Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World [Blu-ray]
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World [Blu-ray]
20th Century Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World [Blu-ray] When a sudden attack by a French warship inflicts casualities and severe damage upon his vessel Captain “Lucky” Jack Aubrey (Crowe) of the British Royal Navy is torn between duty and friendship as he embarks on a thrilling high-stakes chase across two oceans to intercept and capture the enemy at any cost. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture!In the capable hands of director Peter Weir, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a seafaring adventure like no other, impeccably authentic, dynamically cast, and thrilling enough to give any classic swashbuckler a run for its money. In adapting two of Patrick O’Brian’s enormously popular novels about British naval hero Capt. Jack Aubrey, Weir and cowriter John Collee have changed the timeframe from the British/American war of 1812 to the British/French opposition of 1805, where the HMS Surprise, under Aubrey’s confident command, is patrolling the South Atlantic in pursuit of the Acheron, a French warship with the strategic advantage of greater size, speed, and artillery. Russell Crowe is outstanding as Aubrey, firm and fiercely loyal, focused on his prey even if it means locking horns with his friend and ship’s surgeon, played by Crowe’s A Beautiful Mind costar Paul Bettany. Employing a seamless combination of carefully matched ocean footage, detailed models, full-scale ships, and CGI enhancements, Weir pays exacting attention to every nautical detail, while maintaining a very human story of honor, warfare, and survival under wretched conditions. Raging storms and hull-shattering battles provide pulse-pounding action, and a visit to the Galapagos Islands lends a note of otherworldly wonder, adding yet another layer of historical perspective to this splendidly epic adventure. –Jeff Shannon
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Wish there were more
The book series was an excellent read and this movie is just as entertaining. Fascinating look at service in the Royal Navy and life on a fighting ship of that time. There should be more movies that further develop the character of Jack Aubrey.
3 Stars Blu-ray disc was diasppointing
The audio was great and this is well filmed and acted picture but the video quality on the Blu-ray version was disappointing. Thumbs down on this transfer. I’ve seen movies over 20 years old look much better than this one. Lonesome Dove looks about 3x the resolution.
5 Stars Movie Is Fantastic; Blu-Ray Disappointing
What a magnificent adventure story, pure and simple.
It’s unusual in that there are only two action scenes over the 2 hour, 19-minute film, one near the beginning and one near the end. They don’t go on that long, either. For a modern-day film, that’s very unusual.
However, that doesn’t translate to infer this is too talky or boring. The film will keep your interest all the way. However, for any ladies out there looking for a bit romance in this tale, it isn’t there. In that respect, unless you want to ogle at Russell Crowe, this a man’s film with an all-male cast.
This movie is a great demo on how to make an adventure film fascinating without blood and guts and explosions every two minutes. It’s an heroic tale, right down a little boy who shows us what guts are all about.
This movie won the Academy Award for both cinematography and sound and both honors were well-deserved. The creaking of the ship coming out of all the surround speakers is awesome, just in itself. I was so pumped to see this on Blu-Ray, but the transfer wasn’t much better than the regular DVD, so save your money on that one.
One tip for those having trouble with some of the accents or naval terminology: put on the English subtitles. You’ll be glad you did.
If I could sum this movie up in one word it would be “classy.” I just love this film.
3 Stars A Rat’ling Good Yarn…Nevertheless
I agree with critic Richard Leveson: Russell Crowe does a fine job as Jack Aubrey in “Master and Commander,” but Paul Bettany was miscast as the brilliant, quixotic, secretive, murderous Steven Maturin. Strange as it may seem, I believe ideal casting for the role would have been…Billy Crystal. Only those intimate with the novels may agree with that seemingly offbeat choice, but those who are, will, and the supremely versatile Crystal could have pulled it off.
Also missing, of necessity given the plotting of the film, is the other–with Steven–most interesting character in the series: Diana Villiers. Dragging her, and perforce Jack’s wife Sophie, into the film would change it fundamentally so having Villiers aboard is a wish beyond reality.
Given those caveats, and from one who has read the entire Aubrey/Maturian series four times and written a book about it, I still applaud the movie as a good, exciting yarn, well told.
Bo
3 Stars Blu-ray not worth getting at full cost…
The M & C:FSotW blu-ray has practically no 3D pop. PQ is on slightly better than upconverted DVD via blu-ray player. The DTS audio mix is OUTSTANDING - otherwise, this would be a 2-star review.
Having listened to the audio mix on DVD via a Yamaha RXV-659 on a 7.1 system, then comparing that to the blu-ray via a Yamaha RX-V863BL on the same 7.1 system is eyebrow-raising. Better effects separation than ever - really shows the listener that he’s got an Academy-award winning (for best sound mixing in 2004) movie.
Filed under: Blue Ray Movie Reviews