Rating: 
Summary: What a bitter dissapointment!
Review: I had high hopes of this movie after seeing and hearing all the great reviews that this movie has recieved upon it's release and was so excited to see how it turned out. Sadly, I have to say that this movie completely fell short on all fronts of what I was expecting. The movie is about the tale of Sailor Stephen Mataurin as he sails out to sea too see the wonders and strangeness of the richness of the lands on the 'far side' of the world while the Napeleonic Wars rage on in France. The good points which are rather sparse are good. The various shots of the oceans and the ships sailing are absolutely beautiful and spellbinding. The landscapes are also stunning as well. The various battle scenes are intense and bring out the graphic nature of what real life Pirate battles were really like and the sad results of war throughout the ages. The action scenes though only amount up to maybe ten or fifteen minutes of the movie. That's pretty much it for what's really enjoyable about this movie. The good points though are negated by the excessively slow pace of this movie. It drags and drags on that one can't help but feel tested at his or her ability to maintain interest in a slow movie for over two hours. The movie also felt like it was all thrown together into just a hodgepodge of fighting scenes and disgusting surgical acts too. While it does bring to light how awful surgery was at the time, it sure was rather hard to stomach at times. Everything just seems to not hold together for very long and by the time the movie ended, I was just utterly dumbstruck and was like "What the H was that?!" While far from being a one star film, "Master and Commander" really could have been one of the greatest films this year but due to it's molassas pace, and the lack of good dialogue, this really turned out to be a rather dull and dissapointing movie.
Rating:
Summary: Don't bother.
Review: Just to give you an impression about the crowd's reactions: "What a "wonderful" movie!"
"I didn't know it was going to be a nature-film."
"Who is the dumb who had the great idea to come and see this movie?" Do they sum up the essence of the movie? Probably. Let's take a look at the good things about this movie: 1- The marine battle scenes.
2 - The illustration of the life on the ship from both sides of the chain of command.
3 - Russell Crowe's haircut.
4 - The name of the movie. Let's examine the bad things about this movie: 1- The story: Basically, as one guy in the theatre hall described it, we have two ships that chase one another. All the rest is filler.
2- The scenes in which Crowe is playing the violin with his fellow Doctor who is playing the cello. Okay, it's acceptable to show this cultural angle once, but three times? Definitely filler.
3 - The dark sub-plot of the "bad luck" curse and its solution. It's pure tripe and an insult to the viewers' intelligence.
4 - The emphasis put on nature exploration: The film "doesn't know" what it wants to be - an action film or a nature film. Why should anyone care for the drawings of Beatles and turtles in a supposed to be a Russell Crowe action movie about marine warfare?
5 - The lack of point in the film. What does the common viewer take with him as he leaves the cinema? Almost nothing. So he has seen how sailors used to live and fight a few centuries ago. So he has seen a few well-photographed marine battles. So he has seen Russlle Crowe trying to be a Gladiator on the sea. So what? Where is the extra value and the impression that is going to last? They are nowhere to be found. All in all, wait for the DVD, and even then, see it if a friend invites you to come over.
Rating: 
Summary: A Few, Polite Words on This Spectacular Film ...
Review: ... MASTER AND COMMANDER presents a far more realistic, meaningful, and interesting portrayal of life on the high seas than PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN. Spend your cinema time wisely, and invest a few hours with Russell Crowe and his maties in THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD. 'Nuff said.
Rating: 
Summary: Artful "Master" Commands The Screen
Review: Even from the very first preview of Russell Crowe's new nautical blockbuster, I had high hopes, and the much anticipated release didn't lead me, or audiences astray. Set much aboard the English ship "H.M.S. Suprise", it follows the story of Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey (Crowe), and his faithful crew, on a mission to capture and destroy a superior French cruiser tracking them during the Napoleonic Wars. When the French launch a suprise attack against the Suprise, badly damaging the ship and injuring much of the crew, Captain Aubrey is torn between duty and friendship as he embarks on a journey across two oceans to seek revenge. The stakes run high; the mission's success could preserve the Suprise and its crew as heroes, but on the other hand, it could cost them all their lives. From the coast of Brazil, to the tumultous Cape Horn to the icy waters of the Far Side of the World (hence, the title) it all draws closer to the climatic sea battle between the French, and Captain Jack. In my opinion, the performances in this film are wonderful, considering they could have easily been overdone. As the rough and troubled Captain, Russell Crowe shows the true range of his talents, from the way he yells orders, to his expressions and faraway look in his eyes as he weighs the difficult decisions at hand. As the ship's doctor Stephen Maturin, Paul Bettany is equally as good, adapting to his character, and the thoughts and feelings that come with it, with an natural ease that only the best of the best possess. The duo who also appeared in last years "A Beautiful Mind", play up their chemistry again in this film, which adds to the splendor onscreen. "Master and Commander" is certainly one of this year's most decadent films, much of it owed to director Peter Weir. A three-time Oscar nominee, he brings to the screen a realistic depiction of life aboard a navy vessel in the 1800s, with a style and grace all his own. The cinematography is jaw-dropping, and the choices in shots during sea battles and aerial views of the wide open oceans give it a whole new dimension. Every cannon shell hitting and splintering the deck is heard, and you can almost taste the salty air on your tongue as you are gloriously transported back into the naval world during the Napoleonic Wars. Although it has some gory surgery scenes to turn even the strongest of stomachs, this film is truly a masterpiece, and recommended for all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Master and Commander
Review: As a long time fan of Patrick O'Brian, I was hesitant about going to this film - I expected to be disappointed. I was wrong. The film captures the feeling of the book perfectly - so much so that I wonder if someone not familiar with the books would "get it". There were many little things that I know would be missed without the books - Killick's toasted cheese, the signifigance of the music, for example. It is a beautiful, very well done film. Patrick O'Brian fans, Aubrey and Maturin fans, go see this movie!
