MOVIE - MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD - Review Rating $$$$$ $$ (OUT OF 10)
STARRING - Russell Crowe (Capt. Jack Aubrey), Paul Bettany (Dr. Stephen Maturin), Max Pirkis (Lord Blakeney), Billy Boyd (Barrett Bonden), James D'Arcy (Lt. Thomas Pullings), Mark Lewis Jones (Mr. Hogg), Chris Larkin (Marine Capt. Howard),
Richard McCabe (Mr. Higgins) & Robert Pugh (Mr. Allen).
DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER - Peter Weir (Witness, The Truman Show, Gallipoli, Dead Poets Society & The Mosquito Coast)
Based on a series of stories by Patrick O'Brian.
Master and Commander is a frustrating film to watch because of it's dual personality. It's a cross between a summer action flick and a historical epic and a master of neither.
The film deserves credit for its realistic portrayal of the harsh conditions faced by sailors in the British Navy during the 1800's. The script also accurately conveys the clear difference in treatment of members of the crew, based on their social class, that was prevalent in British society at the time.
The battle scenes were also compelling. In the age of smart bombs Master and Commander reminds us of the destructive force of far more primitive weapons at close quarters. The hallmark of modern warfare, for the most part, is the ever increasing distance between the warring parties which, in turn, has reduced the immediacy of the brutality of war. Whether or not this remoteness has the unintended consequence of increasing the likelihood of future wars is a subject that has been hotly debated and yet to be finally determined.
While the battles are the highlight of the movie they are also its achilles heal. The H.M.S. Surprise suffers extensive damage but is almost magically restored to pristine condition while remaining at sea. That's just one of the film's pills that's really hard to swallow. The other is the fact that the H.M.S. Surprise and the Acheron are constantly able to so readily catch up to each other on the open seas.
Interestingly enough, in the original novel, the bad guys were Americans rather than French. However, accuracy was abandoned in the name of marketing and box office success. It would have been unseemly, in this day and age, to release a mass market film portraying the Americans in such a bad light especially when the French make such an easy and inviting target.
This lack of regard for historical accuracy is not fatal. Master and Commander, in fairness, never really claims to be anything other than entertainment. The problem is that the rest of the story isn't that entertaining. There are just too many scenes of pointless male bonding. Capt. Jack Aubrey, unlike Crowe's character in the Oscar winning film Gladiator, may inspire loyalty among his men but not among the audience. The lengthy scenes between the battles just aren't up to instilling Captain Jack's mission with a grand enough purpose to rouse the masses. With the outcome never truly in doubt the inherent tension in the plot sinks below the level required to truly maintain your interest.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, in the final analysis, keeps its head above water but just barely.
Running time - 139 minutes.
Check out my TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2003 & WORST MOVIES OF 2003 lists.
Alternative Reviews:
Roger Ebert's Review
Peter Travers / Rolling Stone Review
Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World Official Web Site
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2005
David Schwartz.
Last update:
2/28/05; 1:48:26 AM.
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