I'm so amused by the fact that we both write these huge, long reviews, and then we leave huge, long comments on each others' reviews, and then respond with more huge, long comments... We'll have books of commentary when we're though!
Yay! I was so hoping you'd think so as well. Despite the best of intentions, I haven't yet read all the books, so it's good to hear those who've actually read The Far Side of the World comment on the adaptation.
Oh I did, I really did. It's a beautiful film. And while I love the books, they're not exactly light reading. It takes me ages to read each volume, and I'm usually a quick reader. But it's just so easy to wallow in them.
The reviewers seem to forget that the movie is set in 1805, mere months before Trafalgar, so Napoleon would of course be the concern at that point in time. It makes so much more sense to take advantage of the enemy England was actually at war with at the time, than explain to the audience why Americans might be the bad guys too.
Right, exactly. It just seems needlessly suspicious to me for them to suggest that modern politics would be the reason for the switch, when there are real, historical reasons for it (like, until recently [historically speaking], France and England have been more often at war, going to war, or just ending a war, than they've been at peace). Even Jack thinks the War of 1812 was unnecessary; I remember him complaining about it (I should dig up FSotW and get the exact quote). He's a lot happier fighting the French.
Curious, how did Hollom differ in the movie? He's new to me.
Well, the Jonah part was the same. Jack took him on because he felt sorry for him. But in the book there were some wives onboard, and he had an affair with one of them (I forget who she was married to). She ended up pregnant, had Higgins perform an abortion (Stephen refused) and almost died of infection but didn't. But then her husband murdered both her and Hollom. So I actually like the movie version slightly more, as a general portrait of the costs of being (or having) an officer who isn't suited for it. If this is the only O'Brian movie we get, I'd rather have a failed officer driven to despair than a love triangle gone wrong.
Cool. I'd never really thought about him much before, although I liked several of his movies. He *does* sound like a bit of a jerk, but then, with the media, you never know. And he and Bettany seem to be good friends, so I'll give him a bit of the benefit of the doubt. He does mumble, though, you're right.
I've seen a lot of people saying, "Oh, I hate Russell Crowe," and "I might see it except for Russell Crowe," so I just thought I should say that to warn people. I've seen him be very charming in interviews and I've read some good anecdotes from people who've met him, but then there are all the bar fight stories and stuff. So I think he's just moody. Artists, doncha know. ;) (The mumbling is very Brando-esque.)
Yes! It was his presence that made him feel like Jack. Certainly he wasn't tall enough, but Crowe can make you *think* he's tall.
That's it exactly! I always think of him as tall, but he isn't really. Just average. But with that forceful personality (and good posture *g*), it doesn't matter.
Hee! No surprise that my reaction was quite similar, both in volume and giddiness. This was the first time I've seen Bettany in anything, and he's already won my admiration. Fine actor, very fine. And so very cute.
He was a riot in A Knight's Tale (which I love unashamedly. Bring on the jousting to Queen!), right from his very striking entrance. He was also a thoroughly reprehensible William of Orange in Sharpe's... um... Waterloo? I'm too lazy to go check. But he was supposed to be thoroughly reprehensible. I should rent A Beautiful Mind- I've only seen it in pieces, and he was good, but that's no way to watch a movie.
I was so glad all those aspects were there, and even the ones that weren't *outwardly* there were still taken into account by Bettany.
Right, exactly! I didn't see anything in his portrayal that would have made any of book!Stephen's qualities or quirks seem off if they'd been added. It's a lovely performance.
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Date: 2003-11-22 12:09 am (UTC)Yay! I was so hoping you'd think so as well. Despite the best of intentions, I haven't yet read all the books, so it's good to hear those who've actually read The Far Side of the World comment on the adaptation.
Oh I did, I really did. It's a beautiful film. And while I love the books, they're not exactly light reading. It takes me ages to read each volume, and I'm usually a quick reader. But it's just so easy to wallow in them.
The reviewers seem to forget that the movie is set in 1805, mere months before Trafalgar, so Napoleon would of course be the concern at that point in time. It makes so much more sense to take advantage of the enemy England was actually at war with at the time, than explain to the audience why Americans might be the bad guys too.
Right, exactly. It just seems needlessly suspicious to me for them to suggest that modern politics would be the reason for the switch, when there are real, historical reasons for it (like, until recently [historically speaking], France and England have been more often at war, going to war, or just ending a war, than they've been at peace). Even Jack thinks the War of 1812 was unnecessary; I remember him complaining about it (I should dig up FSotW and get the exact quote). He's a lot happier fighting the French.
Curious, how did Hollom differ in the movie? He's new to me.
Well, the Jonah part was the same. Jack took him on because he felt sorry for him. But in the book there were some wives onboard, and he had an affair with one of them (I forget who she was married to). She ended up pregnant, had Higgins perform an abortion (Stephen refused) and almost died of infection but didn't. But then her husband murdered both her and Hollom. So I actually like the movie version slightly more, as a general portrait of the costs of being (or having) an officer who isn't suited for it. If this is the only O'Brian movie we get, I'd rather have a failed officer driven to despair than a love triangle gone wrong.
Cool. I'd never really thought about him much before, although I liked several of his movies. He *does* sound like a bit of a jerk, but then, with the media, you never know. And he and Bettany seem to be good friends, so I'll give him a bit of the benefit of the doubt. He does mumble, though, you're right.
I've seen a lot of people saying, "Oh, I hate Russell Crowe," and "I might see it except for Russell Crowe," so I just thought I should say that to warn people. I've seen him be very charming in interviews and I've read some good anecdotes from people who've met him, but then there are all the bar fight stories and stuff. So I think he's just moody. Artists, doncha know. ;) (The mumbling is very Brando-esque.)
Yes! It was his presence that made him feel like Jack. Certainly he wasn't tall enough, but Crowe can make you *think* he's tall.
That's it exactly! I always think of him as tall, but he isn't really. Just average. But with that forceful personality (and good posture *g*), it doesn't matter.
Hee! No surprise that my reaction was quite similar, both in volume and giddiness. This was the first time I've seen Bettany in anything, and he's already won my admiration. Fine actor, very fine. And so very cute.
He was a riot in A Knight's Tale (which I love unashamedly. Bring on the jousting to Queen!), right from his very striking entrance. He was also a thoroughly reprehensible William of Orange in Sharpe's... um... Waterloo? I'm too lazy to go check. But he was supposed to be thoroughly reprehensible. I should rent A Beautiful Mind- I've only seen it in pieces, and he was good, but that's no way to watch a movie.
I was so glad all those aspects were there, and even the ones that weren't *outwardly* there were still taken into account by Bettany.
Right, exactly! I didn't see anything in his portrayal that would have made any of book!Stephen's qualities or quirks seem off if they'd been added. It's a lovely performance.