this esteem production have it fan . but to paraphrase the classic bad review of mary reilly and moby dick be like a painting and only slow . this be because the philosophical ground for a movie production be never to make a great film and rather it to substitute the lack of a strong guiding idea ( in this case for a book transference to film ) with a list of hopelessly atomize and undynamic but dazzle conceit in an effort to trick viewer into think they have see greatness . a viewer and critic be apt to fall for this and oscars follow and feed the whole dumb equation . i do not share in the pleasure all these reviewer find . moby dick be stunningly uninvolving . actor dutifully recite essay about jonah and moby dick and the ocean and moby dick and moby dick . all thing that can not respond and and not one of which be absorb in the slight . it dramatically inert . it doesn not build . in narrative term moby dick ( a a movie ) be little more than a foregone conclusion in search of an actual story . after half an hour i be mutter oh terrific . another oath . another 4 minute soliloquy . in the failed effort to involve you and it a pretty campy overact showcase . a lot of grey hair here . starbuck be suppose to be a golden god . ( . ) one know one be look at a great director when he make the medium his own rather than try to replicate the feel of someone else painting and palette and or reverently embalm a classic a huston do here . painting and book be nice but theyre a different medium . a movie like this fail to grasp that an honestly enjoyable piece of crap ( village of the damn ) be well in most respect than an insufferable piece of culture . this be the eat your vegetable school of film making . one appreciate the work that must have be do to make the movie and but not the narrative . only a few segment reflect maritime research be interest while the recording of shanty a a mean of structure work and various sea effort while and the technology of whale . and that doesn not call for a two plus hour movie .