Longitude
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Movie Reviews of Longitude
Movie Review: The Quest for Longitude.
Summary: 5 Stars
I just watched this docudrama this weekend, and while it is too early to see if critics will give this film any latitude, I will.As a historian, I often long for at least a blend of authenticity when discussing historical events. Often, as in Jean d'Arc films, accuracy is forgotten in leiu of mythology. Longitude give us the story of one of the greatest quests in history, and remains true to Dava Sobel's book on John Harrison and his son William. The two of which have perhaps saved more mariner's lives than life preservers! One mistake of a few minutes cost more than 1,700 men their lives in one incedent.
The drawback to accuracy is length, as this is a four hour film. However, it took the Harrisons 40 years to construct the four clocks/watches, thus an hour per decade seems reasonable.
If you care about maritime travel, history or clocks, this film will keep you interested for the entire four hours.
Exodus I; BA History EWU
Movie Review: A Sailor's Necessity
Summary: 5 Stars
As a retired naval officer, I recommend the following: "Longitude" should be seen periodically by every seafarer - if for no other reason than to remind him/her of days when straying away from the sightable coast could be a death warrant. Without an accurate timepiece, accurate navigation on an east-west axis is iffy at best.
Of course, nowadays we have GPS and other exotic navigation aids, but when the computer goes down, a sextant and a chronometer provide the needed information at sea.
"Longitude" tells us how a man, hardly fitted to the task, gave navies (and tradesmen as well as pleasure sailors) the key to going from any Point A to any Point N at sea by observation of the sun and by time's arithmetic.
The same math that unlocked longitude's secrets will guide us to the planets and stars.
Buy this DVD or VHS
and... Well done, Mr. Harrison!
Steve Myers in PA
Movie Review: Good as the Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I read the book and the movie is just as compelling. Great casting and cinematography. In a departure from the book, the movie parallels two stories. The first story is that from the book, John Harrison, a carpenter who made wooden timepieces accurate to 1 second a month and his battle with the Royal Longitude Society, a combative academic group of mostly astronomers. Does Harrison win the coveted Royal Prize? Hmmm.
The second storyline was set in modern times and portrays the trials of a retired Royal Navy officer who finds Harrison's chronograph in a museum and gains permission to restore it to operating condition. His retirement from the Royal Navy was predicated on a nervous breakdown. Restoration of the clock became an obsession costing him in his health and in his family life. Does he finaly restore the clock ? Hmmmm.
Very well done piece of work. Very good acting in both parallel story liness. Enjoy.
Movie Review: LONGITUDE A STORY OF TIME
Summary: 5 Stars
The DVD was delivered overseas, on time, and in good order. The story was a dramatization of real events surrounding John Harrison who created the first successful chronometer capable of working effectively at sea. The impact was dramatic on the discovery and charting of new countries and it would be worthwhile seeing a sequel of this story covering the events which developed as a result of Harrison's life long efforts. Probably one of the most significant scientific events ever. It was also a fascinating insight into the bureaucracy of the British Government and Minsitries of the time. How did the British achieve anything which such bigoted flat earth people in power. Great value for money and a DVD to keep. Longitude
Movie Review: Longitude
Summary: 5 Stars
What a great and informative movie about the creation of a static ocean clock which allowed true navigation at sea - something that was not a constant in the late 1600's and early 1700's. If any of you have an interest in nautical history and general nautical navigation, get this DVD. We take for granted, since most ships are guided by GPS, how simple we can go from NY to Spain but a mere 300 to 350 years ago, that voyage was very risky and often led to disaster. If a navigator didn't know what they were doing, the ship could be out in the middle of nowhere, run out of fresh water or food and it was curtains. The DVD runs a parallel story between the inventor of the clock set to GMT that could survive on a ship and a man who in the 1950's sought out to refresh the minds of the British Government, it is well done.