Rating: 
Summary: Good entertainment, and not too manipulative!
Review: Peter Weir's latest blockbuster is, in my opinion, admirably subdued. The film is a cat and mouse tale of derring-do and chess moves in the South Atlantic and South Pacific during the early 19th Century. While the film could be a bit shorter, it does include interesting side plots such as a naturalist's stop on the Galapagos Islands and the inevitable storm scene. While the best thing about the film is probably the production values-we are given what seems to be a realistic depiction of what will be an unknown world to most of us-it has no shortage of suspense, and as I outline below, I didn't find it to be 'too Hollywood.'Although this big budget period piece is in some reminiscent of recent hero epics such as Gladiator, The Patriot, and Braveheart, many of the standard Hollywood tactics are not exploited here. While the characters are not terribly well developed, at least they are not the caricatures and archetypes we are usually spoon-fed by the big studios. The other side (the French here) are not vilified, although we do get a predictably rosy portrait of the English (for example, no .... dalliances are even alluded to during a stop for provisions.) While a couple scenes cross into melodrama (the return of the wind after the doldrums), the film is relatively even keeled (sorry) and not too emotionally manipulative. Overall, this was a solid and informative spectacle, if not exactly profound or packed with any particular message. Everything from the acting, to the cinematography, to the music was more than competent but less than inspired. Given the inherently interesting subject matter (IMO), lavish production values, and fact that the movie was not overly simplistic or manipulative, the lack of any major faults is more than enough to merit a viewing of this film. I considered an additional plus to be the relatively realistic depiction of the brutalities of war even amongst the very young. If you enjoyed this film, in addition to the films mentioned above you might consider Das Boot and Balance of Terror.
Rating: 
Summary: I've read the books
Review: I have indeed read the books and re-read Master and Commander and The Far Side of the World prior to hopping down to the local theater to review the movie. I must say that I was not disappointed at all. Quite the contrary.
The characters and plot were masterfully brought to life by the actors, writers and directors. Almost all books are short-sheeted by their movies but it's the spirit of the books that must be adhered to. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World definitely came with that distinct Patrick O'Brian spirit.
If you've got [money] and 2 hours to spare - go see this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Good movie for boys to watch
Review: A lot of good things have been said about the technical points of this movie. I've never been able to notice this sort of thing well so I won't bore anybody with my pathetic observations. I just want to explain the main points I feel this movie impresses on the viewer. Films never seem to be neutral - they always say something about how to live, or at least what comprises normal living. And a lot of the modern material Hollywood pumps out strikes me as shallow and unbeneficial. I can only see so many movies with great, awe-inspiring, muscular action heros who have no moral backbone before I start getting disillusioned with the cinema scene. What I really liked about this movie was that it had a great view of what it's like to be a good man and leader. It showed the difficult decisions a leader like Jack Aubrey has to face, the courage and shrewdness required, the necessity of laughter and a good sense of humor, and a good sense of moral behavior and fulfillment of duty. It showed the need for not just fighting ability but also wisdom and culture - Captain Aubrey read literature, played his violin, and clearly was an educated man as set apart from the no-brains-all-brawn hero of too many of today's films. It portrayed the bravery and heroism possible even in boys; I thought the boy who had his arm amputated played his part very well, showing courage and conviction. A good dose of these traits are useful in the life of any man (or woman, for that matter). I suppose it can be argued whether this was a technical masterpiece or something of a loser (I lean toward the former, of course *grin*). But I think it is clear from the get-go that this movie teaches very well how a leader should live. If I ever have any children, and boys in particular, I will definitely want them to watch this at the appropriate time. Courage and uprightness are something I think every parent would be proud to see in their children. This movie can help bring that about.
Rating:
Summary: Grand Filmmaking.
Review: MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD is a magnificent piece of filmmaking. The acting is superb, the historical details almost totally accurate, and great special effects. The story revolves around Capt. Jack Aubrey and his crew aboard the British H.M.S. Surprise. It is 1805 and Napolean is conquering the world and now the seas. Aubrey's orders are to intercept the French ship Acheron and either destroy it or capture it. The Acheron surprises the Surprise twice and Jack vows it won't happen again. Along the way we see the perils of life at sea and the comraderie (and sometimes displeasure) between the sailors. Peter Weir hasn't made a film since THE TRUMAN SHOW and it is a delight to watch his latest achievement. The movie is strongly story driven. However, unlike many films, the characters aren't underdeveloped. We get a real sense of the lives of many of the shipman and we grow to like them. There were two points in the movie where most of the audience sighed in shock as tragedy betook beloved characters. Also, the musical score is beautiful and seems perfect for a sea-adventure film such as this. I haven't read the books (yet) so I can't say how true to the spirit of the novels the movie is. However, I can say MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD is one good yarn worth watching on the big screen at the theatre.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I just got back from seeing Master & Commander. Others will write long, in depth reviews but I will keep mine short. If you've been waiting all year for a really great movie this is it.
