Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (2003)

A strong Blu Ray transfer for "Master and Commander" a highlight of the set which is a bit light on extras

Peter Weir's "Master and Commander" manages to compress two marvelous novels into one marvelous film. Captain "Jack" Arbry (Russell Crowe in a marvelous performance) and the crew of the Surprise pursue a French warship in Atlantic waters. Out gunned and out classed by a heavier, faster ship, Arbry is determined to take down the French raider before it takes down another of Her Majesty's Ships. This pursuit will cost his crew, his ship but must be done to keep the waters safe for other vessels.

Sharp direction by Weir, a masterfully adapted script by Weir and John Colee makes this harrowing sea adventure a worthwhile trip. Weir adds a powerful cinematic flair with the sharp camera work of Russell Boyd. Unlike a lot of previous adventures at sea, the fluid camera work adds to the sense of menace and danger that Arbry and his crew feel.

The extras are similar to the original single disc DVD which is a bit disappointing especially considering how much Fox is charging for their Blu Ray discs (particularly compared to Warner). All the extras are in high definition which is good news. We get deleted scenes, a historical and geographical trivia track, a pop up map showing you where the S.S. Surprise is at any given moment, the theatrical trailer and the ability to search and save your favorite scenes.

There's no commentary track nor are there any featurettes on the making of the film. Considering this IS a Blu-Ray disc, I'd expect the featurettes from the deluxe DVD edition of the film if nothing else but, sadly, we don't get it. I suspect we'll see a Blu-Ray double dip shortly.

I can recommend the movie on Blu-ray simply because it has a superb looking transfer with nice detail and without the over use of digital clean up (a problem for "Patton" which is one of the worst looking Blu-Ray's I've seen--not because of the image itself but because of the overuse of digital tools to clean up the film creating waxy looking skin textures, loss of general detail and adding an unnecessary digital "look" to the film to eliminate film grain). July 12, 2008

A true "Classic"

Why there has been no sequel to this film baffles me. It is an almost perfect depiction of life at sea during the Napoleanic Wars, and better yet, a multifaceted study of the human condition. The acting and action is superb, the plot unerring, and if you love GREAT surround sound, it is as good as it gets. I just wish they would continue the series. If they can make 3 Spiderman films, why won't they continue this far more interesting vein? July 9, 2008

Very much a "man's" film

I've never watched Master And Commander before, there's always been something in the way. The length, it wasn't "appropriate" to watch it at that particular moment in time, and the fact that I couldn't (notice the past tense) stand Russell Crowe. But when you're thinking that you'll never agree on a movie to watch, out comes the one that you've never had a chance to watch yet.

The thing about M&C is that it's very much a movie aimed at men. There is only one scene which features women, and it's very brief. The rest of the movie features men - manly men, wimpy men, rugged men, MEN. Now, while us ladies like our men, it can be a little bit overpowering especially in a 138 minute long movie. And when some of the cast look like they should be appearing in Oliver. But when you consider that the rumoured love interest for Russell's character was supposed to be Keira Knightley - I'll stick with all the men thanks.

But back to the movie. For a 138 minute long movie, I'm surprised that it actually went by so fast. Even the setting didn't get boring - 90% of it is set on a ship after all. And the other setting was Galapagos Islands (I still don't know how to pronouce it).

There's a pretty basic plot, but at the same time it's pretty involving, and at one point I was clenching my fists, desperate for the right ship to win. My only quibble was the cast - there was so many of them, I eventually lost track of who was who, and didn't even recognise Paul Bettany, despite having just watched him in Wimbledon. (I thought it was Jason Isaacs - duh.) The cast was very impressive, and all of them played their roles very well - even though I still have no idea who was who. A few of the cast could have easily walked off the ship and straight into a production of Oliver, which made me smile quite a lot.

Russell was surprisingly good as well. I tend to stay away from his movies, as I just don't see the appeal. But he's not a terrible actor, and his portrayal of Capt. Jack Aubrey was excellent.

There are a few sad moments in the movie, and I started second guessing the ending - but thankfully I was wrong. In my opinion, the ending did fall a bit flat, and it wasn't what I expected, but it was better than what I was expecting. If that makes any sense what so ever.

Overall, M&C was an excellent afternoon movie, although I did fall asleep straight afterwards - but fortunately not during! - but just make sure you set aside plenty of time for it, and possibly don't watch when you're in a man-hating mood. July 8, 2008

Master and Commander

Great film, I also recommend the book, but they did a great job on this movie. If you haven't seen it: see it.

As for the DVD/Sound quality etc. I am suprised at how many reviews are only about this. I honestly did not recognize a huge difference in the quality of the DVD from the VHS. July 4, 2008

JP

This movie is hands down one of the best of the last decade.

I'm not one to rate movies, but far too many people are too quick to judge this film. I, like many, went into this movie expecting a swashbuckling thriller, only to find a much more thoughtful movie. The pacing is measured, but perfect for the story - one which is more about 19th century sailing and the bonds of friendship than swords and cannons. Much like other movies by Weir, including Gallipoli (I believe this movie to be far superior to that more widely hailed film), it is hard to place this in a single category.

That's not to say there is no action. The movie has quite possibly the most visceral and entertaining ship-to-ship combat scene I have ever scene. This only caps a movie that is incredibly detailed and beautiful to watch. Everything from the wardrobe to the knots is near perfect in representing this period, creating an understanding of the place and times that is truly unique. Add to this the inherent beauty of 19th century sailing, the dramatic landscape of the Galapagos and the incredible cinematography, and you have a truly awe-inspiring movie. Add to this the incredible sound effects and the absolutely perfect score (just go buy the soundtrack, performed by Yo-Yo Ma), and its a complete viewing experience.

Yet all of this would pale be for naught if not for the incredible acting of this movie. Crowe and Bettany give succinct and underplayed performances, making their characters truly live. Similar kudos go to all involved, from the recognizable Billy Boyd to a number of relatively unknown actors who make even the smallest roles perfect (witness the character of the young Mr. Blakely or the grizzled, gregarious sailing master).

Historically accurate (this coming from a trained historian), beautiful to the senses and well acted, this movie had become one of my all-time favorites. Admittedly, having mixed reactions after first viewing because of its untraditional storyline and accurate recreation of shipboard life, I now watch this movie at least once a month. Just buy the darn thing.

**Just a word on the extras: they are good, but they really didn't blow me away. In regards to how the film was made, they are impressive, but there isn't much on the history or even on the author. It's really a shame, since this movie deserved so much more. While I would recommend buying this edition, buy the cheaper one if you are worried about spending the money. June 26, 2008

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