Rating:
Summary: A quiet little film trying to be an epic...
Review: I wanted to like this film more than I did. It's that simple. I think that it was a good film, but not a great film. In a year of better films--let's face it this year has been a real dud movie-wise-- Most of the elements were there, great cinematography, good acting, mostly good casting (the Doctor's part seemed a bit off with that actor, to me), and a lot of interesting small moments in the script. Still those small moments were part of the problem; an epic needs to be more than a bunch (and I mean a bunch) of small moments cobbled together. Worth seeing on the big screen. I frankly won't buy the DVD because I don't think that I could sit through it again and again on a small screen.
Rating: 
Summary: *Yawn*
Review: My goodness! I'm still asleep after watching this movie! If you're having trouble sleeping, try this snooze fest. It'll knock you right out. I almost fell asleep several times in the theater. It was hard to get into the movie and difficult to understand a word they're saying with that accent! So basically the whole thing was confusing and it lost my interest. I couldn't wait until it was over. The beginning battle scene was exciting... then the movie went downhill from there. I got tired of seeing the same things over and over again, sailing, more sailing, feasting, and mumbling words. Not sure why critics rave about it so much. Just warning people out there not to waste money on this dull dud.
Rating:
Summary: Well done
Review: I simply pleased to say that the movie was well done. Not only does it have well accomplished actors and excellent digital effects and music, I was amazed that they would produce such a wonderful movie without girls. The only problem was, at some rare points, you could tell that the boat was in an enclosed area but it really doesn't matter. I recommend this movie for all ages, from early teens, like myself, and the younger and older.
Rating:
Summary: The Sea as a Character
Review: Well acted sea adventure based on a compilation of Patrick O'Brian's first and tenth books in his 20 volume set. But the real star of this Peter Weir visual buffet, is the sea. The fact that the seascape doesn't look like it came from the bowels of a computer generated image is, because it didn't. Weir had the actual sea filmed by a crew aboard a tall ship called the Endeavor as she sailed around Cape Horn. Not one image of this film looks like it was done in a big fish tank. The cinematogoraphy is so real, in fact, you will feel like you are on deck at all times. The story has been tweaked a bit and may not be to the liking of O'Brian purists, but it matters not to those who are unfamiliar with the collected works. Russell Crowe shows once again why directors want him. Image aside, he takes the character of Lucky Jack Aubrey and makes him human. Able on one hand to complete the physical tasks that a seaman encounters on deck and on the other to tenderly coax lilting sounds from his violin. Paul Bettany works wonderfully as Aubrey's non naval surgeon Doctor Stephen Maturin, a skilled surgeon and naturalist, friend and confident to the captain as well as his cello playing duet partner. Thirteen year old Max Pirkis steals a good many scenes as Lord Blakeney who loses an arm to combat and while recovering is presented, lovingly by the captain, with a book describing the life of Lord Horatio Nelson an able-bodied one armed seaman. The battle scenes are so real that as a spectator you feel each cannon ball strike and observe each splintered piece of wood hit the deck. There is humor, tears and the most wonderful shots of the Galapogas Islands in all their natural splendor. This is a film that must be seen at least once on the big screen to really get the feel and capture the excitement of this cinematic achievement. And with a PG-13 rating, a film that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
Rating:
Summary: So Much More...
Review: O.K I might only think that because I have read the books but don't let that stop you from seeing it. Guys this movie is deep, about leadership, comraddery and frendship. The acting is excellent and heartfelt even if it is a little too drawn out at times. I thought it was great. This should get an oscar for Cinemiatography at the very least even those of you who didn't like the movie have to admit that. The Camera does a great job of putting you right up where the action is. Some of the acting is indeed corny and the scenes with Albury and Materiforming their little duiet is just a little to long but otherwise this is a great movie. One thing I didn't like (not about the movie when the movie critic for "Rolling Stone" was doing his review he reviewed the movie(after a fashion) and than he said "there are no Man/Boy love iillusions, obviously refering to the fact that 10 year old boys and regular saliors live so close together. Now my question is this "what the hell does he sit and think of when watching movies? An adult's potential attraction to children on a long sea voyage was the furthest thing from my mind I don't know about the rest of you. Rants done
Have a good day
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