Thursday, September 20, 2007

O Captain, My Captain!

Latest news on the development of Hornblower, fresh from the East India Company's monthly packet (i.e. my email inbox)! Excuse my lack of a formal greeting, but I am breathless with excitement! You see Hornies, for many months the identity of the director of Hornblower has been shrouded in secrecy. Many rumors indicated that Michael Bay would take up the call for King and Country and turn the film into one of his infamous summer blockbusters. But as I knew all along, such whispers were drivel and nonsense!

My source (who is as closely placed as a Spanish spy in the court of Prince Henry of Portugal) has revealed to me that the shadowy figure looming behind the film is none other than Ang Lee! In the opinion of your humble Hornblogger, this is most excellent news! Lee has considerable experience with period pieces (look no further than Sense and Sensibility for proof of this!). His work on Brokeback Mountain qualifies him to explore the complex relationship between Hornblower and his rival, Midshipman Simpson . He has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to craft thrilling action sequences, as evidenced by the underrated Hulk. And my devoted Hornies will certainly recall his most famous work, the epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon!

It is this facet of his style that most intrigues your narrator. He plans to put the mysticism of pre-industrial seafaring back into the Hornblower saga.! He will incorporate surreal swashbuckling sequences into the film that bend the realm of physical possibility. Hornblower's internal struggle to balance duty to his country and personal ambition will be conceptualizedby fierce, magical combat fought upon a spiritual plane. In short, Lee's style is perfect for a visionary, forward-looking Hornblower that will captivate audiences of the 21st century...and beyond! Three cheers for the great Ang Lee! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!!!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Ang Lee is a wonderful director. I'm sure he'll do well. Any more detail?