Lionheart - The Jesse Martin Story

Rating:
Summary: An all-time favorite
Review: Bottom line first: This is a must-read book, among the best to be found.

I actually saw the film on DVD first. I found it one day more than a year ago while surfing for some information on sailing. It looked interesting, and I have a large DVD collection, so I added one more. But it was much more than I imagined, so good, in fact, that I bought the book, which was even better. I've read and re-read it many times, and I show the DVD to any friends who will sit and watch. I was actually so compelled by it that I sought Martin's email address and began a correspondence with him.

In November of 2004, had the opportunity to travel to Australia and Papua New Guinea to meet Jesse and all of his family. They are, each and every one, the nicest people I've ever met. My assessment of Jesse is that while he may have peers, there is no finer person on the planet! That may sound pompous or even ridiculous, but I stand by the remark emphatically.

Everyone, young or old, should read Jesse's book, see his video, and watch for more coming in the future. "Lionheart" is by no means Jese's first or last adventure. I've read a draft of his upcoming book, which is yet another winner. He's so down-to-earth and real, I think he's unable to write a clunker! They're all great... I've ordered copies to donate to my local library!

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book Ever
Review: If you like reading about adventure/nature , this is the book for you. Jesse's is a very talented man and he should be a source of inspiration for all of us. This is my favorite book in the entire world and i can't wait to read the new book. :)

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring, succinct - a tribute to the human spirit
Review: Jesse Martin is a phenominal young man, and his story is a wonderful tribute to the enduring human spirit. Filled with insightful moments, fear, and utter frustration, Jesse forges on to attain his dream. If you need a lift, this is a great DVD! Forget Spider man, this is real super hero stuff!

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring, succinct - a tribute to the human spirit
Review: Jesse Martin is a phenominal young man, and his story is a wonderful tribute to the enduring human spirit. Filled with insightful moments, fear, and utter frustration, Jesse forges on to attain his dream. If you need a lift, this is a great DVD! Forget Spider man, this is real super hero stuff!

Rating:
Summary: Just a guy I used to go to school with.
Review: On the first day of school, back in 1994. Jesse told me how he'd always wanted to sail around the world.
He used to read books about Kaye Cottee, and he sailed with his father Kon and his brother Beau to the tip of Cape York in Australia, I think it was later on in that year. He was always quiet, good at basketball. You knew he would do great things. That was 10 years ago. And he still follows his dreams. I haven't seen him for years, but I'm still a great fan of his. This documentary is amazing. It taught me a lot about the will to soldier on. His strength is phenomenal. His character is 10 times bigger than he is physically.

I really strongly recommend that you watch this. And learn about a guy, that I know (knew maybe), just a regular person, doing extraordinary things, inspiring others to dream, to succeed.

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary true-life story
Review: We happened upon this film on satellite TV recently and were captivated. Jesse Martin, the Australian who at age 17 set out to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone, does not appear to be an extraordinary teen-ager. Yet he displayed a wisdom and poise that was truly remarkable as he embraced the challenge. This short documentary combines interviews after the journey with footage shot by Jesse with his onboard camera. There is great beauty in his footage (dolphins, whales, Cape Horn, etc.), tedium (no wind), humor and delight (Jesse playing the guitar and singing, reminding one a lot of Tim Robbins in "Bull Durham"), typical teenage grumblings at little things going wrong, and lots of footage of the power of the ocean against a small sail-boat. In a gut-wrenching scene toward the end of his journey, Jesse is battling one storm after another, experiencing terrifying knock-downs, and he is seen on camera shivering uncontrollably from the extreme cold and his being soaked through to the skin with no way to get dry and warm. It was clear from the accompanying interview that Jesse knew he was facing death that day and his breakdown on camera is unforgettable. His tumultous welcome home by 25,000 people at the end of the journey was well deserved.

This is a remarkable story of the strength of the human spirit. Highly recommended.