The film is a masterpiece of literature, and while this film is inferior to the book, which is of no surprise really, for a TV film it wasn't that bad at all. I have to admit and this is probably blasphemy to some people here I am not a fan of the 1956 film, though I am a fan of the director John Huston, but I found it too slow for my liking and Gregory Peck I found dull as Captain Ahab. This TV version is no masterpiece in any shape or form, but it is a worthy re-make. It does start off slow, but picks up at the end, and while I found Moby Dick adequately menacing in the 1956 film this whale I didn't care for as much. Flaws aside, it is competently made, yes with some uneven effects on occasions, but the scenery, cinematography and ship are impressively rendered, while the score and script are good. And I was surprised at how faithful in general the film was in terms of story to the book. Along the way there are some improvements too, Patrick Stewart is wonderful in the title role, actually capturing the demonic presence of Captain Ahab much better than Gregory Peck, who gives a confident performance as Father Mapple in a role that suits him better I feel. Overall, a worthy re-make if inferior to the brilliant book. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Review of Moby Dick
