Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

The office at Green Cove Springs Marina has a porch.  This is the favorite gathering place for all of the people living at the marina and working on their boats.  The porch has a TV set.  Like most public TV's the selection of the channel to watch is somewhat arbitrary.  Normally if there is a single person with a particular interest that show ends up on the TV.  So I have been subjected to Dancing with the Stars, Ice Skating with the Stars and a collection of other shows that I have little or no interest in watching.  The other day I did get to watch several back to back episodes of NCIS but the Burn Notice marathon was eclipsed by football.  (Why is it that many people watch talking heads blather endlessly about sports?  I don't mind watching a good game, but the inane talking heads filling air time drives me nuts!)

The night before last a group of us old guys took over the TV and popped in Jim's DVD of Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Widescreen Edition).  I had forgotten the opening scene.  They are sailing along and think they might see another ship in heavy fog.  Next moment - flashes of light and loud booms.  Someone yells "everybody down on deck" and then all hell breaks loose.  And for the next 130 or so minutes you are taken back to 1805 and life in the British Navy.  A quite satisfying evening for all.

I have been toying with purchasing the The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels.  I have read perhaps 5 of the series and enjoyed them all.  I am reaching the point where I guess I will have to spring for the $126.

Best line in Master and Commander: England is under threat of invasion, and though we be on the far side of the world, this ship is our home. This ship *is* England.