Starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany
Directed by Peter Weir
Anyone who says this movie is boring obviously wasn’t paying attention. There’s action and danger enough to satisfy any movie lover.
Based upon the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O’Brian, Master and Commander: The Far Side of World takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. The film follows Captain Jack Aubrey and Dr. Stephen Maturin of the H.M.S. Surprise and their quest to capture and “take a prize” the elusive French vessel Acheron. Through the journey, they must endure deadly storms, maddening doldrums and try to stay alive, for while they hunt the Acheron, likewise they are hunted!
It’s hard for me to describe how wonderful this movie is. If I had to pick one word why it’s so amazing, it’d have to be “detail.” Director Peter Weir went all out in describing life on a ship during the Napoleonic Wars, showing how difficult life was for crewmen crammed at close quarters, how important rank and order were aboard the vessel, and how dangerous naval warfare could be.
The detail becomes even more amazing if you’ve read the Aubrey-Maturin novels. If Peter Weir didn’t read the 20-book series, then he obviously had a well-read informant; different instances from all the novels were carefully chosen and placed into the script. They ranged from certain foods the grumbling cook Killick served, to the weevils joke, to a letter from Jack’s love, to a heartfelt story by Jack about the famous Lord Nelson. Characters that were not necessarily in the 10th novel, entitled The Far Side of the World appeared, such as Mr. Lamb, the carpenter. And that brain surgery that Dr. Maturin performed? That was from the first book in the series.
Russell Crowe, did an excellent job portraying “Lucky” Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin. Crowe nailed Aubrey's love for the navy and jovial but stubborn attitude, while Bettany likewise hit Maturin's scientific, rather awkward nature spot on. The friendship between the two men was very close one, and although it was tried several times, the two of them never failed to reconcile.
Two more things I would like to point out concerns sound. Firstly, the ambient sound in this moving is absolutely fantastic. I could listen to the title screen on the DVD for hours by itself, hearing the creaking of the ships, the chime of the watch bell and the waves lapping against the hull. Secondly, the music. Iva Davies, Christopher Gordon and Richard Tognetti did a great job not only composing music that suited the nautical theme perfectly, but choosing classical pieces of the time period, such as one of my favorite holiday pieces, the Christmas concerto by Corelli, and A Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughn Williams. Music can make or break a movie, and this music definitely added an authenticity that can’t be beat.
I think I’ve gone on long enough about this movie - make no mistake, I could go on longer. But I think you should see what all the fuss is about and watch it yourself. Do yourself favor and read the books, too.
Favorite Quotes:
“Do you not know that in the service, one must always choose the lesser of two weevils?”
“To wives and sweethearts…may they never meet.”
“I know it sounds absurd, and were it from another man, you'd cry out "Oh, what pitiful stuff" and dismiss it as mere enthusiasm. But with Nelson... you felt your heart glow.”
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