Product: Moby Dick [VHS] (1998)
Rating: 3.0
English teacher gives this DVD a "C"
My American Lit class had reached Civil War era literature toward the end of the semester. While I wanted to give them a taste of Melville's classic novel, there was no way they would be able to read a 600 page book in time for the final; so I decided to show the DVD instead. I originally wanted to show the Gregory Peck version, but our school's Media Center only had Patrick Stewart version. I had asked a fellow colleague about showing this DVD, and she said she had a positive experience with it when she showed it to her students the previous year.Well, while I can't say it was a horrible experience (Students were, by and large, attentive to the movie), it wasn't particularly well done. The acting was uneven: Queequeg and Father Mapple (played by Peck in a cameo role) were very good, but the other characters weren't overly convincing. The most surprising part of the DVD, however, was how poor the special effects were. Given today's technology, I had expected more than a fake-looking tail and the same rubber hump coming out of the water over and over again. Even the kids found these "effects" laughable.The opening scenes of the DVD were actually quite good. The kids found it humorous when Ishmael suddenly finds out that he is to share his room (and his bed) with the menacing looking Queequeg. This part of the DVD compares favorably with the Peck version, but it's all downhill from there.The bulk of the blame rests on Patrick Stewart's portrayal of Ahab. Other reviewers have lambasted his performance, and while I can't say it was terrible, he doesn't have the charismatic malevolence to pull it off. The Audience wonders how someone so unconvincing can suck the Pequod's crew down into his own madness; therefore, the acting becomes artificial and the Audience, rather than imagining being part of the story, remains a distant observer. Starbuck, too, seemed more confrontational than I remember when I read "Moby Dick" in college. Secondary characters (Flask, Tashtengo, Dagoo) were almost non-existant; by that, I mean if you hadn't read the book, you wouldn't know who they were in the DVD. There were also certain scenes I didn't care too much for (Trapped in the Artic ice; Storm with St. Elmo's fire), but overall, a decent movie.Definitely, a VERY difficult book to adapt. Director did keep as much action as possible, so my students weren't bored with the movie, but if I had to do it all over again, I much prefer the Gregory Peck version (which I recently viewed). Your money is better served buying THAT version rather than this one.