Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

  Plot Summary

It's 1805 and Jack Aubrey, Captain of the HMS Surprise, has been ordered to intercept the French ship, Acheron.  He has been ordered to "sink, burn or take her a prize".  Captain Aubrey (Russell Crowe) and the crew of the HMS Surprise first encounter the Acheron off the coast of Brazil.  Appearing out of the fog the Acheron attacks.  Although badly damaged the HMS Surprise escapes into the fog.  The Acheron is bigger, stronger and faster than the British navy ship but Captain Aubrey is determined to fix up his battered ship and hunt down the superior Acheron for a showdown...

Review

Beware landlubbers, this is a high seas adventure that spends little time on land!  Almost all of the movie is spent on board the HMS Surprise.  With brilliant filming and an eye for detail, director Peter Weir successfully brings the audience back to 1805 and warfare at sea during the Napoleonic wars.  It is obvious that every little detail on board the ship was given careful consideration and you can really get an idea as to how life on these sailing ships was like.  The cramped conditions, the rationing of food, the hierarchy of the crew and the duties of each crew member are all brilliantly portrayed.  The movie is beautifully filmed and as well as getting a feel for life on board, there is also the power and beauty of these fantastic sailing ships and also the awesome power and danger of the sea.

On one level the story is simply a game of cat-and-mouse between the two ships' captains.  However, on another level the movie looks at pride, duty, sacrifice, loyalty and friendship.  Captain Aubrey finds that he has to try and carry out his orders, look after his crew and keep control of his ship while keeping his own pride and arrogance in check.

The action scenes are very well done and appear realistic. Some movies have ridiculous explosive action scenes just for the sake of it but it appears that careful thought went into these scenes.  The result is that the scenes fit in nicely with the story without overwhelming it.

Russell Crowe plays the main character, Captain Jack "Lucky" Aubrey.  His character is credible as he portrays the authority and conviction that the captain needs.  His friend, the ship's doctor, Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), helps to keep Aubrey from becoming "a legend in his own mind"!  The doctor is the only one who can speak to the Captain as a friend and he is able to question some of the decisions he makes.

Bottom Line: An exciting, realistic, swashbuckler that is beautifully filmed with an eye for detail.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2003

Genre: Action adventure

Certificate: 12's

Director: Peter Weir

~ Main Cast ~

Russell Crowe

Paul Bettany

Billy Boyd

James D'Arcy

George Innes

Mark Lewis Jones

Robert Pugh

David Threlfall

Edward Woodall

RATING

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