"The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: (a) When they're ready, (b) when you're not."
- The Strategy Page Weblog, 8/29/2003
Yesterday, the wife and I saw Peter Weir's new movie, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, starring Russell Crowe. She hated it. I enjoyed it.
The action begins almost immediately, and it is quick-paced and graphic. The sounds of the ship creaking, cannon balls shattering wooden hulls and sails being strained by the wind are extremely realistic. I found a clip at National Public Radio that allows you to listen to how the background sounds were produced.
The story is based on a novel by Patrick O'Brian and centers around Captain Jack Aubrey's (Russell Crowe) mission to capture the French Privateer Acheron. Aubrey's ship, the H.M.S. Surprise, is ambushed by the French ship, and the out-matched English vessel is heavily damaged. Aubrey manages to escape, make some repairs, and takes up the chase again.
Matching wits with the wily French captain, Aubrey comes out second best everytime the two encounter until he stumbles upon a scheme he thinks will enable him to defeat the French vessel. One of his very young crewmen unwittingly inspires the idea as he shows Aubrey something he's sketched . The final battle is fierce, and Crowe, as he was in Gladiator, is in the center of it and fully engaged.
Most men who enjoy action movies with some historical perspective should like this film. Those who have trouble watching people get hit by cannon fire or skewered with sabers, might want to take in something else.
There are more details in this review of the movie written by Kit Bowen.
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