(or should I say New Zealand?)

The Holiday season is always a great time for new films. This year is especially good for our favorite kinds, grand historical epics. I must say I have been pleasantly surprised by most of them.

The biggest by far is "Master and Commander," based on the series of books by Patrick O'Brian. I watched the trailers and so many specials: "The making of..." and "The ships of..." on the History channel and A&E that I thought I knew what was coming. This film surprised me because Russell Crowe actually does a pretty good Capt. Jack Aubrey. The battle scenes are short and brutal, again, well done. After touring the Brig Niagara when it was in town, I have a better appreciation of how crowded a ship is and how deadly the deck becomes during action. What made the film great for me is what you didn't see. The suspense of the chase and what I call the Feng Shui of naval combat under sail, the art of placement.

Big Holiday Movie #2 is "The Last Samurai," starring Tom Cruise. Yeah, I know I said the same thing, TOM CRUISE, in a movie about Japanese Samurai? I had my reservations about this one. The trailers I saw at the theater and on the tube started to change my mind. "Maybe with the right supporting cast....nah! Maybe the action scenes and scenery will carry the film...nah! (parts were filmed in New Zealand)." This time I was more relieved than surprised. I must give Mr. Cruise credit, he really did produce and star in a very good film. The details in this film are excellent, although the story is strictly Hollywood. There is no Commodore Perry aboard the Susquehanna steaming into Tokyo Bay.

Now, before you start warming up your keyboards, remember, these are MOVIES. They are made to sell tickets and entertain the American public. I don't want to hear that the topsail was wrong on the Surprise or that true Samurai would never accept an outsider into their clan.

I honestly can't close without mentioning the other big movie, even if it isn't quite in the same group. That's right, "Pirates of the Caribbean." And you thought I was going to say Lord of the Rings! This film, that is based on a Disney amusement park ride, is a fun bit of swashbuckling adventure. Great cast, lots of mild action and a happy ending of course! Now, what did I really gain from watching these films? A new appreciation for special effects? No. Acting? No. Superb editing? Nah! Now I have to decide if I want to build a Japanese village or finish painting my pirates!