In the Heart of the Sea (3/8/2016)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and peril, brief startling violence, and thematic material.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Brendan Gleeson and Tom Holland

Directed by Ron Howard (The Da Vinci Code, Cinderella Man, Ransom and Apollo 13)

The “true” story of the behind the story of Moby Dick…I think.

In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick.” But that told only half the story. Heart of the Sea reveals the encounter’s harrowing aftermath, as the ship’s surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down.

Most of us know Chris Hemsworth as Thor from the wildly successful Thor/Avengers films, not as a whaler in a period adventure film. And my guess is we will still think of him as Thor and not as Owen Chase. He’s ok in the role, but hardly memorable.

The story is more about the crew surviving and less about the whale…which I think was a mistake. Or at least a mistake in marketing. All the trailers show one exciting action sequence after another. We see a giant whale destroying ships and terrifying men. Unfortunately that is almost every action scene in the film.

I will say that I liked how the story is told through the eyes of a much older survivor of the horrific ordeal. It is part of the original, but it was very effective in this film.

Yes I paid the extra money for the 3-D version, and yes I was disappointed in that as well. The special effects are realistic and very well done there just wasn’t enough of them.

In the Heart of the Sea is an entertaining film but slightly disappointing…for me it’s a Rental.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The film contains scenes depicting sailors cutting up a whale carcass into pieces and extracting oil from the animals blubber. In one instance, a young boy is told to scrap off the last bits of oil from the carcass cavity. The boy squeezes through a small opening on top of the body and lands in a puddle of oil that is mixed with the animals blood…its pretty gross.

The film also contains some intense sequences where a whale is seen assaulting a ship and harassing the boats that are carrying survivors. During these assaults, some sailors are thrown overboard and killed by the whale’s attacks.

The language is fairly mild and there is no sex or nudity.

SPOILER: The film contains cannibalism. While this is actually not ever shown, it is discussed in detail. The survivor briefly describes how they had prepared the body and eaten the heart first. At one point, out of desperation, the survivors are seen drawing lots to determine the next person to be sacrificed. These sequences may prove distressing for younger viewers.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. As we get to know the older Thomas, what in his past is haunting him?


2. How has he dealt with that?


3. What are some ways we deal with some of the ugly things we’ve experienced in our past?

Read Philippians 3:13-14

My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.


4. How can we overcome our past?


5. What are some things we can do this week to “run toward the goal”?