I'm Sailing Away...

I'm thinking of going to see Master and Commander tonight, since it's playing at the crappy-but-cheap theater here in town. You know, in recent years I've found myself growing increasingly fond of stories set on the seas... Which shouldn't be too surprising, I suppose. The similarities to certain kinds of science fiction are obvious, particularly the action-adventure kinds of SF (both visual and written) that I enjoyed in my youth and am now old enough to start feeling nostalgic about. After all, as I understand it, the character of Captain Kirk was directly inspired by Horatio Hornblower. (Note to self: must read/watch more Hornblower.) And I remember watching the movie The Hunt for Red October and thinking what a good Star Trek episode it was. Not even that it would adapt into a good Star Trek episode, but that it pretty much already was one. Just read Romulans for Russians and a new cloaking device for the super-sub-stealth technology, and you're there.

Further note to self: I believe Pirates of the Caribbean is now out on DVD. Must go and rent it. I still haven't quite forgiven myself for not getting out to see it in the theater.