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IMDbPro

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

  • 20032003
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
220K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,303
9
Russell Crowe in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Home Video Trailer from Miramax
Play trailer1:02
11 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.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
220K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,303
9
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Peter Weir
    • Writers
      • Patrick O'Brian(novels)
      • Peter Weir(screenplay)
      • John Collee(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Russell Crowe
      • Paul Bettany
      • Billy Boyd
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Peter Weir
    • Writers
      • Patrick O'Brian(novels)
      • Peter Weir(screenplay)
      • John Collee(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Russell Crowe
      • Paul Bettany
      • Billy Boyd
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 791User reviews
    • 244Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 23 wins & 90 nominations total

    Videos11

    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Trailer 1:02
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Trailer 2:47
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 1:05
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 0:57
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 1:22
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 1:02
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 0:36
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 0:31
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 0:47
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Clip 0:56
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World | Anniversary Mashup
    Video 1:36
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World | Anniversary Mashup

    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(novels)
      • Peter Weir(screenplay)
      • John Collee(screenplay)
    • 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 reviews791

    Review
    Top review
    Masterfully Done
    "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" is half swashbuckling action movie, half detailed examination of life in the 19th-century British navy, and all entertaining. Director Peter Weir has created an intriguing film that nicely balances fierce battle sequences with quiet, intimate scenes.

    Nearly all of the film takes place aboard the HMS Surprise, under the command of Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe). The captain's orders: to intercept and disable the French privateer Acheron, which is troubling British vessels off the coast of South America. The two ships clash early on, and the Surprise is thoroughly routed--the Acheron is larger, faster, and more modern. But Aubrey, with a determination that might not entirely be due to his sense of duty, is not one to give up, and the Surprise chases the Acheron--and/or vice versa--down the Brazilian coast, around Cape Horn, and to the Gallapagos Islands.

    That's the action part. The intimate part involves Aubrey's relationship with the ship's surgeon, Stephan Marutin (Paul Bettany). Stephan is a quiet intellectual and devout naturallist, whose train of thought is foraying into the territory that would make Darwin a household name later in the century. He's also the only one among the crew who's either willing or able to call Aubrey's decisions into question. He provides a grounding force for the captain, and the friendship between these two dissimilar men is the emotional heart of the story.

    I've yet to read any of the Patrick O'Brian series upon which "Master and Commander" is based, but the movie shows every evidence of being derived from a painstakingly and meticulously detailed work, one which has gone to great lengths to re-create the world and environment of these men. The details on screen are wonderful, depicting the sort of harsh conditions that make the contestants on those "reality" series look like the overglorified wimps they are. The crew of the Surprise (many of them not older than twenty) lives in claustrophobic and none-too-clean quarters--at times it seems as if every inch of the screen is crammed full--and sleep in hammocks that may very well end up serving as their shrouds. Battles are chaotic, with cannon fire ripping huge holes in the ship and sending shrapnel in every direction. The weather seems to exist only in extremes: still heat, raging tempests, even snow as they drift down near the Antarctic circle. Good service is rewarded with extra rations of grog and brandy, insubordination is punished by the whip. It's a place where both close friendships and deep resentments can grow, and the tension in the air at times feels like a living presence.

    Crowe dominates the production, once again proving himself one of the best leading men working in movies. In his hands, Jack Aubrey is a natural leader of men: clever, courageous, determined, and capable of what nowadays is called "thinking outside the box." He is frequently confronted with difficult choices, but takes his responsibilities and the consequences of his actions unflinchingly. Bettany turns in an equally good performance as Aubrey's emotional and ideological opposite; the two men play wonderfully off of each other. Most of the rest of the crew tends to blur together (the exceptions include a young officer who's right arm gets amputated early on, and later takes command of the ship), but "Lord of the Rings" fans will be amused to notice Billy Boyd among the ranks.

    The combination of action and introspection in "Master and Commander" at times seems like an odd mix, but the film succeeds on both levels. Definitely a voyage worth taking.
    helpful•266
    18
    • divaclv
    • Dec 17, 2003

    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?
    • Which books form the basis of the film?
    • What are the books in the series?

    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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