Rating: 
Summary: DVD's are losing their freebie extras
Review: Don't get me wrong. I loved Master and Commander which I call a thinking man's swashbuckler. It definitely is a great plot and worthy of an Oscar Nomination. What I have gotten used to and missed here was the commentary that usually comes with DVDs. If you want that, you have to pay for the 2CD set...:-(Also, if you have a regular TV (30 inches or less) the letterbox effect of the wide screen version cuts out 50% of the viewing area, which ruins the special effects that made this movie so awesome in the theaters. The Wide screen version is a good investment for the future. If you want to see the action up close, get the regular version and if you want the commentaries and the making of the movie (which I do) buy the 2 CD set. For 6 dollars more, you get your money's worth.
Rating:
Summary: A terrific movie! But don't expect Pirates of the Caribbean
Review: I've read all the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian, and this movie stays true to their style. This is not a swashbuckler. It is the story of the extraordinary friendship of two men set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars. The movie, like the books, is in no rush to tell the tale. In fact, the sometime slow pace of the movie adds to the feeling of authenticity. This is a great movie, but the hardcore action movie buffs will probably be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: DO NOT buy for the deleted scenes - Otherwise GREAT
Review: If, like me, you are considering the "Special Edition," please know that the deleted scenes are not integrated with the rest of the movie, and are more like extra footage. Many are just topics with multiple clips on the subject, like "Superstitions." I am a big fan of the books and the movie, so it was worth the price for the other background material, but I was hoping for a longer movie. Overall, a truly great movie and a great DVD to own. If you haven't, read the books! Peter Weir truly captures the spirit of the whole series.
Rating: 
Summary: an over-rated so-so movie
Review: this is a movie stuffed with lot of unnecessary scenes and settings. most of the time during my watching, i just felt bored and disappointed and mostly, felt sorry for those people who have to be on that horrible ship to play out a boring story and still had to be 100% into it. a lousy story-line only salvaged by hard-working characters and supporting casts. what's the purposes of showing some scenes of cutting off arm, digging out bullet and so on? wanted to show off the make-up art? special effect? what a joke when sailors died on the british ship and performed sea-burials and still praised the manipulating LORD? you wanted all of your british soldiers who died in a battle all went up from sea bed to heaven, what about those frenches? thy kindom come? give me a break! like two boxers who kneel at their own corner and pray to the lord to let him win over this fight, and cross themselves. you think the lord would give a _____to either one? if the lord is not a boxing fan himself, he won't switch his channel to watch the fight. likewise, if there's really a lord out there or somewhere around, he's just manipultes you guys to fight each other and let you people die meaninglessly. the earth is a globe hanging in the space, the force of gravity making all the humanbeings feel they are standing on a flat land, lifting their heads looking upward, that's where the heaven should be. but the earth is a round globe, when you look up, you might also just look down that you might think it's where the hell should be. i just don't know why these thoughts came into my mind during watching this ridiculous movie.....with lot of small talks and unnecessary scenes. touching? not a bit, senor, not this time.
