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Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

  • 2003
  • PG-13
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
229K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,130
418
Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Home Video Trailer from Miramax
Play trailer1:02
12 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionAdventureDrama

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.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.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.

  • Director
    • Peter Weir
  • Writers
    • Patrick O'Brian
    • Peter Weir
    • John Collee
  • Stars
    • Russell Crowe
    • Paul Bettany
    • Billy Boyd
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    229K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,130
    418
    • Director
      • Peter Weir
    • Writers
      • Patrick O'Brian
      • Peter Weir
      • John Collee
    • Stars
      • Russell Crowe
      • Paul Bettany
      • Billy Boyd
    • 801User reviews
    • 242Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 23 wins & 90 nominations total

    Videos12

    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Trailer 1:02
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Trailer 2:47
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 1:05
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 0:57
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 1:22
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 1:02
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 0:36
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 0:31
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 0:47
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
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    Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World: Featurette
    Featurette 3:01
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    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World | Anniversary Mashup
    Video 1:36
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    Photos279

    Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe, Billy Boyd, Chris Larkin, and Ian Mercer in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe and Chris Larkin in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D'Arcy, and Edward Woodall in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Russell Crowe
    Russell Crowe
    • Capt. Jack Aubrey
    Paul Bettany
    Paul Bettany
    • Dr. Stephen Maturin, Surgeon
    Billy Boyd
    Billy Boyd
    • Barrett Bonden, Coxswain
    James D'Arcy
    James D'Arcy
    • 1st Lt. Tom Pullings
    Edward Woodall
    • 2nd Lt. William Mowett
    Chris Larkin
    Chris Larkin
    • Capt. Howard, Royal Marines
    Max Pirkis
    Max Pirkis
    • Blakeney, Midshipman
    Jack Randall
    • Boyle, Midshipman
    Max Benitz
    Max Benitz
    • Calamy, Midshipman
    Lee Ingleby
    Lee Ingleby
    • Hollom, Midshipman
    Richard Pates
    • Williamson, Midshipman
    Robert Pugh
    Robert Pugh
    • Mr. Allen, Master
    Richard McCabe
    Richard McCabe
    • Mr. Higgins, Surgeon's Mate
    Ian Mercer
    Ian Mercer
    • Mr. Hollar, Boatswain
    Tony Dolan
    • Mr. Lamb, Carpenter
    David Threlfall
    David Threlfall
    • Preserved Killick, Captain's Steward
    Bryan Dick
    Bryan Dick
    • Joseph Nagle, Carpenter's Mate
    Joseph Morgan
    Joseph Morgan
    • William Warley, Cpt. of Mizzentop
    • Director
      • Peter Weir
    • Writers
      • Patrick O'Brian
      • Peter Weir
      • John Collee
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Russell Crowe learned to play violin for the film and referred to it as the hardest thing he'd ever done for a film.
    • Goofs
      During the Storm when the Surprise is chasing the Acheron around Cape Horn, Barrett Bonden is shown alone at the wheel. It was customary on a Royal Navy vessel of the time to always have at least two men at the wheel both as a security measure in case one man was injured in battle, and because the rudder itself was extremely heavy and difficult to turn. During any sort of heavy weather there would certainly have been four or more men at the wheel as one man would not be able to control the rudder (which is why the ship has two connected wheels).
    • Quotes

      [Toasting]

      Capt. Jack Aubrey: To wives and sweethearts.

      Officers: To wives and sweethearts.

      Capt. Jack Aubrey: May they never meet.

    • Crazy credits
      There are no opening credits.
    • Connections
      Edited into Catalogue of Ships (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Ghost of Time
      Composed by Iva Davies, Christopher Gordon and Richard Tognetti

      Performed by Iva Davies and Icehouse

      Featured Violin Performance by Richard Tognetti

      Orchestrated by Christopher Gordon

    User reviews801

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    A window in time, and the best film ever made about tall ships!
    Normally, I do not begrudge someone their opinion about a movie, but when they cast aspersions about other reviewers here, I feel compelled to respond. One disgruntled reviewer of this film stated that she cannot understand how anyone could like this movie, let alone love it. Further, she claimed that we, the other reviewers, only believe what we are told to believe. Nothing could be further from the truth.

