Aside from having perhaps the worst movie title in the history of movies, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a stunning film and one that can be appreciated by anyone willing to give it its due diligence. Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe – Gladiator, Cinderella Man) is the captain of the HMS Enterprise. This British ship protected the Pacific Ocean from Napoleon’s French forces, who sought to invade England. As directed by the Queen of England herself, his job is to intercept any attacking vessel from the French fleet.

Director Peter Weir (The Truman Show, Dead Poets Society) takes on the challenge of adapting a screenplay from two of the twenty novels Patrick O’Brian wrote based upon the Napoleonic Wars. The movie is simple enough in its premise. The HMS Enterprise is to protect the motherland from attacking ships. Captain Aubrey and his crew’s current assignment is to destroy the much larger French warship, the Acheron. In an early battle, it is clear to the entire crew that the Enterprise is outmatched. However, rather than retreating, “Lucky” Jack Aubrey devises ways that the Enterprise can siege and sink its much larger opponent. To do this, Aubrey must be unusually strategic in navigating and attempting to attack Acheron around the east coast of South America and the Galápagos Islands.

The movie starts slowly, and if you are still getting ready for that, you might be in for a long two hours. When I first attempted to watch this film in 2006 or 2007, I gave up after 20 minutes. My mind needed to be more mentally prepared, and I felt that the remaining two hours of the movie were a lost cause. You will be disappointed if you expect a Pirates of the Caribbean-type movie. Master and Commander is a methodical, drawn-out film. But had it tried to go any other route, would we have gotten to know all the characters the way we did? About 95% of the movie takes place on the ship. The crew is tired and hungry and sometimes goes weeks without progress. The morale is down some, but Aubrey retains the respect of his men.

Aubrey’s right-hand man is Stephen Maturin (played by Paul Bettany, who also starred as Crowe’s imaginary roommate in his previous film A Beautiful Mind). Maturin is the ship’s doctor, but he is more than that; he is Aubrey’s best friend and the person he turns to when he needs advice. Maturin’s role at the film’s start is limited (as there was little need for him before the ship’s first battle). But from the midway point on, Maturin is as much a star of the movie as Aubrey. In addition to his profession as a doctor, Maturin is an avid botanist and is in absolute awe when he discovers a new species amid his travels.

Maturin and Lord Blakeney (Max Pirkis) share their love of discovering new animals and plants. Blakeney is a 14-year-old who commands the deck during one of the battles. This was certainly not out of the ordinary for that time. Teenage boys were often brought onto these ships to learn and perfect their craft. If they were good, they excelled up the ladder quickly. They fizzled out as midshipmen, much like Hollom (Lee Ingleby – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) if they weren’t. Hollom struggles to maintain control of his men, and the pressure to step up and earn respect is a struggle. Blakeney quickly becomes a fan favorite from this point forward. Maturin is impressed by Blackeney’s exquisite drawings, classifications, and notes. Blackney quickly becomes his understudy, learning about the different lifeforms aboard the ship and also touring the islands when the ship docks for a week because of a required surgery for a severely injured crew member.

There is time to get to know several members of the crew. Chief among them is young Lord Blakeney (Max Pirkis), the teenager in command of the deck during one battle. Boys this young were often at sea, learning in action (Aubrey was not much older when he served under Nelson), and both older men tried to shape him in their images. With Maturin, he shares a passion for biology and begins a journal filled with sketches of birds and beetles they encounter. Under Aubrey, he learns to lead men to think clearly in battle. Both men reveal their characters in teaching the boy, which is how we best grow to know them.

There are other characters in the movie that you will come to appreciate. Much like films involving many people in a small space, it takes time to understand the ins and outs of more than four or five characters. Master and Commander has you knowing a good ten characters, one of which is the ship itself. While repairing the ship after its first battle, one of the primary duties is to restore the ship’s figurehead that had been struck in combat.

There is a sense early on in the movie the HMS Enterprise will be successful in its mission. I don’t think many people will doubt that. Instead, it will be the maneuvers it makes and how successful its strategy will be to minimize the cost of life. While the ending is predictable, it doesn’t make the movie less intense. The character development is excellent. Each character is unique, with his strengths and his flaws. Aubrey’s ability to manage and lead the personalities is admirable. His often gutsy calls, sometimes going against the more popular and safer choice, have some of his officers wishing to go another route but continue to believe in him.

Crowe was the perfect choice for Captain Aubrey. Having just arrived at the pinnacle of his career following back-to-back Best Actor Academy Award nominations for A Beautiful Mind and Gladiator (for which the prestigious award), Crowe’s Aubrey establishes himself as a firm but fair leader of the 200 man-ship. Most of the movie’s audience had probably seen Crowe from 2000’s Gladiator, so it wasn’t much of a stretch for him to establish credibility early as the ship’s top man. Aubrey is quick on his feet, listens, and relies on the advice of those near him. He is content with the consequences of his decisions, even if that means costing a man his life. He shows little emotion, but it is clear that he cares for every man on his ship. Ultimately, he makes the right decision on how to attack, but is it enough?

Finally, this movie received 14 Academy Award nominations (however, none for acting). It took home two Oscars: Best Sound Editing (maybe less deserving) and Best Cinematography (very worthy).

Go in with the mindset that you will have to concentrate for two hours. Watch it alone or with another who can stay quiet during the film, and you’ll be swept away by it. I have yet to see Bounty or Mutiny on the Bounty, but this has got to be the best ship movie I’ve seen. Even better, it is a true story.

Plot 10/10
Character Development 10/10
Character Chemistry 9/10
Acting 9/10
Screenplay 8/10
Directing 9.5/10
Cinematography 9/10
Sound 8/10
Hook and Reel 6.5/10
Universal Relevance 9.5/10
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