Surprize changing course to chase. I love it and I want more! It is absolutely one of the very best movie of all time, right up there with Zulu!
How about our Eyroll (not sure if I've spelt that right) in Cap't Blood?
I had to go with Hornblower with Gregory Peck. Not because of realism or it being better than any of the others. Just because it was THE film that got me reading the novels and thus interesting in the whole age of sail period. I have it on tape, DVD and a digital version.
Master and Commander is my vote. I'm planning to get Horatio Hornblower, the A&E series, after I recover from the KS payout.
If it has fighting sail, I like it. From the triremes in Cleopatra & Ben Hur to the Sol's in Hornblower. But Master & Commander was by far the best of all. I don't think there will be another like it in my lifetime (which won't be that long. 30, 40 years tops). But I hope I'm wrong. Not about the 30 or 40 years, but a better AoS movie in my lifetime.
hands down, Master and Commander... wish they would do a sequel.
To fully appreciate Master & Commander, one must watch the film using a full-bodied 5.1/7.1 surround sound home theater. The creaking and groaning of the ship, each broadside, every taught rope was captured perfectly. It's a spectacular film, but the experience is incredibly heightened when coupled with a superb audio system.
I remember when I watched Master and Commander in the theater, it was the theater's audio system that really made you feel that you where there, more so than the big screen.
I've watched the movie in the theater, downstairs in my home with surround sound in the ceiling and upstairs with just the tv speakers. For me it was the movie first and sound second.
Just got the Blu-Ray of Master and Commander in the mail today - I love amazon.
Found this full length video of "Billy Bud"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV4Jg--exls
And for those cultured members of our group...the BBC opera of "Billy Budd":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1lVBfqQyjs
Here is the full length video of "HMS Defiant" (aka "Damn the Defiant"):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhrBuMRWsak
Thanks for the videos Bobby. So much for getting any work done this weekend.