Rating:
Summary: The Moose Hole - Weir 'Commands' 'Master'ful Film
Review: Do you feel you are missing films thanks to your local Cineplex, which only features the most high-profile projects, and therefore excludes independent features? Or do you ever feel that by taking a weekend or so off from the movies that you missing some great films? And then you hear you friends chatting about them, it makes the already bad situation even worse? Many can lay claim to being in that very situation, missing out on noting-worthy independent and less commercial films that eventually found their way to be acknowledged by the Motion Picture Academy at the 76th Annual Academy Awards in February 2004, while others weren't quite so lucky. Such note-worthy features that failed to receive recognition include Bad Santa, Phone Booth and The Singing Detective. This isn't to say that nominated projects such as Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World, Mystic River, Cold Mountain, and Lost in Translation aren't worthy of acknowledgment, far from it. It is to say this one thing in Hollywood has yet to change: The bigger the studio, the bigger the trophy case will be. The story is based on the tenth novel, "The Far Side of the World" in the "Master and Commander" series by Patrick O'Brian, who wrote twenty installments of the high-seas adventure series until his death in January 2000. The feature starts off in 1806 - Napoleon has proclaimed himself emperor of France after a failed attempt on his life and from there wages a military campaign which conquers Italy, Genoa, Vienna, and most of Austria and Germany. The Third Coalition, which consisted of Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and Sweden, has all but been decimated by severe defeats on land, thus leaving Britain and its advanced naval sea power as the only thing standing in the way of Napoleon and total victory over Europe. One of Britain's most impressive ships is the HMS Surprise, captained by the ambitious and commanding Jack Aubrey, who travels the world with his friend Stephen Maturin, who is also the ship's doctor. Along the Eastern coast of South America, Aubrey and his crew are ambushed by the French frigate, the Acheron. Though they escape in relatively one piece, the ship is deeply weakened and there is talk of turning back home to England. Faced with the fate of his crew and his country in his hand, Jack Aubrey must show true leadership by putting everything on the line and making quick decisions, no matter the cost. The story for Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World is one of the few films out there that embroils itself deeply in a certain time period of history but doesn't require its audience to have such extensive knowledge of events that it alienates certain demographics. Though the film doesn't demand background knowledge of the Napoleonic Wars, it certainly wouldn't hurt if you go in with at least some idea of the events that the story surrounds itself with. Though Master & Commander contains a rather large cast, few have actually made a name for themselves that they are easily recognizable by a majority of the movie-going audience but that doesn't matter so much in that only one person requires the audience's full attention, that being Russell Crowe. Crowe, who won an Academy Award for his performance in Gladiator and was nominated for A Beautiful Mind, was certainly worthy of at least a nomination with his commanding performance as Captain Jack Aubrey, in which he combines slight humor, enduring emotions, and dignified atmosphere that envelops the audience and keeps them focused with the actions on screen. Unfortunately, despite the film itself receiving ten nominations, the academy failed to recognize Crowe's amazing performance but that is easily forgettable as long as the audiences that watch this film get their money's worth of the film, thanks mostly to Crowe's engaging Jack Aubrey. And it's not just Crowe but the character's actions within the film itself ... the fact that he darts across the deck of the ship in an attempt to be almost everywhere at once, his ability to be charming and eloquent while playing his violin while being forceful and compelling in battle, and sticking to his guns despite certain opposition and small consequences that occur because of that decision. Overall, Leadership, patriotism, and a true sense of responsibility and duty, all of which are desperately needed amongst a certain portion of the American people today, take center stage even away from Crowe's most commanding role to date. The most astonishing thing Peter Weir and his follow filmmakers have been able to do, besides elegantly and tastefully poking fun at the French, is to create a story that is slow and lumbering at times but not so much so that it results in a boring and lusterless feature, in fact Master & Commander is quite the opposite. It successfully keeps the audience members at the edge of their seats not only for the action occurring on screen but by keeping them in utter anticipation of events yet to unfold in the film as well. A beautifully mastered musical score, created by Christopher Gordon, Iva Davies and Richard Tognetti, keeps the historical time period in the context of the occurring actions in slower portions of the film while still engaging the audience with a rousing complement to the battle sequences. But the film's most powerful quality is its message of enduring leadership and dedication to one's country despite nearly impossible odds and the cost of friendship and life appearing to be worth more then the end result. The United States faces that exact challenge today but as the Jack Aubrey discovers, there is no more important value in life then a devotion to one's country and the commanding leadership that drives not only the crew but the heart and soul of one's country as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth the rental
Review: The movie was poorly produced. The plot stinks and you have action at the beginning and end and not a lot in between. If you like naval warfare movies then maybe this is your thing but it is not something I will be adding to my DVD collection.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent at sea adventure
Review: Master and Commander is an engaging and dramatic experience that shouldn't be missed. Russel Crowe (Gladiator) is wonderful as the captain of a ship that's trying to track down a dangerous French warship. The warship attacks his ship in an excellent battle in the beginning of the film. After that Crowe is determined to stop it. Pail Bettany (A Beautiful Mind, A Knights Tale) is also fantastic as the ships doctor and Crowe's bestfriend. The ship battles are excellent and entertaining but there's not really a lot of that. There's a lot more dialogue and scenes where we get to know the crew of the ship. Bettany surprisingly makes a lot of this movie his own. He has great scenes with Crowe and also touching scenes with a boy on ship who he takes under his wing and teaches about animals and nature. Some people will think there's not enough action but it's still an excellent film. When there is action it's very good, the scenery is very nice, directing great and Bettany gives what should've been an oscar nominated performance.
