5. Master and Commander
“Master and Commander” is an epic film. It tells the story of Sea Captain Jack O’Brian and and his crew. The story is set in the year 1805 aboard a British frigate during the Napoleonic Wars. Captain O’Brian is hunting down a french privateer named Acheron. They travel around the horn of Africa and to the Galapagos Islands in their relentless pursuit of this mission. The crew is manned by men and boys of all ages.
The hidden message in this film is a powerful one for boys.
The character of young Blakeney shows us how far we have lowered the bar on when a child becomes an adult. The “children” in this story conquer odds and have adventures that would never be permitted in our nanny state society. The “boys’ in this movie fight along side the men and face the same hardships. They are not mothered or parented but are put to physical and emotional tests in every way. It is through these adventures that we watch these boys transform into men.
“Master and Commander” reveals the value of work, challenge and hardship in the transformation from boy to man. This film is a stark contrast to our current society where twenty-six year olds are still placed on their parent’s insurance and thirty year olds move back home to save money.
Peter Pan wannabes and helicopter parents will find the challenges the boys in this story face a real shock.
Next: One of Pixar’s greatest successes…
