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MASTER
AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD |
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"Piss Me Off And
I'm Throwing The Phone!" |
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Directed by Peter Weir -
Written by Patrick
O'Brian, Peter Weir
Starring Russell Crowe,
Paul Bettany, James
D'Arcy
Distributed by PG13 -
2003 - 138mins - Rated
PG13 |
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From a bygone era... |
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'Master &
Commander' is a perfect example of one of those gritty big screen
adventures from bygone eras. It feels authentic from the very first
frame. By the time the final credits roll, you will be exhilarated,
enthralled and exhausted. This is one of the very best book
adaptations ever attempted from this genre. I loved this movie and it
will undoubtedly reserve a spot in my list of best films from 2003.
Russell Crowe reinforces the fact that he is one of the very best
actors of our time. He falls seamlessly into every role, and as
Captain Jack Aubrey he delivers an intense and intelligent character
who redefines the notion of leadership. This man is thoughtful and
brave and fully aware of every consequence his actions may incur.
Lucky Jack is a fully realized character.
Fans of Patrick O'Brian's work will not be disappointed at all. And
those unfamiliar with the text will fall effortlessly into this
stirring cat and mouse thriller played out on the vast and unforgiving
seas.
With a fantastic script, wonderful performances and terrific action
sequences, this film will be one of those great adventures that will
stand the test of time and improve upon each new viewing. 'Master &
Commander' is one of the best films I've seen all year long. |
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© Written by TC Candler -
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Richard
Propes' Comment
As directed by Peter Weir, this film is visually
stunning and atmospherically captivating. The
film is a must see for history buffs, of course,
especially nautical history. What lacked for me
with this film was an emotional
investment...okay, the action was exciting, the
camerawork sparkling and the history
accurate...but I just didn't care. Surrounded by
all this beautiful cinematography, and I found
myself paying more attention to Crowe's
mumbling. Perhaps I needed to see this in a
theatre...Perhaps I was just in an odd mood for
it...Perhaps I shouldn't have watched "Last
Samurai" just prior to viewing this
one...whatever the reason, this film had much to
respect but little to enjoy. Out of respect, I
give it a "B".
Jacob
Hall's Comment
Let's think of all
the good movies that take place on boats:
"Titanic," maybe, "Mutiny on the Bounty," a
classic, "Pirates of the Caribbean," a fun ride,
and "Speed 2-" WHOOPS! Wrong list!
Anyway, we have a fine addition to the list
above in "Master and Commander: The Far Side of
the World." It could even be, perhaps, the
greatest film ever on the subject of naval
fiction. Based on parts 1 and 10 of the book
series by Patrick O'Brien, "Master and
Commander" takes place in 1805. England is at
war with France, and Jack "Lucky" Aubrey,
captain of the HMS Surprise, is assigned to
destroy or capture an extremely advanced French
ship that could tip the scales of war in
France's favor. What follows is an oceanic
version of cat and mouse.
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