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Summary: The DVD will blow you away
Review: The creaking of a bow overhead and the thundering of cannons all around you, the senses are bombarded in a DVD which arrived this week.
Fox Home Entertainment's transfer of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is so vividly presented in both audio and video quality that the studio undoubtedly wanted viewers to feel as if they had taken to sea themselves for all of its 138-minute running length.
Based on the acclaimed novels of Patrick O'Brien and his hero Royal Navy Officer Jack Aubrey the plot concerns his Ahab-like obsessive quest to track down the French Privateer Archeron across the oceans of the world.
In command of H.M.S. Surprise the British ship seems an unsuitable match for their quarry. The enemy vessel has greater firepower and is seemingly impervious to cannons fired from Aubrey's battery. It becomes clear after the first engagement between the two that Aubrey is going to have to rely on his wits to outwit his adversary.
Down the coast of South America, around the vicious Cape Horn and north to the Galapagos Islands the Captain stays doggedly on the tail of the Archeron, narrowly missing his own destruction until the final heart pounding confrontation.
Australian director Peter Weir holds no punches in his portrayal of life aboard an early nineteenth century warship and Russell Crowe along with his "Beautiful Mind" co-star Paul Bettany both give sterling performances as the Captain and his best friend Ships Surgeon Stephen Maturin. Simply put "Master and Commander" is a triumph of movie making and arguably one of the best movies to be put out by a major studio in recent years.
Similarly the DVD holds no punches presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio in a fine transfer. Color accuracy is excellent and edge halos have been eliminated.
The movie is available in both a single disc edition and a special two-disc edition with a generous selection of extras.
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed but really well done movie.
Review: This movie is really a great but also very bleak representation of what life as a colonial era sailor must have been like. Most movies portray pirates as having fun and partying but M&C shows a much more realistic perspective where the sailors faced dangerous seas and attacks from French and barbarian ships in the Atlantic. Captain Jack Aubrey is the captain of his ship along with his sidekick surgeon (played by Paul Bettany) and is sailing in the South Atlantic to track down an enemy warship sent out during the Napeleonistic wars in France. A lot of very bleak and sometimes depressing parts are where some of the children are also on board the ship, at the mercy of the seas and weather, plus possible attack by French naval forces. The movie is really good but sometimes drags on in some places. Some of the scenes are also dull and even depressing but that's what M&C is about: The realistic portrait of the dangers and isolation of 1800s navy duty, plus bravery, loyalty, and faith. It's not "PIrates of the Carribean" where it's all like slapstick battles. "Master and Commander: The Far Side of The World" is an excellent movie and I look forwards to getting this on DVD!! You should too!!
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Summary: "The Oceans Are Battlefields": Beautiful and Majectic
Review: See this opening credit. Three big powers of Hollywood -- Miramax, Universal, and 20th Century Fox -- joined forces to produce "Master and Commander," a thrilling adventure tale of HMS Surprise, led by Captain Jack Aubrey, set in 1805. He is ordered to capture (or sink) the formidable emeny ship the Acheron, without any support from other ships. The story, based on Patric O'Brien books, is simple. Russell Crowe's Captain is determined to chase the Acheron, whatever it takes, and in the following two hours you see the fierce battles, and very brief, quiet time of peace. Paul Bettany is doctor of the ship, and Captain's most trusted friend, and their friendship also plays the major part of the film. But you want to know whether the battle scenes of the film deserve your time and money. They do. The authentic descriptions of the fighting on the sea in the 19th century, when good use of the wind and the cannonballs decided the winner, are presented with confidence and tact. They are not bloody as the real ones perhaps, but the danger of being there is easily felt. My complaint is the film's occasional lull (including the literal one), in which the onward action so far, suddenly without warning, changes to a different theme. When you think a chase between the two ships is about to start, the scene switches to a big storm. When you think the ship is heading south, nearing the icy continent, you find the ship had already changed its course, going north. This quick change, with episodic mode, comes probably from the way of adaptation of the original books, which are too long to be put into film. Russell Crowe (who put on weight for the role) is always good at playing this kind of character with machismo, and that's no surprise when he is so perfect, but more astonishing is Paul Bettany, who underwent the complete transformation from his past gangster No. 1 images to a thoroughly intelligent Dr. Maturin. You recongnize in him no "MC Chaucer" he did "Knight's Tale," and that is amazing. Peter Weir's direction is assured and well-paced, but to some the film's pace looks too slow at first. He does not hurry to show the excitement of the battles or storm, and that shows his unshaken confidence in the material. In fact, "Master and Commander" is a good case of "the images tell everything," and to watch it is like seeing a majectic battleship gliding gracefully on the ocean. And it's so beautiful.
