# Captain Phillips: Movie-induced PTSD \[OPEN SPOILERS\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118 "2013-10-13T04:34:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/21 "2013-10-14T16:56:35Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Why would arming the crew be nonsense? The lack of even one firearm on the ship was a major post-movie discussion in my group. I feel like we are hijacking the thread (see what I did?). In short, it’s international law. No port, in any civilized nation would allow crews to dock with arms in their ship. Furthermore, the sailors would be the first against it. My husband is an ex-navy officer, with commendations for marksmanship, he says he would not sail with weapons in the ship even if it was allowed. Though rare, conflict and physical violence does happen, imagine in close quarters in the middle of the ocean. Plus most of the crew members have no training on handling guns. Perhaps you’d like to start another thread, or revisit the old one. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/22 "2013-10-14T17:01:48Z")
And something else. Guns would only make the pirates more jumpy and likely to shoot, they don’t kill crews. Dead men are worthless to them. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/23 "2013-10-14T17:18:27Z")
> [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > Don’t resist, do as they say. The ship is insured, the cargo is insured, his job was to keep everybody, including himself, alive. The company will pay the ransom to get the crew back safe. Not every Maersk ship can be rescued by the US navy, things could have turned out really bad. It almost did. > > You may not agree with the protocol, but insofar as it return crews alive to their families, I am happy with it. We don’t want trigger-happy pirates that fear another stunt like that, and the company don’t want crews that refuse to sail in the area out of fear (sailors can refuse to go there without fear of repercussion, it’s the law in Denmark). The specific protocol that I had read were not followed were related to keeping the ship 600 miles of the coast of Somalia. > [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > I meant “you” in the general sense. When this happened there was a thread where ill-informed people suggested a lot of nonsense (like arming crews), or against paying ransom. They don’t arm the crews, [but some shipping companies certainly hire armed security guards and “contractors”.](http://armedmaritimesecurity.com/index/articles.php) > [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > I feel like we are hijacking the thread (see what I did?). In short, it’s international law. No port, in any civilized nation would allow crews to dock with arms in their ship. Furthermore, the sailors would be the first against it. There are certainly restrictions. However a blanket statement that no nation or port would allow a ship to dock where there were small arms on board isn’t correct. > [@Mighty\_Girl](#): > > And something else. Guns would only make the pirates more jumpy and likely to shoot, they don’t kill crews. Dead men are worthless to them. Pirates would be less likely to go after a 20,000 ton vessel if there were a couple of trained guards on board firing a .50 BMG anti-material rifle at their leaky motor skiffs, with a another dozen guards on board armed with automatic weapons. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/24 "2013-10-14T17:30:03Z")
The Houston Chronicle had an article Sunday with the 3rd Mate on the Maersk Alabama and his account was much like what others here have said, that the captain ignored warnings, did things that probably contributed to the incident happening at all and he most definately did not think of or refer to him as a ‘hero.’ He currently lives in Galveston and while he was approached by the film crew to contribute to the story, for some reason they couldn’t agree on terms and he was left out. He said that as a result, the ship’s crew’s efforts to immediately restart the ship and follow the lifeboat while in contact with and waiting for Navy personnel to arrive was largely left out of the film account. Also, I well remember news accounts when the kidnapping was an ongoing ordeal and read that it was a couple of well-placed sniper rounds that took out the pirates, one shot per man, reportedly to the head. Apparently though later it was revealed they all suffered from multiple gunshot wounds. So the film might not be fully accurate in events or perceptions but that need not matter. It still sounds like great entertainment and I’ll look forward to seeing it. I’ll just know going in this is Hollywood and the captain in real life was no Tom Hanks. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/25 "2013-10-14T18:39:59Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > the ship’s crew’s efforts to immediately restart the ship and follow the lifeboat while in contact with and waiting for Navy personnel to arrive was largely left out of the film account. That’s not true. The cargo ship following the lifeboat was definitely shown in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/26 "2013-10-14T18:55:37Z")