Russell Crowe is a throw back to the 30s and 40s when actors actually acted. His peformance was perfect. As for the story and the film itself there were times when I was struck with awe, not because of CGI but because of the story on screen. The Oscar nominations should be in the mail now.
Rating:
Summary: very impressive, one of the year's best thus far
Review: A film by Peter Weir Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is based on two of the novels of Patrick O'Brien (both Master and Commander, and The Far Side of the World, the first and tenth books of the series). I haven't read any of the books, but any movie starring Russell Crowe and directed by Peter Weir is worth seeing. Weir is a very talented director (Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show) and Crowe is such a good actor that when he is in a role you don't see the man, you see the character. That is rare in a leading man. This movie (as well as the books) is historical fiction. The captain of the H.M.S. Surprise is Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe). Aubrey is given his orders: to pursue and capture the French ship the Acheron. The Acheron has been harrying and sinking English whaling vessels and it is up to the Surprise to stop this. It's a simple story and this point is where much of the plot lies: in the chase. The rest of the movie is the development of the friendship between Aubrey, and this ship's doctor Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany). Over the course of the film (and the long chase of the Acheron) we get to see what sailing would have been like in the 19th Century, and we see how Aubrey interacts with his crew. He is a compassionate Captain, a moral man who leads without being a tyrant. We see Aubrey's strong leadership with the crew and his humanity both in his leadership as well as in his friendship with Maturin. This was an impressive movie. Unlike The Perfect Storm, Master and Commander captures the feel of being on the ship and really working. The use of nautical and military terms without stopping to explain each term adds to the realism of the movie. Peter Weir has the details down and he crafts quite an experience that does not go for the cheap payoff in the chase of the Acheron. The acting was top notch, and while the supporting cast was not very well developed (I never saw them as individuals, only as Crew) they blend seamlessly into the movie, and into the ship. I was very impressed with this movie. It had more of a classic film feel in the pacing and the acting, but Weir's vision was strong and I loved the movie. Highly recommended for anyone. I would give it 4 1/2 stars.
Rating:
Summary: For the prize, and maybe the Oscars.
Review: For months I had anticipated the coming of, "Master and Commander, the Far Side of the World" and this was not a movie in which I left dissappointed. Captian 'Lucky' Jack Aubrey is the Captian of the HMS Surprise, and he is the one surprised in the first battle scene, right at the start of the film. Aubrey has the Surprise in search of the French Vessel Acheron, which has found him, and lays into the Surprise a wallup of a battle. Of note in the film is a young actor, Max Pirkis, who plays Lord Blakeney. In the initial battle waged upon the Surprise, Blakeney is wounded in the arm and subsequently looses said arm. This is a fairly dramatic scene in which his arm is amputated, a bit to close to home for me. Pirkis' ability at the young age of 13 to act against Crowe and not be swalowed up and disappear was superb. Paul Bettany in his role as Dr. Stephen Maturin was quite brilliant, I could almost feel his child-like at at the all to brief but glorious beauty of the Galapagos Islands. Someone wrote they thought some of the scenes looked cropped, as I am not a photographer, I could not tell, so I truly enjoyed the Islands scenes. One of the more dramamtic scenes was seeing Bettany's Physician, after being shot and needing surgery, performs the surgery on himself, *shudder*. All of the actors in Master and Commander fulfilled there roles with utter amazement. You get a very good idea of the feelings that were clustered into the Man-O-Wars (ships) back then. The ships were of close confinement and thus caused many fights, tifts, cliques and losses amongst fellow shipmates. As I have not read the books by Patrick O'Brian, so I can not attest to how closelynthe movie morrors the books. But I do understand from people who have told me they read the books and saw the film, there are discprepancies, but most still quite enjoyed the film. I will admit some scenes were not quite believable, but were not so far fetched as to seem ridiculous and loose believability in the film. Overall it was extremely enjoyable by myself and my party,one of whom is a history buff. I believe anyone who watches "Master and Commander" will walk away pleased. I also think it will give renewed interest in Napoleonic History, especially in British ships and ship warfare.
