Lionheart - The Jesse Martin Story

My Wife & I purchased the Lionheart DVD after reading the book of the same name.What a fantastic documentary! The film was put together very well, using footage taken from the trip by Jesse, then linked with post-trip interviews. The result was a film that was powerful in its message, as well as being very moving and inspiring.Buy this DVD - it WILL change how you view the world and the opportunities you have within it.

I live in Melbourne as does Jesse Martin but have never meet him, when he started out on his journey I totally wasn't aware of his endeavor nor when Jesse returned I can't say I remember much about it, I guess it would have been a news item both TV and Newspapers but I suppose I was caught up in my own affairs at the time. Well here we are many years later and I'm writing a 'short' review on his film.One thing...I wouldn't be here at all if it wasn't for the courage's spirit of Jessica Watson currently 46 days at sea in the South Pacific out to "smash" Jess Martin's record, because of the attention Jessica had gained leading up to her departure from Sydney and the fact she is only 16 seems to have caught the eye of many people right around the world, as a result and because of a one on one interview aboard her boat "Ella's Pink Lady" with Jess Martin I went looking for the Book and the DVD on Jesse Martin - LionheartI viewed the Film first before reading the book, the film takes you on board with Jess it places you directly in the path of what Jess experienced. The Film is broken up with short interviews with Jess well after his journey including cuts to other people involved with his preparation, parents, sponsors, friends. Jess had a number of knock downs during severe storms which was evident but I felt more footage of stormy seas could have been recorded or if recorded it would have been interesting to have placed some more of that footage in the final production, to see how large those waves can get and the way Lionheart was being tossed around and even knocked over would've made for some great footage but sadly we don't see enough of this before we cut away to an interview with some one, but apart from that Jess's 70 minute doco puts you in the drivers seat and makes you realize how very brave and sure these individuals are to take on the open sea for months on end...amazing.Clint - Melbourne Town

I found this DVD very disappointing. Jesse's story (sailing solo non stop and unassisted around the world) is obviously great but unfortunately, the movie is mediocre.I don't know if it is the director's or Jesse's fault but there are far too many shots of Jesse looking and talking straight into the camera and too few shots of actual sailing and I found the whole thing very frustrating. In the beginning, you see short scenes of Jesse sailing his boat alternating with scenes shot in a huge discotheque and the latter is not what you want to see in a movie about sailing.At another time, he raves on how the sea looks great around him instead of actually filming the sea! I found this infuriating!There are a few great scenes, for example when he struggles with his mainsail in a storm but these scenes are few and far between.Also, what is missing is a map of his voyage.If you want to see really good sailing dvds, watch "Moitessier, itinéraire d'un marin de légende" avalable on amazon.fr but it is in French and "Le voyage de Damien" also available on amazon.fr (in this one you can choose to view the movie in English).

Love this story!!!! I’m a sailor and love sea survival tales. What this boy did was amazing

Really like Jessie but it is an amateur homemade movie and it's pretty scary seeing what he went through but also exhilarating and humbling. I enjoy having video of people who are making a difference.

I feel bad for my wife for making her watch this movie. I was very excited to see it, but after 5 minutes I knew this purchase was a mistake. The entire movie is about how he is bored, tired, and hungry.

I found the film to be long on interviews about Jesse Martin and short on the actual sailing of the craft, though there were at times some fine shots of the dolphins accompanying Jesse on this adventure.

This is a fantastic story of a dream fulfilled by a young man with a wonderful and honest personality. It recounts the good times as well as the bad. His honest account of those bad times reveal that Jesse truly does have the courage of a lion. He is truly remarkable.