    That someone would loathe what others have lauded is not surprising, really. I have to admit that I, too, have disliked films that were highly rated by a large majority of film critics. 'Fargo' comes to mind as does 'Moulin Rouge' and 'Mystic River.' However, unlike the reviewer, I watched these films several times over before reaching a final judgment in the event that I had been too hasty in my initial impressions. Neither of these films, though, were hailed as classics like 'MASTER AND COMMANDER'

    Many people go into a theatre with a preconceived notion of what they think they will see, only to be disappointed when what they see is not what they expected. Each person carries with them their own set of experiences and no amount of explanation or arguments will change their mind, either. Yet, once in awhile a movie transcends the boundaries that define it, and its true genius is not something that everyone is going to apprehend. This is the case with 'MASTER AND COMMANDER'.

    All I can say to that reviewer is simply, 'I am really sorry that you were not able to see what I saw.'

    Movies like 'MASTER AND COMMANDER' only come around once in a generation. It is, without question, the finest movie ever made about tall ships. However, its greatness lies not in the story line but in those elements that typically ruin what would otherwise be great historical films, namely: dialogue, special effects, and sound track. Take for example, 'Gangs of New York.' The cinematography and sets were outstanding but the dialogue of everyone but Daniel Day-Lewis was severely lacking in historical authenticity. Another example is the 'Passion of the Christ' which used a mix of Aramaic and Hebrew to add its authentic feel, but it came across as highly artificial.

    'MASTER AND COMMANDER' brought to life a language totally forgotten: the language of the sea, circa early 1800's. Every actor spoke the language as if they were born into it, and that element alone made the viewer feel as if they were viewing a window in time of a world rarely seen.

    The sound editing alone was worth the price of admission. I have never been to a film where I actually felt that I was part of the environment. 'MASTER AND COMMANDER' did that, and even if you play the DVD on a plain TV, you would still marvel at the realism of the sound.

    Finally, unlike every other sea movie that preceded it, the special effects were seamlessly integrated into the real footage of the ships at sea. At no time, did I get the sense that I was watching a scale model in a tank. In reality, the actual ship passed through rough seas on its journey around the Horn and these real scenes were added to the movie.

    All these factors I mentioned above set the movie apart but that does not mean it had a substandard plot and mediocre acting. On the contrary, Russell Crowe was at his best playing Lucky Jack Aubrey with a panache that could only be matched by the late Errol Flynn. If I were a seaman aboard the HMS Surprise, I would truly feel that I could follow him anywhere. Crowe commands both the stage and the ship wherever he goes.

    Paul Bettany as Jack's most trusted friend and the ship's doctor, turns in his best performance to date. Another unusual part of this movie is that while no seagoing fare would be complete without a love affair, the one in this movie is a platonic one between the captain and the doctor.

    The two have a special relationship that is constantly strained by Crowe's call to duty and his overarching ambition. Having served with the great Lord Nelson, Lucky Jack does his best to emulate him and carve out a piece of British naval history for himself.

    The film reminded me of works like 'Run Silent, Run Deep' which although dealt with more contemporary battles at sea (WWII), also featured a classic battle of wits between unseen adversaries. We never get to meet Jack's nemesis directly, but we learn by his battle tactics that he is a worthy opponent and a lot like Jack himself.

    'MASTER AND COMMANDER' is a movie that I never tire of watching, and each time I see it I learn something new. It has its weaknesses like every movie does. It lacks continuity and subplots. It lacks character development of some of the more interesting supporting actors. Often I found it hard to keep track of who is who when everyone is referred to by their last names. Yet, all in all, 'MASTER AND COMMANDER' is a must-see movie and a must-own DVD.
    helpful•86
    6
    • Dr-RJP
    • Nov 9, 2004

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    FAQ17

    • Why does the young man that explores the island with the doctor talk about the distance across the island in miles instead of kilometers?
    • When the "Surprise" was becalmed, the crew had hoisted a bunch of different colored flags. Why and what did they mean?
    • Which books form the basis of the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 14, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Portuguese
    • Also known as
      • The Far Side of the World
    • Filming locations
      • Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Miramax
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $150,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $93,927,920
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $25,105,990
      • Nov 16, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $211,622,535
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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