True Spirit

Just finished watching this excellent movie. It's based on a true story, so there won't be any spoilers here. It's the story of Jessica Watsonl who's always dreamed of sailing around the world by herself. She's on a quest to be the younger person to do so.

As you'd expect, she certainly has her share of obstacles. But she shows the true grit needed to complete such an adventure. The film goes from her at sea, to flashbacks of her growing up and all the things that led to this amazing adventure.

I thought the acting was absolutely spot on. The photography and special effects were tremendous as well. And it's full of breathtaking action scenes that make you feel you're on board with her. There's one absolutely gorgeous scene when she's caught in a dead-air zone. She stares at the night sky just full of stars with the David Bowie's "Star Man" quietly playing. It's quite haunting.

If you're looking for a great film the whole family will enjoy, don't miss this one! But be sure to have some tissues handy. There are a couple of emotional scenes where even this jaded film reviewer puddled up a bit.

I watched this as I am a sailor and I was curious to see where her story fit in with Abby Sunderland, who tried the same feat at teh same age but failed after a storm in the southern ocean.

As some have said I also think the film was made in a Disney style to highlight the spirit of exploration, adventure and courage. It does it splendidly and is a joy to watch for that reason.

As a record of Watson's achievement though I think it falls short. The things she went through including being becalmed for a full week would have been horrifying. And the storm scenes almost romanticise storms rather than showing the real turmoil that Watson went through.

It showed nothing of the struggle she would have faced sailing the boat although does touch on her loneliness. I think as a record of her adventure it was below par.

I haven't read her memoir but I believe I will now to get the first hand real account, not the sanitised version from a director.

True spirit was one of those movies that made me feel something. It was not just another movie that you forget and it was well made. The movie is about the real life journey of a sixteen year old called jessica watson. She grew up reading a book that inspired her and so she wanted to travel around the world solo. Jessica is played in this movie by teagan croft. She plays the role and emotions well. I loved the set for the boat and the way that the movie was filmed invites you to be part of the action. Helping her is ben, a friend from childhood thats a professional himself and played here by cliff curtis. The cast of this movie were all pretty good and overall it was just a really nice movie that was translated well to film.

I get that the budget for this film was obviously not huge and you can clearly see that in the CGI and in some of the acting. But I feel that the story is so strong and interesting that it overrides all those factors and makes it a film worth watching.

I was fascinated from beginning to end.

Teagan Croft as Jessica Watson was no doubt the best performer in the whole film. She even out shone Anna Paquin who was very flat in this film. She felt very out of place and didn't seem to give it any ounce of energy.

If you can focus on the story and put everything else aside, this is a very enjoyable film.

Hello everyone, I'm Mr. C Reviewer, tonight we are discussing the Movie, True Spirit. I watched it on Netflix. The Movie first aired January 25, 2023. It has a runtime of 1h 49 minutes. True Spirit was rated PG. The Movie was directed and created by Sarah Spillane as well as created by Rebecca Banner and Cathy Randall.

Summary: In a daring quest to become the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the globe, the determined young sailor Jessica Watson faces scepticism from many who doubt her ability to succeed. With unwavering support from her mentor and sailing coach Ben Bryant, along with her devoted parents, Jessica embarks on an extraordinary journey across some of the most treacherous oceans, battling the odds over an incredible 210 days.

Review: -I don't recall keeping up with the real story when I was younger; I would have been around 10 years old at the time. However, I'm glad to be learning about it now. I appreciated how the movie began, featuring a voiceover and showcasing some of the characters in their younger years. This approach allowed us to feel as though we were witnessing their growth alongside our own, as the characters have aged a bit since then.

The film featured several scenes with subdued lighting, yet everything essential within the frame was clearly visible. I appreciated the cinematography, particularly the point-of-view shots that immerse viewers in Jessica's journey, allowing us to feel as if we are by her side through her challenges and victories. The close-up shots effectively capture Jessica's emotional states throughout her expedition, emphasizing her moments of fear, determination, and introspection. These intimate visuals convey her internal struggles and growth over the course of her 210-day voyage. Additionally, the aerial photography highlights the vastness of the ocean, providing context for Jessica's sense of isolation during her journey.

One particular moment startled me as an object fell toward the camera. While I found the editing satisfactory, I appreciated the on-screen text indicating the number of days elapsed; however, I believe it could have been presented more effectively.

I appreciated the set design as it appeared believable for the most part. However, I believe the film could have enhanced its realism with minor details. For instance, when the character forgot to pack essentials like a hairbrush and resorted to using forks as a makeshift brush, they did not depict her actually brushing her hair with it. Additionally, I noticed that her hair never seemed messy during scenes set in severe storms; it looked too perfect. Even when characters got wet, they appeared dry in subsequent scenes. In the movie, Jessica wore Converse shoes, which are popular casual footwear. However, I doubt that Jessica would realistically choose to undertake the long and challenging sailing expedition in them due to their lack of waterproofing and support. It is likely that she would have opted for more suitable sailing footwear in the true story.

I appreciated the soundtrack; it complemented the scenes effectively. There were several songs I recognized, which is unusual for me when watching films. I was pleased that the movie included subtitles, allowing me to easily follow the dialogue when necessary. The cast was strong, and while they bore some resemblance to the real-life individuals from the story, it wasn't strikingly similar. The acting was decent but not particularly memorable. I enjoyed seeing Jessica's perspective as viewers experienced her anticipation and reactions to updates.

I believe the film had a significant opportunity to educate viewers about sailing, but it fell short in that regard. While it touched on the protagonist's loneliness, it did not adequately depict her struggles. In the movie, Jessica frequently uses her phone; however, in reality, internet connectivity would likely be insufficient for streaming video in one of the world's most remote oceans. Additionally, the boat appeared remarkably well-maintained with no visible signs of wear or damage, despite the challenges it faced in real life. I would have appreciated seeing close-ups of any damage to enhance authenticity.

-I feel that we didn't gain much insight into Jessica beyond her lifelong dream of sailing around the world. Personally, I found the portrayal of Ben in the film unappealing, particularly in a scene where he acts foolishly. Additionally, my research revealed no credible evidence or reports supporting the actions of Ben's character as depicted in the movie.

-To be honest, I shed a few tears while watching the ending, but they were tears of joy. I appreciated that just before the credits rolled, we were treated to real-life footage of Jessica living on her boat as she pursued her dream of traveling around the world, which loosely inspired this movie.

I rate each Movie I watch out of 10 and for this one, I give it an 6 Remember this was what I thought about the film personally and I suggest that you give it a go for yourself.