Rating: 
Summary: Spectacular Naval Battles and Russell Crowe at His Finest.
Review: In 1805, Great Britain is at war with Napoleon's France. The warship HMS Surprise under the command of Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) is charged with the responsibility of preventing France from gaining control of the South Seas by intercepting the French warship Acheron as it travels down the South American coast. A dangerous battle of wits and wills ensues between Captain Aubrey of the Surprise and his counterpart on the vastly technologically superior Acheron. The Surprise's crew must battle nature's whims as well as their own foolishness in their dogged pursuit of an elusive enemy. Friction develops between the ship's surgeon, Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), and the Captain, close friends but men of opposite interests and ambitions, as Maturin questions the wisdom of this seemingly suicidal mission."Master and Commander" is based on the popular series of Aubrey/Maturin novels, set during the Napoleonic Wars, by author Patrick O'Brian. The entire film takes place at sea aboard a relatively small sailing vessel. Director Peter Weir succeeds brilliantly in giving us a sense of the isolated, enclosed, and vulnerable world in which the crew lives, and the unique culture in which seamen of the time spent their lives. The naval battles are spectacular and riveting. The audience can feel the plight of the crews of these naval warships who were like sitting ducks with nothing to protect them from incoming cannon fire or from the unforgiving ocean. Russell Crowe gives one of his finest performances as Captain Jack Aubrey, a man of imposing but just character who inspires loyalty and fortitude in his men. Crowe actually had me convinced that he could be a British naval officer who lived two centuries ago. It is a rare actor who can break free of modern mannerisms and values to successfully inhabit a character from a very different world, and Crowe's portrayal of Aubrey is even more rare in that he makes the man terrifically charismatic at the same time. "Master and Commander" doesn't actually have much of a story. It's a game of cat and mouse on the high seas. The film loses its focus during its second half and deteriorates into a bit of a soap opera before recovering for the finale. And I really wasn't interested in seeing yet another film in which a ship is batted about while trying to round Cape Horn. But the film's performances and gripping naval battles are its strength. Russell Crowe's Captain Aubrey is a pleasure to watch, and the supporting cast is very fine as well. Paul Bettany is perfect as Aubrey's counterpoint. And Max Pirkis gives a memorable performance as Will Blakeney, a young midshipman of 12 or 13 years. I recommend "Master and Commander" for its great naval battles and fine performances. Please note that the considerable violence in this film is graphic and downright gruesome at times and may disturb more sensitive members of the audience.
Rating:
Summary: Captures the spirit of the life aboard a navy vessel
Review: I was wary of this movie from the previews, as it seemed like it had focused on only one part of the wonderful Patrick O'Brian books--the character of "Lucky" Jack Aubrey--and used that as a vehicle for Russell Crowe. No other actor got "named" in the preview, for one, and the whole focus of the preview seemed to be on Crowe looking pensive or decisive or jumping into action. But the preview isn't the movie, and even though all those things are in the movie, there's a whole lot more. I really shouldn't have worried, as the director and co-screenwriter is Peter Weir, whose films I have enjoyed in the past (most recently, The Truman Show, another "vehicle" for a star at the top of the heap of the moment). And, having read some of the source material, I knew that there was depth to these characters. My interest in the books had as much to do with the interplay between the patriotic, stuffed-shirt Aubrey and the subversive, idealistic Maturin as it did with the minutia of who had the weather gauge and the day-to-day life for nearly 200 men aboard a floating bunch of wood. The film captures both quite well, although Crowe's Aubrey doesn't come across quite as proud and full-of-himself as he does in the books (in fact, the movie hardly shows a chink in his armor). But it shows his character's cleverness and resourcefullness, just as it shows the doctor's inquistiveness and sea naiveity. It also emphasizes on the roughness of the life, showing the bilge, the carpentry, the lash, the need for rum and provisions, and the constant practicing with the guns. But, best of all, while Crowe's character is important, for most of the plot, he is ancilliary as we follow aspects of the rest of the crew: the midshipman whom the others see as a "Jonah," the young lord who loses his arm in the first battle, and the doctor himself, wounded at a critical juncture. I hesitate to say more about the plot, as that might detract from someone's enjoyment of the story, and for an action movie, it truly is the story that makes this one shine. The soundtrack is perfect, with the wood constantly creaking and groaning, and I'm thankful that no one has ever perfect smell-o-vision, because the visuals were enough of a suggestion in that direction. There's twenty books in the O'Brian series, and I'm sure that some studio head is slavering at the box office receipts and thinking sequel. If so, I hope that the next will feature a director as good as Weir and bring in some of the romantic subplot with Sophie or the undercover exploits of Maturin. This movie has established the main characters, just as the first book did, and if a sequel is to be any good, it has to do just as O'Brian did and be more than "Hornblower, Too" but a fascinating look into a very alien world, so unlike our own today.
