In the Heart of the Sea (DVD)

It’s based on a true story— a harrowing tale of how a huge whale smashed up a whaling boat, The Essex, and the survivors were adrift at sea on tiny lifeboats with no food or water. This story, among others, inspired Herman Melville to write “Moby Dick.” This movie is not like Moby Dick, though — it’s not about the pursuit of the whale, it’s basically a “survival at sea” story as the men figure out what they have to do to survive.They changed a few of the historical details, but not significantly. Chris Hemsworth does a good job with his role, though not with a Massachusetts accent. In fact most of the actors are Aussie or British pretending to be from Nantucket, with varying results on the accents. Tom Holland shines as a young sailor. Cillian Murphy is wasted here because he’s not given enough to do. Brendan Gleeson was really good as the older survivor telling the tale to an entranced Melville.If you like survival stories, or sea-faring voyages, you might enjoy this movie.

excellent movie

The (mostly) true story of the sinking of the whale ship, Essex, which was the inspiration for Herman Melville's Moby Dick. The film cleverly centers around Melville interviewing a haunted survivor and on the doomed voyage and the crew's struggle to survive. Beautiful cinematography and well-acted, just this short of hammy. You get your money's worth with this! And if you don't like it, well, there's always money in the banana stand.

Even if you haven't read Melville's epic story of nature personified in the faceless, unknowable, indestructible white whale known as Moby Dick, this film--with a story that's a prequel to the one immortalized by Meliville--is likely to be a disappointment. With a budget of a 100 million and a story as broad, inclusive and indefinable as the heart of the sea, the odds are that the film will still go over budget and come up short at the box office.The problems of the film are many. The script has the whaling boat execute a single kill (with one harpoon?) early in its mission to bring back 200 barrels of oil (and as much in profits to the oil industry of Nantucket). The 2nd encounter with a whale is with the "demon white" whale that not only proves invincible but dangerously destructive, as it not only slaps the men senseless in their tiny harpoon boats but uses its tail to "take out" the entire whaling expedition and its ship. Game over. But as viewers we're only half-way through the film! Is director Ron Howard trying to replicate a surprise like Alfred Hitchock delivers in "Psycho" when he has his expensive marquee star, Janet Leigh, killed in her shower at the half-way mark of the story?Fortunately, director Howard has another, more specific, focus for his expansive story as the 2nd half of the film concentrates on a trial investigating the failure of the expedition, a trial bringing out a moral message about human greed as practiced by "civilized" nations whose greed produces atrocities that can't be covered up by lies. Clearly, the film's moral direction is influenced by modern events like the invasion of Iraq for no better reason than the promise of a warm reception by its people and the reward of as much cheap oil as we could use. (The film slyly omits the prefix "whale" in front of its many references to oil and its potential for profit, an omission that increases the relevance of the film's moral.) It's not the "sea" but the "heart" of the sea that is the film's focus. And since greed-motivated people have wounded that heart, its owner (the whale) retaliates with fury--and for a final irony it serves up the heart of a dead, cannibalized crew member as food needed to sustain the desperate survivors long enough for discovery by a rescue ship.So the 2nd half of the film is spent largely on the price we will pay for "monetizing" the sea's heart. And the film makes clear the cost of lying about the reasons for our vain displays of fire-power. But the dramatics and continuity of the film are dispensed with for the sake of a moral. By contrast, Melville makes his moral points but not at the expense of story. In fact, he renders the unknown world of nature with greater scope and power than any other story-teller, sustaining the battle against the whale through the final chapter and the novel's final sentence.Besides its non-suspenseful script, the film suffers from questionable casting, inadequate attention to character development, special effects that can't be mistaken for the real thing, film color that is overly saturated and artificially contrasty, the use of a string orchestra simply to imbue action with a sense of importance. At the very least, the film might have made the white whale more conspicuous. The film uses fiery explosions and lots of loud, splashing water as a substitute for meaningful action and genuine suspenses. It's as if the film is counting on mass confusion to entertain us sufficiently to overlook the heroic efforts of individual principals in the plot. We learn nothing about whales except that they're big, destructive and worth too much money NOT to be bothered with. By contrast, Melville devotes entire chapters to the whale's tail or its facelessness or its unusual color. Film can't do all of this. But even an unmistakable white color would have singled out the "demon whale" that is rumored by other failed whale-hunters to sink ships.. And if that's so hard, perhaps a different color, even a glossy black enamel like that on new cars, would have served as a helpful identifier for the viewer.

Dramatic, gritty, and unflinchingly honest about the Essex incident. Chris Hemsworth was likeable, but perhaps a little more heroic than the real Owen Chase. Brendan Fraser's performance was worth it, however. The Whale steals the show.

Very much enjoyed this 3D movie, very well done, GREAT story, loved all the special effects and atmosphere of the authentic looking whaler towns was very moody and awesome!!

The story was vivid and drew us all in. I loved it and will watch it again.

1st the movie is better on second viewing, & better again on 3rd.2nd no idea who Chris Hemsworth is or was in.Out of all the 3d movies I have (or so called 3d) this movie is up there with Alita: battle Angle 3d.In many parts the 3d is jaw dropping, this is top tier 3d & one to have in collection.I tried to watch Dawn of the planet of the apes (3d) after and had to turn that off.I know I will watch "in the heart of the sea" many many times.

It's not often that a film will give me an Apple in my throat but this is such a moving film.I won't give the game away but the C.G.I is top notch!The film or very well put together and the acting is brilliant to say the least.

Chris hemsworth is great

really enjoyed this movie which was made better in 3D, thanks.

Anything with one of the gems worth boys wins my vote the story itself was about Mobutu dick very watchable