Release Date:
11/14/2003
Adapted from a 20-book adventure series set in the 19th century, Master and Commander could quite easily have pulled a novel, lulling us to sleep before the first hatch is battened. Instead, a game of nautical cat-and-mouse yields enough action, adventure, and sea-sickness to tide us over till our next Carnival Cruise.
Lucky Jack Aubrey (the ever-prickly Russell Crowe) is an esteemed British naval captain in command of the H.M.S. Surprise, when a French vessel suddenly attacks, igniting the movies central conflict. But, since were at sea in 1805, it takes time for the ships to track each other down. So Jack and his best friend, ship surgeon Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), play violin, drink wine, and argue over where to sail next. (Guess who wins.) The crew also visit the Galapagos islands and amuse themselves with silly song and dance numbers at dinnerall fit for entertaining side adventures. But the real aquatic action comes from violent mid-sea thunderstorms and cannonball-blasting face-offs. In place of conspicuous CGI effects, splintered rudders, sword slicings, and gruesome amputations deliver your $8.50s worth. Slashing and maiming its way through the high seas, this is the kind of epic Kevin Costner has wet dreams about.
Lucky Jack Aubrey (the ever-prickly Russell Crowe) is an esteemed British naval captain in command of the H.M.S. Surprise, when a French vessel suddenly attacks, igniting the movies central conflict. But, since were at sea in 1805, it takes time for the ships to track each other down. So Jack and his best friend, ship surgeon Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), play violin, drink wine, and argue over where to sail next. (Guess who wins.) The crew also visit the Galapagos islands and amuse themselves with silly song and dance numbers at dinnerall fit for entertaining side adventures. But the real aquatic action comes from violent mid-sea thunderstorms and cannonball-blasting face-offs. In place of conspicuous CGI effects, splintered rudders, sword slicings, and gruesome amputations deliver your $8.50s worth. Slashing and maiming its way through the high seas, this is the kind of epic Kevin Costner has wet dreams about.