Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Peter Weir

Writers:

Patrick O'Brian (novels)
Peter Weir (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

The Courage To Do The Impossible Lies In The Hearts of Men.

Plot:

During the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America.

Plot Keywords:

French | Napoleonic Wars | Navy | Cello | Royal Navy

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 57 nominations

Cast

Russell Crowe	...	Capt. Jack Aubrey
Paul Bettany	...	Dr. Stephen Maturin, Surgeon
James D'Arcy	...	1st Lt. Tom Pullings
Edward Woodall	...	2nd Lt. William Mowett
Chris Larkin	...	Capt. Howard, Royal Marines
Max Pirkis	...	Blakeney, Midshipman
Jack Randall	...	Boyle, Midshipman
Max Benitz	...	Calamy, Midshipman
Lee Ingleby	...	Hollom, Midshipman
Richard Pates	...	Williamson, Midshipman
Robert Pugh	...	Mr. Allen, Master
Richard McCabe	...	Mr. Higgins, Surgeon's Mate
Ian Mercer	...	Mr. Hollar, Boatswain
Tony Dolan	...	Mr. Lamb, Carpenter
David Threlfall	...	Preserved Killick, Captain's Steward

Also Known As:

The Far Side of the World (Australia) (working title) (USA) (working title)
Capitán de mar y guerra (Argentina) (short title) [es]
Capitán de mar y guerra: La costa más lejana del mundo (Argentina) [es]
Kuninkaan mies: Maailman laidalla (Finland) (trailer title) [fi]
Maître à bord: de l'autre côté du monde (Canada: French title) [fr]
Master & Commander - Bis ans Ende der Welt (Germany) [de]
Master & Commander: Odvrácená strana sveta (Czech Republic) [cs]
Master and Commander (Japan) [ja]
Master and Commander - Bis ans Ende der Welt (Austria) [de]
Master and Commander: Na opacnom konci sveta (Slovakia) [sk]
Master and Commander: Sta perata tou kosmou (Greece) [el]
Master and commander - Dünyanin uzak ucu (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Master and commander: Al otro lado del mundo (Spain) [es]
Master and commander: Bortom världens ände (Sweden) [sv]
Master and commander: De l'autre côté du monde (France) [fr]
Master and commander: Maailman laidalla (Finland) [fi]
Master and commander: Sfida ai confini del mare (Italy) [it]
Master and commander: Til verdens ende (Denmark) [da]
Mestre dos Mares - O Lado Mais Distante do Mundo (Brazil) [pt]
Pan i wladca - Na krancu swiata (Poland) [pl]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences, related images, and brief language.

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Malaysia:U | France:-12 (DVD rating) | South Korea:12 | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIA | Norway:11 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39922)

Filming Locations:

Fox Baja Studios, Rosarito, Baja California Norte, Mexico

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The name of the French vessel "Acheron" comes from the name of a river in Hades in Greek mythology.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the ship is about to leave the Galapagos, Dr Maturin is on deck and has a growth of beard/moustache. He goes down to the cabin to remonstrate with Aubrey but appears there clean shaven. On deck again, slightly later, he has re-acquired his stubble.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Preserved Killick, Captain's Steward: [taking egg from chicken coup] Come on, come on. It's all right.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Don't Forget Your Old Shipmates

"When at sea, one must choose the lesser of two weevils."

My summary quote is from a scene where the captain (Crowe) makes a joke at the expense of his good friend and physician (Bettany). It is indicative of the fine humor sprinkled into an otherwise serious movie.

Many commentors said this movie is dull or boring. They must have wanted an event-driven, action-oriented movie, which this is not. There really are only two, rather brief, battle scenes. Instead, this is very much a character-driven movie. The approach the captain takes to his mission, extending it beyond his orders, to try and do his part to thwart the French power play in the waters near Brazil in 1805. His good friend, the doctor, wanting to study insects, birds, reptiles and other creatures on the shore of strange lands, including the Galapagos, but being disappointed by demands of the mission. Young boys literally growing up on the ship to become effective military leaders. The claustrophobic conditions on the ship, enduring rough seas that almost destroy their temporary home, or lack of rain that makes them wonder if they will die of thirst.

Overall a fine movie. The critic Ebert has a good and complete review. The DVD is good, with a very nice picture and both DTS and Dolby sound, but no extras relating to the movie.