Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

What genre should we put this movie in? Action Adventure. Okay, it fits there. Period Drama. There too. Military Drama. Okay, that too. I loved this movie because it is all those things plus more. It is good literature. It is a very good story, very well told.

Russell Crowe (LA Confidential, Proof of Life, 3:10 to Yuma) plays the master and commander of HMS Surprise during the Napoleonic Wars. If you think the only exciting chase scene is one with two fast moving cars, think again. If you liked the maritime chases in POTC, you'll love those in this movie as well.

Paul Bettany (A Knight's Tale, A Beautiful Mind, and the evil monk in The Da Vinci Code) plays the ship's doctor and amateur scientist. My favorite scenes revolve around the dilemma these two characters face when chasing another ship around the Galapagos Islands. Bettany discovers finds all the new species decades before Darwin set foot on the islands. Should they fight the good fight or make scientific history? Because they are close friends they want what is best for each other, but they are also loyal subjects of the crown. This makes for good drama.

This movie was nominated for 8 Academy Awards, and won 2. These 2 might not be important to you, but I think the make the whole movie experience complete when they are good, and miserable when they are not. Cinematography and Sound Editing are paramount to good story telling. Director Peter Weir (Gallipoli and Dead Poets Society) knows how to tell a compelling story. This is one of his best.

Watch it with someone with someone who will enjoy Crowe's goofy puns.