[Colin Wright article](http://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Colin-Wright-the-third-mate-on-the-Alabama-has-4888687.php) > [@](#): > > Wright isn’t portrayed in “Captain Phillips;” he was unable to reach a financial agreement with the researchers and screenwriters for the project. > > He seems quietly hurt that the six hours the crew spent trying to keep their captain in sight is lost in the din of others’ more lauded actions. Phillips publicly commended the crew for its loyalty. But heroism needs a face, and Phillips became it. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/27 "2013-10-14T19:27:29Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > The Houston Chronicle had an article Sunday with the 3rd Mate on the Maersk Alabama and his account was much like what others here have said, that the captain ignored warnings, did things that probably contributed to the incident happening at all and he most definately did not think of or refer to him as a ‘hero.’ There’s a definite possibility that the movie misstates Phillips’ actual behavior in the initial attacks, but I think he still gets credit for surviving his subsequent kidnapping. Yeah, I know that merely surviving does not necessarily make one a hero. > [@](#): > > He currently lives in Galveston and while he was approached by the film crew to contribute to the story, for some reason they couldn’t agree on terms and he was left out. He said that as a result, the ship’s crew’s efforts to immediately restart the ship and follow the lifeboat while in contact with and waiting for Navy personnel to arrive was largely left out of the film account. The film doesn’t show the vessel being re-started, but clearly does show it following the lifeboat until the Navy arrives on the scene. I’d put this down more to editing for running time than anything else. > [@](#): > > Also, I well remember news accounts when the kidnapping was an ongoing ordeal and read that it was a couple of well-placed sniper rounds that took out the pirates, one shot per man, reportedly to the head. Apparently though later it was revealed they all suffered from multiple gunshot wounds. Well, the film certainly chooses one scenario over the other, I’ll say that much. The film does have some content implying conflict between the Captain and crew, but when does this not exist between labor and management in large industrial concerns? The film does show Hank’s character reviewing e-mails about piracy without taking any action other than an additional drill, so it doesn’t come off as being in wild opposition to what the crew members seem to be saying. I could certainly understand some resentment on their part based on the following: 1. Tthe screenplay was based on Phillips’ memoir, so of course it’s going to be from his viewpoint and thereby potentially self-serviing, and he would most likely get the largest payout for purchase of the rights to the story. 2. There are a couple of scenes in the film prior to the attack that imply the crew is a bit lazy, although I wouldn’t say it comes anywhere near being slanderous. 3. It’s been mentioned that several of the crew have sued Maersk over the incident, and the fact that Phillips apparently is a witness for the defense would understandably cause resentment. Lastly, the New York Post article, which appears to have been written before the reporter actually saw the movie, for me misstates an important plot point concerning the botched hostage exchange that ended up with Phillips aboard the lifeboat. That scene actually does follow the events as related by the crewmen, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/28 "2013-10-14T19:29:01Z")
About the movie: The articles about the movie paint a different picture than we originally heard when it happened. I am willing to believe that half of the criticism from the crew is a matter of sour grapes, but it is obvious that Phillips is not the man portrayed in the movie. About arming ships: Yes, arriving at some ports with arms might not be a problem, but ships travel from port to port, and many don’t have a very fixed route. Sometimes mid-way they are directed to a different port, and what are they going to do? Throw the guns overboard? Lie to the local authorities. There are other better reasons why companies don’t want to arm their crews, even if they could, namely the liabilities that come with it, and the added danger that comes with pirates knowing that they might be met with gunfire. You will not find a poll out there, but according to my husband he has yet to meet a captain that wants his crew armed. Mind you, my husband is still navigating around there, so you’d think he’d be the first to want guns. This is an interesting article about this, and possible solutions to the “no firearms” situation, of course, most of the commenters went back to argue that what they need is firearms. [U.S. Naval Institute Blog](http://blog.usni.org/2009/01/29/on-defending-unarmed-merchant-ships) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/29 "2013-10-14T19:42:44Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Well, the film certainly chooses one scenario over the other, I’ll say that much. Like a lot of other people I was riveted by the news accounts at the time of how the situation was being tracked and then resolved. It’s going to be stunning entertainment, regardless. Also the story behind and interviews with the Somali playing the chief antoginist are fascinating. Can’t wait to see him, and then what roles come up for him in the future. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/30 "2013-10-14T22:04:03Z")
Tom Hanks accent in the commercials is laughably bad. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/31 "2013-10-14T22:45:21Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Tom Hanks accent in the commercials is laughably bad. No, Tom Hanks sounds like Captain Phillips. It is not Tom Hanks’ fault that the man he was playing has a stereotypical accent. It’s like the raft of shit that Nick Nolte got for playing August Adone in _Lorenzo’s Oil_. I saw an interview with the man, and he sounded just as Nolte played him. It’s wasn’t Nick Nolte’s fault that Mr. Adone happened to sound like Chico Marx. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118/32 "2013-10-15T00:20:39Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > No, Tom Hanks sounds like Captain Phillips. It is not Tom Hanks’ fault that the man he was playing has a stereotypical accent. Agreed. I heard Phillips on a NPR interview last week. Hanks nailed his accent and speech patterns. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-phillips-movie-induced-ptsd-open-spoilers/671118.md?page=1)