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Summary: Should have won the best picture oscar
Review: This is the most authentic portrayal of the Georgian Navy on film, even if its based on fiction. The damp and rotting ships, the calamity of battle, the tempestuous and capricious seas. They are all there. The movie-makers give realistic (and well acted) characters, breathtaking visuals and a sense of authenticity not seen since "Damn the Defiant". Highly recommended indeed.
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Summary: Old fashioned
Review: but so what. A character centered war picture is not something usually as well done as this. You'll be glad you weren't conscripted.
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Summary: Great seafaring tale!
Review: Master and Commander tells the story of Lucky Jack Aubrey and his journey to "The Far Side of the World". Based upon the books by Patrick O'Brian it is a faithful rendering of O'Brians world to film. O'Brian found solace in creating a world of characters that exsisted in the era in which he placed them. While he admitted that his books were not plot driven his details of life in Nelson's navy were magnificent. This film faithfully follows O'Brians idea. The plot is basic but it is the nuances of everyday life at sea that make it a sight to behold. The things that these "iron men" had to endure would make the heartiest modern person blanche. For anyone that has read O'Brian I strongly suggest that they don't hesitate to see this film. In it will be all their old favorite characters. If you have not read O'Brian (shame on you) then this is a great visual treat. As I said, the plot is basic, chasing a French ship (changed from an American ship in the book)but the sense of friendship and intricate details of naval life move the story forward. The amount of research that the crew of this film did on the period is very evident (including having the stars actually learn the instruments they play in the film). See it soon and see it often.
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Summary: Master & Commander was Disappointing
Review: "Master and Commander, the Far Side of the World" was disappointing. Although it was above average fare for what Hollywood normally puts out, it would never match up to any of the Horatio Hornblower series episodes. Lots of action and special effects but lacking in believability and historical period authenticity. Altogether too much familiarity between officers and crew for a British Ship of the Line. I would recommend this film as well done for typical Hollywood, but I would stop there.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant seafaring adventure
Review: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a superb adventure set on the high seas during the early 1800's. It stars the always excellent Russell Crowe as navel hero Jack Aubrey and co-stars Paul Bettany as the surgeon/naturalist Dr. Stephen Maturin. It's directed by Peter Weir. This was one of the very best films to come out last year and is wonderfully entertaining from start to end. It contains some breathtaking battle scenes at sea and is a wonderfully written story. The relationship between Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany is emotional and heartfelt, they are strong friends who clash occasionaly. It's fasinating to witness life on the sea as it was in those days with young children being put in charge whilst the older ones were resting and the battle scenes are very realistic. The cinematography is superb and the sound makes you really think your at sea with them. It's not for everyone, not the usual mindless blockbusters we are used to, but if your willing to give this movie a watch you'll enjoy it. Thanks for reading this review and enjoy the film.
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Summary: Been this way before
Review: The story of a ship's captain who battles an almost phantom-like enemy, while dealing with a crew that is both gallant and superstitious. The captain is extraordinarily gifted, with great insight into his foe and great skills in navigation and ability to read the enemy's mind. His closest friend on the ship is the ship's doctor. The enemy is finally defeated when the captain devises a ruse that makes the enemy think the captain's ship is defenseless. I love this movie. Unfortunately, I'm talking about "The Enemy Below" with Robert Mitchum and Kurt Jurgens. Set in WWII, with Mitchum as the captain, the movie was so closely copied by "Master and Commander" that there are scenes followed shot-for-shot. As if that kind of outright theft wasn't enough, the movie also steals from a television episode that also stole from "Enemy Below": Star Trek's 'Balance of Terror" which is the story of a ship's captain who battles an almost phantom-like enemy, while dealing with a crew that is both gallant and superstitious. The captain is extraordinarily gifted, with great insight into his foe and has great skills of navigation and ability to read the enemy's mind. His closest friend on the ship is the ship's doctor, Bones. The enemy is finally defeated when the captain devises a ruse that makes the enemy think the captain's ship is defenseless. 'Master and Commander' is a fine film, I only wish it wasn't so completely derivative.
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Summary: A Perfect and Episodic Adventure
Review: This film [shoudl be commended for] its brilliant use of episodic storytelling. By making a movie up of vignettes, we are able to grow more attatched to the characters. It enables an extra layer of realism and involment to the film, and I found it to be thrilling. Great films have been episodic before. Take It Happened One Night, for example. One story comprised of several small, yet wonderful adventures. This is a great film, the best of 2003. Perfect movie, perfect film. A grand time.
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