Classics Set On the Ocean

The new Jason Statham action thriller, Mutiny, is out in theaters today, which makes for a nice segue into the latest unit from our Do You Like Apples 1000 syllabus. As a reminder, we are covering 10 different units of movies with a shared theme on the newsletter or podcast this year. Mutiny is set on a container ship so we are recommending movies related to our “Sea Shanty” category. Read our recs below and watch the others from this syllabus unit: Billy Budd, Gentleman Prefer Blondes, and Ponyo.

Drew recommends…

One of the great movies set on the ocean still remains relatively underseen today. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World should be a 21st century classic that spawned at least a couple sequels and a mediocre TV show. Blame the so-so box office returns or the too-long title, but this is an exhilarating action epic that immerses you in 1800s nautical warfare, as well as a beautiful portrayal of friendship on the high seas.

Based on the first in a series of novels by Patrick O’Brian, Master and Commander opens with a badass title card that draws History Dads to the screen like a moth to a flame:

Director Peter Weir’s nautical action spectacle absolutely lives up to this opening. There’s ship-on-ship battles with cannonballs and bullets and hand-to-hand combat with swords and fists. Weir is more known for his compelling dramas (Dead Poets Society, Witness, The Truman Show), but he shoots the action here coherently and thrillingly, which is the benefit of a veteran director.

Of course, what elevates Master and Commander is the combination of this action and the human drama at its core. Our two main characters are Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) of the British Royal Navy and Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), the surgeon aboard the ship, the HMS Surprise. Aubrey and Maturin’s friendship forms the beating heart of this film, as the two navigate perilous conditions of war and survival. Crowe and Bettany (who has maybe never been better) make for a wonderful pair inhabiting these characters. Master and Commander’s depiction of male camaraderie earns it an easy entry into the Dudes Rock canon.

Only within the last few years did I become a member of the Master and Commander hive, but when I finally watched it, I was surprised at how the screenplay thoughtfully explores ideas such as duty and discovery, as well as friendship. I was expecting high seas battles and peak Russell Crowe; however, it was the intellectual and emotional components of the film that struck the deepest. We may never get that sequel, but we will always have this 2003 ocean epic classic.

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Billy recommends…

This is a re-post from February 2021

I haven’t felt more pressure writing a quick blurb about a movie before. The reason being? Jaws is my favorite movie of all time. This is Steven Spielberg’s second theatrical release and the movie that created the summer blockbuster. Spielberg tells the story about a small beach community that is trying to get rid of a massive shark that is threatening the profitability of their summer season. Creating a movie that is horrific, has memorable characters, and fits perfectly into the COVID time we are living in.

Spielberg opens up with college aged kids having a drunken evening on the beach and a young attractive couple decides to take a dip in the cold moonlit waters. This is where we hear the iconic John Williams score and the moment Spielberg scared a whole generation from going into the ocean. The event creates a conflict between the first year sheriff from New York who wants to shut the beach down and the mayor trying to keep it open because if it is shut down the town will lose out on its most profitable holiday, the 4th of July…

Click here to read the full recommendation

This episode of the podcast is all about dinosaur thrills, chills, and kills! We fully break down The End of Oak Street, one of the most fun dinosaur movies in a very long time. Starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, we dive into our thoughts on the premise, execution, and performances (no spoilers) before discussing the twists and ending in a spoiler section (33:24 minute mark).

Don’t miss enjoying this fun late summer release with us! Listen on Spotify below or on Apple Podcasts and YouTube here.

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