Well, I saw it last night, at last. Short review? Good solid action movie, scrupulously researched and accurate in most of its detail. Short on plot but it comes across as one incident in a long career so the weak plot is acceptable because the movie is a snapshot of one mission during a long war. Over all I liked the movie.

[Caution! What I say next I say in the full knowledge that the characters could never be portrayed on the screen as they were on the page.]

BUT! It was not Patrick O'Brian's characters. Sure, they had the same name but it was not them. Aubrey held himself aloof from the crew AND HIS OFFICERS. He usually had trouble getting the gunroom to lighten up in his presence. The RARE meals they shared were always overly formal. Aubrey would never have displayed himself like Crowe's interpretation of the character.

Maturin always understood the needs of the service and though he chafed at missing out on naturalist opportunities he understood that the captain was the ultimate decision maker and could not be contradicted. He was scrupulous in separating their friendship from his place on the ship as a warrant officer.

Bonden was NOT a hobbit. *grin* Barrett Bonden was a big man, a long time sailor, a fore mast jack, and a hard fighting loyal follower of the captain.

There was too much emotion. The 19th century British upper society male was a study in control. The captain held himself above silly human emotions. That control was vital to dealing with other people in an age when everyone was armed and ready to take offense. At the beginning of the 19th century society was just emerging from a time when disagreements could degenerate into fights that ended with the death of one participant. The elaborate ritual and dance of evey day interaction was intended to avoid that but dueling was still possible. Fighting became more and more formalized until finally outlawed. As a result men had to act within a very restricted set of social rules. Actions of others were carefully gauged and measured, looking for anything that might be interpreted as offence. Any evidence of weakness was avoided because that gave potential enemies an advantage. Any man could be an enemy so all were treated equally, with distance and formality. In such a world finding a real friend (as in Aubrey and Maturin) was a golden opportunity. Still, the formality was a vivid part of even that relationship.

Now that is off my chest let me repeat. I liked the movie. I hope they make a sequel to continue the chase.