 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD |
|
|
|
Stars:
Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, Billy Boyd,
Director:
Peter Weir
Rated: R
Score: 8/10 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Just on the heels of "Pirates of the Caribbean" comes a different adventure at sea for grown-ups, a drama of Gladiator proportions. Russell Crowe stars as Captain Jack Aubrey, in charge of the British ship HMS Suprise. Also aboard is surgeon Stephen Maturin, a good friend of Jack and who also has an avid interest in biology of nature. We get a glimpse of sealife of how it might have been for many men and boys of that period. The year is 1805 and their mission is to prevent the French from controlling the waters off Brazil. |
|
|
| Main Attraction |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Box Office |
|
|
|
|
|
| The Rest of It |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
The Suprise is attacked by the Acheron, a french warship that seems impenetrable through the mist and fog. Their ship is no match for her, but it is their bound duty to fight and protect. After they seem to loose this phantom ship, she re-appears and it becomes quite evident that she is stalking the Suprise to capture as a prize...per orders. They head to the galapagos islands to restock on supplies, when they discover where the Acheron is headed and Aubrey wants to chase it. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
After getting swept up in a storm and having to make some weighty decisions that would affect the morale of the crew, Aubrey continues in his quest for the Acheron. His friend, Stephen, is against is and believes that his arrogance and foolish pride will surely lead them to their death. He see's how some of the men on the ship begin to tire, weakened from heat and wanting to go home. They seem to be running into so much bad luck that they seek out a scapegoat as a cause. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a strong picture performancewise. It is engaging regardless if this is your type of movie, because the story gives us a glimpse into life on the high seas which we see portrayed realistically so rarely in film. It was an age when young boys, as young as 13, became men and were expected to battle and perhaps be future leaders. Men and boys are tested, and we see suprising results as in real life of exactly who the leaders are and who are the cowards. The cinematography is well done, it is very difficult to see this picture not on the Oscar nominee lists. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
The chase, that takes lives and makes men ultimately leads to a climactic ending...when the HMS Suprise and Acheron do serious head to head battle. There is much action to enjoy, from the inner-workings of a ship we see the crew preparing for battle with practice of improving their speed and skills of launching cannon balls. Heroes are made, and tragically there are those lost at sea. The film is based on a popular series of books, one might wonder if we are going to end up seeing any sequels. I sure hope not. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Soapbox moment
Just an afterthought - if you are the type who goes to movies to carry on entire conversations OR your movie hasn't started so you go into another theater and chat it up...SHUT UP & GET OUT! It's a movie where you are supposed to sit in the dark and try to be quiet for 2 hours. This was one movie where two people in the row ahead came in toward the end of the film and had a very loud, constant conversation in another language for 1/3 of the movie. This was periodically silenced by sudden bouncing in their chairs, apparently they had some crack before coming in.
Talking is permitted at the movies. However there is a golden rule.....
whisper
|
|