Rating: 
Summary: Great movie
Review: I enjoyed this movie. I've read the 20 books by Patrick O'Brian and the movie although it varies a bit from the original is true to the feeling. If you are into a realistic story as well as great direction, cinematography and acting, this one is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Movie
Review: So many movies these days have used digital effects to render either futuristic or fantasy stories believable. In this case the effects were used to make it appear that weren't any effects at all. This movie takes you back in time to a day when it took years to go on a sea voyage, people had to fend for themselves, and people had to be incredibly tough just to survive.
I loved the study in leadership which Russell Crowe delievers, I loved the attention to detail concerning the old sailing ships and seamanship, the big fight scene was one of the finast I have ever seen. I saw the movie twice within a few days I liked it so much. It will defintely go in my video collection when it is released.
Rating:
Summary: "Master"ful and "Command"ing
Review: The t.v. spot for this movie said that "Master and Commander" was the movie experience of a lifetime. While that is clear hyperbole, "Master" does add up to one of the best films of the year, and a surefire oscar contender. Set during the Napolionic Wars fo the early 1800s', the film is set around the coast of South America, as the HMS Surprise, led by Jack Aubrey (Russel Crowe) races to intercept a superior French vessel that aims at crossing the Pacific as a prelude to a possible war at sea on that side of the world. Lucky Jack, as his shipmates call him, leads his able bodied crew on a race around South America to catach up to the French ship.It is unavoidable, for me, to compare this film to the Summer hit "Pirates of the Carribbean," since they are both seafaring adventures. But where "Pirates" was swashbuckling fun directed by Gore Verbinski, "Master" is a powerful drama and war film, with themes of loyalty and duty skillfully balanced by director and co-writer Peter Weir. Weir employs some clever camera techniques and photoesque special effects to bring the Surprise and the wild sea to life. With a reported budget of $125 million, Weir got to mess around building an exact replica of british and french naval warships, and shooting them in locations on the sea and dirtiying up the actors to give the viewer a stark look at life on a naval warship. While the action is thrilling and kinetic fearuring a battle within the first five minutes and a climatic clash between the two ships, it's the quiet, intimate moments that make "Master." The Galapagos islands provide a place of solitude for the Surprise's crew, as well as a place of heaven for the ship's doctor (Paul Bettany). Also, the scenes where Bettany and Crowe duet on cello and violin are surprisingly poigiant. The crew also recieves special attention with Weir making them seem flesh and blood human, instead of wanderers to Crowe and Bettany that would have happened in lesser hands. Look for "Lord of the Rings" Billy Boyd as a member of the crew showing off his understated talents that go far beyond being Pippin.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful But Boring
Review: England is at war with France. Russell Crowe plays a sea captain chasing after an American-made French ship. Not throughout the entire movie was I made to feel like I had to chase the ship too. I never felt the obsession on the level I was intended to. First it was a Moby Dick movie, then it was something else, then back to Moby Dick again. I took a break 1/3 of the way through to come back in to one of the crew jumping off the ship to commit suicide. I would have jumped too if I were in this movie. If you like cinematography, it was absolutely gorgeous. But you might want to wait to rent. There are far too many other good movies releasing this time of year to see instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Adventure on the High Seas!
Review: An O'Brian movie! Get out of here! That was my reaction to the news that Hollywood would be bringing one of the Patrick O'Brian's magnificent sea-faring novels to the silver screen. Of course, the purists, and I count myself among them, were worried that the plots would become corrupted by the movie industry's thirst for constant spiritless action and shallow characters. My concerns were happily dashed upon viewing Peter Weir's fine interpretation of Master and Commander. The movie is faithful to the narrative genius of O'Brian, and its characters are full of the adventurous spirit that made the book such pleasures to read. Master and Commander takes us to the conflict on the high seas during the Napoleonic Wars. In the pre-Trafalgar days, the Royal Navy's dominance of the oceans was still a tenuous hold, and every ships mission was of critical importance. One such mission was given to the 28-gun frigate HMS Surprise, led by Captain Jack Aubrey. Captain Aubrey, known as "Lucky Jack, is beloved by his men who are fiercely loyal to him. His mission is to intercept the French privateer Acheron, which is attempting to enter the Pacific, where its powerful armament can wreck havoc on English trade in the area. Aubrey quickly discovers that the Acheron and its commander will be an extremely difficult prize, but the crew and its captain are far from daunted. They will conquer any challenge, both human and natural, to chase down the fierce French raider and destroy her. Master and Commander is one of the most historically accurate movie that has ever been produced, as almost every facet of the nautical experience has been lovingly detailed and reproduced. No detail is too minor, as the director and the producer obviously cut no corners in the historical set design. The acting is very powerful, as Russell Crowe delivers yet another inspirational and powerful role as the irrepressible Captain Aubrey. His Aubrey is a man driven by loyalty and duty, two motivations that abound in this powerful and epic picture. His close friend Dr. Maturin is portrayed by his A Beautiful Mind chum Paul Bettany, a very low key but prominent role. The rest of the crew is filled out by actors who place real importance on the genuine grit and grime of living on a 19th century warship, and it makes the movie very authentic. The cinematography is beautiful, with wonderful shots of the open sea and the simple majesty of sailing warships. Both the first and final battle are extremely powerful, the last one being marked by its extremely honest portrayal of the brutality that would ensue from hand to hand combat aboard ships. If you love the O'Brian novels or the sea battles of history, get ready for a really amazing cinematic experience.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies I have ever seen in my life!