Rating:
Summary: When the Sum of the Parts is Greater than the Total
Review: MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD is a movie that is almost impossible not to like. The idiosyncratic world of life aboard a ship (a man-o-war) is in many ways like viewing the universe through the wrong end of a telescope: life with all the relationships, fear, lust, camaraderie, bigotry, animal drives for survival, agony of death from the eyes of the dying and the eyes of those surviving become a microcosm of life beyond the vast stretches of sea to that on the Continents of the civilized world in the year 1805. Patrick O'Brien's epics are well served down to the last detail of grit and grime and ship etiquette as captured by director Peter Weir.
The claustrophobia of confinement aboard a ship at sea is staggeringly well depicted. The lighting, the inevitable fog, the allegiance of a crew to its Captain, the British use of young midshipmen, the close relationship between the Captain and his ship's physician (they rise above the rawness of ship life by playing duets on the violin and cello at night in the Captain's quarters), the gore of naval battles both across ships and after boarding an enemy ship - all are extraordinary. The actors are excellent - especially Paul Bethany as the physician and Russell Crowe as the Captain. The music score is utterly breathtaking as it uses Ralph Vaughn-Williams "Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis", Bocherini, Bach and some wonderful sea shanties to realize a very British atmosphere. The music is there when it is necessary, not merely to bolster the magnitude of the sound of noisy battle.
So why is the sum of the parts greater than the whole? For this viewer all the splendor and production values somehow bury the importance of who these men truly are. Perhaps that is Weir's (and O'Brian's) choice - that the thrust of the story should be about one ship and its crew and destiny. I wonder. This is a splendid movie and I recommend it highly. Just go for the majesty of it all.
Rating: 
Summary: Great SFX, Writing below "C" level
Review: Great books often lose in translation, and this is no exception. I felt that Peter Weir took several volumes of O'Brian's incredible opus, cut them to pieces, shook 'em in a basket, then pulled out random bits and duct-taped them together. I don't see why. Even one book could have been filmed as a miniseries. Crowe, Bettany, et al did their best, I'm sure. Killick was perfect. The shipboard details were superb. Maturin's little office looked much like the one on the Victory. The look and sound were superb, but the plot had no shape or direction. Trying to shove book 1 & book 10 together was as graceful as a front-end collision. Taking chunks of story from different decades and mixing them like hash made for some really stupid bits. Maturin wouldn't have been complaining about someone getting flogged for shoving an officer -- not after he'd been aboard for several years. Likewise the old salt explaining to the youngster the difference between a pirate and a privateer. This kid's been on board for months -- that would have been explained long since. It was in character but out of sync -- as Gene Roddenberry once said, it would be like Joe Friday explaining how a pistol works. There were breathtaking scenes: the storm at sea, where wreckage must be cut away to save all the men aboard, but at the cost of a life. The scenes of the ship moving quietly through the water, to the sound of the violin and cello... the heart-stopping battle scenes, with the amplified boom making the theatre rattle. As usual these days, special effects were superb. The actors were wonderful. The cast gave uniformly skilled performances, and did their best with what they had to work with. But the story ... I felt that the writers who eviscerated and reconstituted the story didn't have a clue about the heart of this remarkable series. It will probably do well. It has fine acting, superb cinematography, convincing battle scenes, and almost no soul at all. Book One, Master and Commander, would have made a fine film all on its own, and I can't for the life of me understand why they buggered it up so thoroughly. I understand that O'Brian's son, who apparently inherited the rights to the books, had a lot of resentment toward his father. It's a pity they had no one in the O'Brian estate, or in the scripting team, who had a better understanding of and love for these books.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Epic with Few Flaws
Review: I enjoyed watching this movie. It wasn't extraordinary or unique, but it was certainly an action-packed, high energy, tour de force entertainment. The acting was great, especially Paul Bettany's (the doctor on board the HMS Surprise.) The special effects were awesome and the sound was clear and realistic. I love the soundtrack to this movie as well. Some scenes from the Island on which the HMS Surprise landed appeared to be superimposed, which was really embarrassing. The last battle scene was extremely disorienting to the point that you lost track of who was attacking whom. What I really liked about the movie were the series of dialogues between Captain Jack (Russell Crowe) and Dr. Stephen (Paul Bettany). They were full of profound symbolism and uncanny relevance. I also enjoyed the numerous subtle layers the movie seemed to have. Two thumbs up to that! I think the movie is a great movie-going experience that will satisfy your desire for colossal action sequences. It is PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN meets THE PERFECT STORM.
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