MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Master and Commander’ is a rough, rousing sea adventure
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To put it simply, “Master and Commander” could be retitled “Pirates of the Caribbean: With Brains!”
Which is not to say that I didn’t like “Pirates,” of course. “Pirates” was a fun action movie, designed to entertain the summer audience, and it did a great job. But “Master and Commander” does that and then some.
About halfway through “Commander,” it dawned on me that I was supposed to be reviewing the movie. I had become so swept up into the film I completely forgot I was supposed to be picking it apart.
That’s a good sign in my book.
Now, I must qualify my assessment of this movie, since from what I hear, it’s based on a series of books by a guy named Patrick O’Brian. So, while I really dug the movie, a fan of the books could have been completely offended for all I know. I haven’t read the books. I don’t intend to. My review is of the film as it stands alone.
In that regard, “Master and Commander” stands well. Stripped down to its basic bits, the movie tells the story of an early 19th century British naval ship as it chases and engages a French ship off the coast of South America. The British captain is played by Russell Crowe, and his crew features Billy Boyd (Pippin in the “Lord of the Rings” movies) and the naked guy from “A Knight’s Tale.” I really don’t know who any of the French guys were; they were hardly on the screen anyway.
If you’re looking for cool action and battle sequences, this could be your movie. The battle scenes between the two ships are startlingly realistic. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen an authentic early 19th century sea battle on screen. I’d never realized how intensely violent sea warfare was; the impact of the cannonballs ripping through hulls and smashing through masts was incredible.
The sets, costumes, and even the language are quite accurate, and give the film an authentic environment that pulls you into the story, but if you’re looking for romance, don’t bother. Unless Russell Crowe’s curly locks are your thing, about all you’ll find of romance in this one is a five-second “hey baby” look he gives an island girl as she floats by the warship in a canoe. That’s it. This would be the only area that “Pirates” has “Commander” beat. Not in romance, per se, but in having Kiera Knightly. “Master and Commander” would benefit significantly from Knightly, as would any feature film. “Jaws,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” they could all use Knightly.
But other than that, “Commander” is one fine film.
Josh Terry is a graduate student in the American studies program. Comments can be sent to him at jterry@english.usu.edu