Review: ...and I'm not young! This is just a stupendous movie made that way by it's apparently slavish devotion to exquisite detail of life on board the ships of that time and the very real effort put in by the actors to inculcating the very culture and mannerisms of the time also. It's not just a bunch of transparent 20th century actors playing the roles, one can clearly appreciate their efforts to even behave, speak and relate to each other in the ways of the time - it is often intellectual and does require paying attention to, but the rewards are very real and credible characters in a relatively simple, but extremely well written, storyline. It is violent in parts but not gratuitous, and you're amazed to come to the end of the movie and realise that you have to think about whether you actually heard any swearing whatsoever (there's only one word that I caught on a second viewing, but it's even easily missed). It's also insightful to realise that the realism of the movie suffered not at all for that lack. This movie leaves you with the sense of your money and time very well spent - the warm fuzzies well served!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" is a breath-taking movie that will excite many who watch it. The battle-sequences this movie has to offer are very intense and the drama-sequences are excellent! The only problem I have with this movie is that there are not enough amazing battle-sequences in it. But, I will say that this movie has two breath-taking, and very intense, battle-sequences that really are stunning! Leave the battles aside, the movie does have some other breath-taking, top-of-the-line scenes in it that amazed me very much. "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", starring the phenomenal actor Russel Crowe, is a must-see-movie!
Rating: 
Summary: Thar she blows
Review: I can't believe the over the top reviews for this one. This would have been a great Sunday afternoon TV flick in the late 80s but nothing more. Lots of sailing, drinking and gore (not that there is anything wrong with that mind you) but there was just no compelling storyline arround it. This was painfully long to watch. Swimming lizzards and birds that won't fly, however fascinating, seemed to be odly out of place it was more like Gladiator meets the nature channel. It seemed to me that Russel said 'Hey, I like the Galapagos Islands and sailing, so lets do something there', I usually like his work, but that thing stunk.
Rating:
Summary: Best movie of its type....
Review: Master and Commander starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettnay proves to be one of the best movies of its genre (Wooden Ships and Iron Men era). Crowe is ideally cast and Bettnay proves to be an able support. Rest of the cast was quite historical as there were blacks aboard these ships. Using kids as midshipmen were also very accurate as most midshipmen were 12-14 years old boys. I think the real key elements of this movie was that it very historically accurate. The shipboard life, handling of the ship and all that was done superbly well. The movie basically centered around Crowe's character and how he affects those around him. In this, its a fantastic effort by Crowe and its very reflective on the screen. But this is a "man's movie" and not a date film in my opinion. There are no sex scene, no romantic scene and no pretty woman outside of that brief moment during resupply. There are a lot of character building, bloody combat and interpersonal conflicts. Because it is historically correct, many people whose knowledge of history is rather limited, might find some part of this movie rather confusing and its lingo, very foreign like. But its a great movie and don't make the mistake of one mother and her three kids who thought this was some sort of Pirates of the Carribean type of movie. For the history interested crowd....in April 1805 when the movie start, Napoleon was master of only France and her immediate territory. Most of Europe was still aligned against him. Napoleon won't dominate Europe for another two years. Second misstep was the flogging scene....usual punishment is 24 strokes, not 12 for such offense. Otherwise, a great movie, I didn't think it was possible for Hollywood to make a historically accurate movie anymore!
Rating:
Summary: man of honor
Review: I was surprisingly mesmerized by Master and Commander, Peter Weir spellbinding tale, based on novels by Patrick O'brian, of naval wafare between England and France "on the far side of the world." Master and Commander is about Captain Audrey, acted with charisma and conviction by Russell Crowe, and his quest to defeat a faster and stronger French vessel while struggling to maintain the morale of his crew. In going about this quest, two crucial events would powefully highlight Captain Audrey's transformation from a figure of authoritarian rule to one of a trusted and trusting leader. The first involves the timid and self-conscious Hollum, a midshipman who commits suicide after being ostracized by lower-ranking crewmembers. The environment that led to this tragic occurrence could be likened to the culture of paranoia and resentment that existed under Captain Audrey's rule. The second event involves Captain Audrey's interaction with the ship's doctor, Stephen Maturin, who serves an invaluable dissenting voice on board the ship. At any rate, an unfortunate incident that critically injures Stephen, who is also a naturalist, will force Captain Audrey to reconsider his decision not allow Stephen to explore new animal life on the Galapagos Islands, and will serve as an important turning point in the success of his quest and his leadership of crew. I found Master and Commander to be a satisfying film about the importance of democratic values to successful leadership. Although it is true in some cases that leadership requires one to go against the wishes of those in one's charge, Master and Commander seems to suggest, as I believe to be true, that more often than not better decisions are made when every opinion, particularly dissenting ones, are considered and everyone is treated with equal regard. I think this point was implicitly evoked when Captain Audrey made the decision to return to the Galapagos Islands and told the crew that they were no longer obligated to tip their hats to senior crewmembers. These measures, among a few others, far from possibly causing disorderliness or lack of respect for those in authority, actually results in a genuine sense of camaraderie and greater trust among the crew. I also think some lessons about events currently taking place in the US and around the world could perhaps be learnt from this film, and many will no doubt draw comparisons. This makes Master and Commander, a superbly directed and well-acted film in its own right, all the more significant and compelling.
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