Messing about in boats: Master and Commander

[vilakins]

No spoilers!

While I was with my sister, we went to see Master and Commander. It was an involving and fascinating story of another time, and a friendship between two very different men: the captain, driven by duty, pride, and patriotism; and the doctor, basically a Napoleonic-era geek. Both were very likeable people; in fact the whole crew were.

I was surprised by the life on board ship not being as brutal as I'd imagined, and by the young midshipmen. These boys, some as young as 12 or so, were obviously not seen as children at all. In fact, they gave orders to grown men who seemed to find nothing odd at all in that.

I have to say I couldn't help but remember astrogirl2's comments about it in her blog, comparing naval stories to space ones, citing the old 'hide in the fog / nebula' trick. The French ship was even sighted 'two points off the starboard bow' which made me think of Klingons.

I highly recommend this film for its characters, action, and intelligent script and dialogue.

Comments

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I did gather it was class and rank which spoke. Surely though there were upper-class children who went to schools like Eton and Harrow then on to university, though I suppose not many.

Yes, I knew about the children in the mines too. Very young children are still forced or even sold into work in India and other places.

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Surely though there were upper-class children who went to schools like Eton and Harrow then on to university, though I suppose not many.


Oh yes, of course. It depended on what you were going into; those destined for the forces don't seem to have bothered. But if you wanted to be a bishop or go into politics you would.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

As I've discovered now I'm reading the wonderful Quicksilver. :-)