During the Napoleonic Wars, a British frigate, HMS Surprise, and a much larger French warship, the Acheron, with greater fire power, stalk each other off of the coast of South America. Russell Crowe brings great intensity to the role of Captain Jack Aubrey. Lucky Jack, as he is referred to by his crew, is well regarded by his men, who trust him implicitly, even after the first devastating battle and an apparent personal vendetta against the French captain. While the naval battle sequences are quite fantastic, the film is successful because director Weir chose to build the story to get to know... the men who are locked aboard the tight quarters of a small ship and how they interact everyday. The officers and the mates are well-known by the time the final battle comes. Paul Bettany offers a strong performance as the surgeon and naturalist who balances the violence of his chosen life with the quiet demeanor of the scientist. He is the captain's friend and confidant, the two frequently playing violin and cello duets together. The horrors of the injuries from the war are frequently implied, but vividly depicted in the reactions of the characters.
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If some are born to command, Russell Crowe was born to play commanders. Few actors can be as convincing as leaders of men, and to see Crowe as Capt. Jack Aubrey in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is to see a consummate performer doing what he does best.
Whether he's peering through a spyglass, standing straight up in the rigging, looking nonchalant in the face of gale force winds or barking incomprehensible but forceful nautical commands, Crowe's Aubrey has an unflappable self-confidence. Ease is a great thing in an actor, and when it's combined with Crowe's stated intent to play this 1805 British sea captain as someone "not always right but always cert...
Good action film
I really enjoyed this version of the classic novels. It's not quite POB (Patrick O'Brian) but it is a bloody good action film which will make you duck when the French cannons roar over the Brit ship. Of course revenge is served to the French with interest!
The music and special effects are very good. The acting is quite convincing. Russell is "Captain Jack" in many ways. But I don't think he is "Lucky Jack Aubery". Still he does have the presence and I imagine he will appeal to female fans.
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Clearly authentic in prop and costume, porous with action and human drama, screenplay surreal and a cast of characters so well portrayed in period as to rival reality. I found myself sucked into a time vortex, transported both to 1805 and its high seas warfare. The only problem encountered was my naivete of naval terminology and the language of seaman from a time well past. Best of Class, a classic in its own day.
The Stagevue link was inaccessible, at least for me, and the others far too jerky to use, so I ended up watching M&C on TV Shack hosted by megavideo and to avoid overlong interruptions, also on the Spanish language version of megavideo (the Spaniards are the world's best dubbers: they even managed to translate Crowe's joke about "choosing the lesser of two weevils" very skilfully). Excellent picture and sound in both cases. I have many times enjoyed watching "Captain Horatio Hornblower" with Gregory Peck, but this movie depicts far more realistically the life of Royal Navy sailors and marines of the Napoleonic era. There is something here for those who love beautiful sailing ships, naval battles, natural history, and even music. Rowe's captain has to use the naval discipline of those days, but he is a humane and reasonable master, far removed from the stereotype of the martinet Bligh one has often seen on the screen. There is no love interest, which I think would have spoilt the film, but much warm comradeship, and courage without bravado. If you're ever in Portsmouth, England, visit HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship, and you will see how these men used to live and die. (10/10)
Excellent movie. Fair tribute to the books; great acting and characterization, epic battle scenes, good representation of naval tactics and ship life, etc.
I love it.
This is not a movie about senseless swashbuckling and fight scenes. It actually has a BRAIN.
I saw this at the cinema and was glad of it as it was quite a spectacle. Terrific chemistry between Crowe (who I love in this role) and Bettany makes every scene they share a joy. This is a film I can watch repeatedly and I can't give a much higher accolade than that. Superb.
