Master and Commander: Far Side of the World

Reviewed by:
Paul Ulane

Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany set sail across the Pacific in this nautical buddy flick loaded with (you’re never going to believe this) action and adventure. Enjoy male bonding over amputations, stormy tidal waves, and, naturally, the Galapagos Islands—or you can do as we have and man the poop deck at home with a second disc of extras on DVD. “The Hundred Days” floats behind the camera for the construction of two full-sized vessels, cast sword-training sessions, and cannon firing 101. “In the Wake of O’Brian” walks through the adaptation process from novel to blockbuster—historical consultants included!—and a group of special effects featurettes demonstrate how to shoot an entire movie on water with multiple cameras. Other extras, like deleted scenes and simultaneous multiple angles for the film’s plank-splitting action sequences, make this DVD a must-sea.