This is a brilliant movie for those who appreciate how tough it was before steam powered ships. Also just a brilliant movie about discovery and well acted by all.

Peter Weir is an underrated director, one whose name never seems to come up in lists of great filmmakers. Perhaps it's because he's never made a truly "great" movie, the kind that both impresses critics and seduces huge audiences, though most of his films, like "Witness" and "Dead Poets' Society", have become classics. Or perhaps it's because Weir's movies tend to be quiet and subtle, and avoid easy categorization.Take "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", ostensibly the first entry in a series inspired by the novels of Patrick O'Brian. It's an historical adventure set in 1805, but it's neither an escapist blockbuster like the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, nor an epic romance like "Titanic". Though nearly two and a half hours long, most of its action takes place aboard the HMS Surprise, a tiny British frigate sailing alone across the vast oceans. The drama is bookended by sharp, suspenseful battle scenes, but between those scenes the story focuses on its characters and their life aboard the ship.The protagonists, played by Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany, are old friends, both brilliant in their own ways: Crowe is the charismatic captain, leading his crew on a chase around the world; Bettany is the ship's surgeon, counselling his companion and offering insights into the natural world around them. Their differing philosophies lead to some arguments, but ultimately both men see the wisdom in compromise.Contrary to the prevailing fashion of the time, "Master and Commander" is filmed in a warm, almost naturalistic style that eschews displays of digital grandeur in favor of immersive verisimilitude. You can feel the ship rocking on the waves and hear the creak of its masts and the rustle of wind in the sails; you settle into the rhythm of shipboard life and naval traditions, the grog and clubbed hair, the songs and toasts at the dinner table. When the action arrives the camera puts you in the midst of it, with the rumble of the cannons and the heavy clouds of black powder smoke.The most remarkable scene in the whole film is a detour to the Galapagos Islands, set to the sound of Bach's first Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. The scene is a respite from the man-made conflict, a moment for everyone to catch their breath. It's simple, timeless, and quite beautiful in its quiet appreciation for the wonders of nature.It's this scene that makes the film more than a seafaring adventure: despite its historical setting, it grounds the story in the present, reminding us that the world is greater than nations or individuals, or the wars we contrive.

Movie Review: "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" (2003)If it were not for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" directed by Peter Jackson, this exceptionally-directed motion picture directed by Peter Weir starring Russell Crowe as British Navy Captain Jack Aubrey based on a book published in 1969 and written by Patrick O'Brian, following a relentless naval pursuit between Cpt. Aubrey and a French superior battleship called the "Acheron" from the South African "Cape Horn" into the depth of the down under "Pacific Ocean".Director Peter Weir alongside "Academy-Award-Winning" cinematographer Russell Boyd deliver exceptional visuals of great hypnotical beauty as supporting characters as Dr. Stephen Maturin, performed with match-making as brilliant charms by actor Paul Bettany, who together with Russell Crowe carry a perfectly-balanced motion picture, which only flaw becomes the incidentle surprise of in-decision, when there must be felt some kind of conclusion in the end without the forfeit wish of keeping this fantastically-flowing piece of cinema flowing beyond realism into full-bodied "Pirates of the Caribbean" fantasies.Copyright 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

Some films are great because they uses the things they excel at to their advantage. Their greatness comes from the fact that they know exactly where their strength lies. By contrast, other films are great because they master every single aspect of filmmaking. It is proof of a vision come to life on the screen through cooperation of several talents. Peter Weir's adaptation of Patrick O'Brian's naval novel is a perfect example of the latter. Weir places the viewer in the middle of the roaring seas. It's a perfect depiction of the unpredictable nature of the ocean; delicately serene at times and ferociously violent at others. Russell Crowe displays an impressive portrayal of Captain Jack Aubrey, the dedicated and determined commander of his ship, but the rest of the cast should not go unnoted. The mission is to capture a French vessel Acheron. There is a mix of joviality and dire consequence in the air, which perfectly communicates the general atmosphere on the boat; carefree despite the inevitability of it all. This is helped, in part, by the score, which has a blend of thunderous cinematic compositions and beautiful classical pieces. It sets the adventure at full speed, sufficiently prepared for a journey at sea, topped off by an exciting finale. Watching Captain Jack go through much character development is quite the experience, and it manages to create much suspense in the film. There's something to be said about this movie's depiction of fear's influence on people. In the end, though, it's a movie about a captain and his ship that doesn't deserve to be as well-made as it is. Peter Weir is a fantastic director who never fails to impress.