One Big Logic Problem

Even though you haven't read the novel, each of your complaints is actually explained satisfactorily within the film.

I would think that any captain would put his task of running the ships engines as far more important than using a gun.... Even with the Chinese workers.

As the ship approaches the river conflict, Holman receives the order "Minimum crew in the engine spaces!" That demonstrates the Captain's understanding that efficient engine operation must not be compromised, even as he calls for more sailors on deck to fight. Notice also that as senior engineering officer, Holman does not stay below himself but leaves Stawski in charge below. Despite their personal antagonism toward each other, Holman quickly chooses to leave Stawski in relative safety out of combat, apparently from recognizing Stawski as the next-most-capable with the engine after himself.

Also, remember that the Chinese laborers had jumped ship long ago. The Yanks are completely on their own.

Yet they sent him on missions on shore several times including when he found Frenchy dead. Between this and the mutiny that wasn't called out the show seemed to break away from logic from time to time.

Here's why these weren't the violations of logic that you thought:

1) The senior engineer wasn't vital to the engine or the ship as long as it was docked (as the San Pablo would not be going anywhere as long as crew members were ashore).

2) Holman himself went ashore only when it was necessary to the story. He had to be part of Ensign Bordelles' detail to the China Light mission in order to meet Shirley again. (Without that second meeting and conversation, he would not even have spoken to her aboard the San Pablo after Po-Han's death.)

Then during their ship's winter siege, Lt. Collins had announced that since there would be no liberty granted, each sailor would have the chance to make the regular mail drop to the U.S. consulate once; and narratively, it's important for three reasons that Holman to take what is simply his turn at leaving the ship on that solo mission. First, because it's established (suspensefully) that he intends to desert; second, because while ashore he will discover Frenchy's fate; and third, that sequence leads directly to the Chinese activists obtaining Holman's name from inside the hat he will lose. Which itself leads to the mutiny you reference.

It's understandable that anyone who misunderstands the mutiny would also have trouble grasping the essence of this story. Leave aside the brilliant resolution to that sequence: Holman (the isolated sailor who related to machinery more than to other people, yet who had formed two good friendships aboard that ship only to lose them both), single-handedly despising the entire crew as much as they collectively hate him, passing alone through their midst after the mutiny to barricade himself in protective isolation, down below with his beloved engine.

The mutiny marked the last rupture not only between Holman and the rest of the crew, but also in the Captain's rationalization about naval regulations and discipline. The isolation of Collins' obsession with his duty is tied to his explanation to Ensign Bordelles (and the viewers) that the day's mutiny has not gone down on paper yet -- meaning that it didn't officially happen. But had it been logged, Collins would have become the first U.S. naval officer in history against whom a crew had mutinied. It's to evade the truth and the shame of such a history, more than the need to rescue the China Light missionaries (who become justifying pawns serving Collins' need to rationalize), that makes the officer defy his own orders for the first time, in order to erase his humiliation by launching a potentially heroic -- but also a sham -- military action.

Most great films deserve a more appreciative audience than they get.

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