Rating:
Summary: Extras disappointing
Review: Very quickly, I was disappointed that the special edition doesn't have any additional voice over commentary tracks. If I could do it over again, I'd save the money and get the simple version. The map and booklet aren't worth the extra money.
Rating:
Summary: Good decsion to buy
Review: Do I rent or buy? I opted to buy it as the majority of reviews here were favorable. Further more I love epic war and historical movies and this one fits nicely in my collection. Russell Crowe's character was convincing as always. The atomosphere was excellent. Cinematography was excellent, although I wish there had been more shots of the exterior as the ships did battle. There seems to be alot of maritime buffs, and Navy folks applauding this movie, so I don't feel I could add a whole lot more other than a five star rating which the movie truly deserves. My only regret is I didn't see this one on the big screen.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Made Movie
Review: Master and Commander-The Far Side of the World is a fantastic movie in so many ways. There are so many things that make it great and the flaws are few. In Master and Commander we have Captian "Lucky Jack Aubrey. He has been given orders by the British empire to take down the French privateer Acheron. After a sneak attack by the French it's up to Jack to strike back. The ship needs repair and morale is low. He will also find himself torn between duty and friendship as he tries to fulfill his commands and stay true to himself. Russel Crowe is the man. He is easily one of the greatest actors still in the business today. He plays Jack Aubrey to perfection. Russel Crowe lives the part and becomes the character and he does that in this movie. He is simply amazing and I love watching this guy on the big screen. In almost any other year Crowe probaly would have gotten an Oscar nomination for this performance. It is that good. Paul Bettany is great as Dr. Stephen Maturin. He displays human emotions very well. It's a great character and he plays it very well. Like Crowe his performance is good enough for an academy nomination and in almost any other year and he would have gotten one. Peter Weir has directed a cinematic masterpiece. Not since Steven Spielberg in Saving Private Ryan has a war movie had such detail put into it. Everything looks great in the film. The sets are real and authenic. The costumes are great. All the little details are great. They used real ships and filmed this in the tank that was made for Titanic. Mad props have to be given to Weir for the dedication and work he put into the film. The one flaw that can be said about the movie is it is slow in places. The friendship between Aubrey and the Doctor does drag in places and they did go a little far with some of the character development. We don't need to learn as much as we did with some of the side characters. They don't do really do anything to enhance the plot of the movie at all. One problem this movie had was the success of Pirates of the Carribean. Far to many people went to this film expecting to see something like that. Instead of a comedy you get a pretty serious war-action-drama movie. The comedic points are low and most of them are based out of irony. Far to many people expected Pirates and knocked the film because of it. The film was nominated for 10 academy awards. The two big ones were nominatons for "Best Picture" and "Best Director." It won for Best Sound and Best Cinematograpy. It's a pretty big statement when a movie gets this much academy attention. It would have won more if it hadn't been for Return of the King. This is a great film. It's slow in places but is well worth it. It's a beautiful made movie and I'm glad I own it. It's enjoyable and I recommend it to all.
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