Rating: 
Summary: Expect nothing and you may not be disappointed
Review: I walked out of this film with nothing, no sense of exhilaration (like one gets with good action sequences), no warmth, as with a great story that you just learned about, there were some good visuals, and the audio was strong (you felt a chill from the rain and wind from THX) - but that was by far the highlight. I laugh when I read the reviews from Big Name reviewers that say such great things about this film. I guess politics in Film reviewing is no different than any other politics - people will say what they need to when the perks / or $ is good enough. (Hell, if our President is doing it - why shouldn't a movie reviewer).
Rating: 
Summary: Long on history, short on plot
Review: There's no doubting Peter Weir's skill as a director, nor the indomitable screen presence of "our Russ" when he arcs up, and "Master and Commander, etc." offers plenty of opportunities for both of them. What it doesn't offer is a particularly compelling story. The rather thin plot blends two novels by Patrick O'Brian. I've read neither, but most of both of them seems to be missing. This film, I guess, isn't about telling a story - it's about recreating life aboard an English naval vessel in 1805, and on that count it succeeds brilliantly, not only in the vividly realised physical details and extraordinary battles, but in the group psychology of men. Still, the central relationship between Captain Aubrey (Crowe) and the ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin (Bettany) doesn't go much beyond the "morality vs. duty" cliché - the story doesn't give it a chance to. Overall, this isn't a five-star affair. For all its big-budget realization, it offers little more than a good episode of the LWT's "Hornblower". Actually, I think it offers a bit less. Crowe's swashbuckling bravado isn't a patch Ioan Gruffud's vulnerability.
Rating: 
Summary: Review For Master And Commander
Review: Crowe could just as well be gazing a slew of Oscar nominations. Because that's the direction this handsomely made and vividly detailed film is heading. Master and Commander is probably the best movie of its kind ever made. Master and Commander intends to be an intelligent epic, qualites more than the intelligence that hold us. It's a big picture that yet doesn't feel compromised. There are moments, especially when the story fatalistically hints at inexplicable/supernatural forces, when it feels very much like a Weir movie. The battle sequences are filmed with impressive coherence and rigor, but Master and Commander is, if anything, most thrilling between skirmishes. I highly recommend seeing this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Rich, engaging, intense
Review: If you like a good historical action film--Das Boot or Gettysburg, for example--then you'll like this film. It's cohesive, very detailed (I noticed they called the left side of the ship "larboard", the predecessor to "port"), and well paced. Others have complained the film is too slow, but I disagree. The story moves along nicely, building suspense appropriately and keeping you immersed.
Rating:
Summary: This Isn't Pirates Of The Carribean!!!
Review: Why do people compare this movie to Pirates of the Caribbean!? It's the exact opposite of Pirates. Life onboard a ship is seen as joyless, cold, dark, and dirty. NOT glamoures! And this movie can actually be taken seriously! I thought this movie was a wonderfully great film! This generation's DasBoot. Very intense and emotional thought out the entire film. Deserves Oscars in every category!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Master of Cliches: The Far Side of Hype
Review: Don't be fooled! This film is BORING and overrated. The battle scenes are OK but certainly not great. The majority of the film is a bundle of hopeless cliches from numerous pirate films and sea adventures of the 1930's and 1940's. The photography is quite dark and the film difficult to see at times. Additionally, whole sections of the dialogue simply cannot be understood due to the monotone line readings of Mr. Crowe. After the film was over, the theater audience was totally silent and glum. There was no applause or much of anything. The people raving about this film are simply out to lunch. Remember, you've been warned!
Rating:
Summary: Not bad... Still kind of confusing though.
Review: I thought this was a pretty decent movie starring Russel Crowe ("Gladiator"). The storyline was also very interesting, but at times it was a little bit hard to follow! Acting was good, special effects are so-so (not as good as "Pirates Of The Crribean" w/Johnny Depp), and the battles are very intense and spectacular. (although it's kind of hard to see what's happening at some scenes during one) Historical buffs will probably find a liking to this A LOT, but for the rest of us t's kind of a snooze fest. OVERALL: NOT the best historical action-adventure film out there. Interesting, but not the best.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected....
Review: I like historical movies and that was the main reason I went along to see this movie. I did not expect to love this movie so much that I would go back to see it another 2 times! I am not a Russell Crowe fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought he was perfect in this part as Capt. "Lucky" Jack Aubrey. The cinematography was just breath taking. The attention to all of the details even the minor ones was exceptional. Although I have to agree with some of the other reviewers the little "duet" scenes were a bit too long and slow. At some points in the movie the supporting characters stole the film from the principal characters, especially the young actor who played Lord Blakeney. While this film was not the best of the year it should definitely be one of the top ten of this year.
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