Product: Moby Dick [VHS] (1998)
Rating: 5.0
A classic for entering the 21st century with dignity
I was recovering from a nearly-fatal illness in 1998, and I needed cheering up - this film did it. MOBY DICK (1998) is a fine, fine version. It is a perennial favorite and I like alternating it with the Gregory Peck version I grew up watching - the only shame is I cannot get the John Barrymore 'prequel' to MOBY DICK (1930) on DVD.In short, Patrick Stewart is perhaps the only weak link here. An atrocious choice for Ahab; Stewart is not that great an actor in my opinion. Henry Thomas as Ishmael is a revelation and as close as I've ever seen anyone get to that role (the biggest insult was seeing Ishmael presented as an old codger in THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN).Piripi Waretini is brilliant as Queequeg, and one actually can envision a romantic relationship between Waretini and Thomas (which was one of Melville's intentions). The inclusion of the slithery Chinese crewmen and the the Indian Tashtego (Matthew E. Montoya) were an added delight, as was the initial confrontation between Capt. Bilibad (John Lee) and Capt. Peleg (Harold Hopkins), and Queequeg.Norman Golden II as Pip was even more delightful, and I was at a loss to express my joy at Ted Levine as Starbuck, Hugh Keays-Byrne as Mr. Stubb and Shane Feeney Connor as Mr. Flask. The big show-stopper was a cameo by Gregory Peck as Father Mapple, and BOY - did his sermon give me goose pimples the way Peck performed it. Made the original Orson Welles performance seem amateurish!The usually hilarious Aussie-man Bruce Spence (ROAD WARRIOR and MAD MAX: BEYOND THUNDERDOME) gives a suitably creepy, ethereal performance as "the prophet" Elijah. His work also dwarfs the turn Royal Dano gave in Peck's film.All I can say is this tv classic deserves a space on your shelf next to the earlier films. Only trouble is you won't get Barrymore's 1930 version at all.