IMDb > Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
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Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 105 | slideshow) Videos (see all 16 NEW)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) -- 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.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) -- Clip: The far side of the world
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) -- 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.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) -- 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.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) -- Clip: Respect

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   57,659 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Peter Weir
Writers:
Patrick O'Brian (novels)
Peter Weir (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 November 2003 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Adventure | Drama | War more
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. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 57 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(79 articles)
“Creation” Movie Poster and Trailer
 (From Filmofilia. 3 November 2009, 10:37 AM, PST)

Newmarket Will Stage Creation
 (From Atomic Popcorn. 24 September 2009, 4:24 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
The Most Realistic and Exciting Sea Saga Ever more (637 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Far Side of the World (Australia) (working title) (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences, related images, and brief language.
Runtime:
138 min
Country:
USA
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The movie combines two novels - "Master and Commander" and "The Far Side of the World". Both deal with chasing down a privateer, and the movie combines the long chase of the latter with the furious climactic battle of the former. more
Goofs:
Miscellaneous: When all the men are singing at the captain's table, the camera moves round the table. At one point it is knocked by something. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Preserved Killick, Captain's Steward: [taking egg from chicken coup] Come on, come on. It's all right.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Hundred Days (2004) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis more

FAQ

Did the Royal Navy back then allow black sailors equal status with the whites?
I don't understand the ending. ***spoilers for film***
I dont understand the weevil joke.
more
110 out of 132 people found the following comment useful.
The Most Realistic and Exciting Sea Saga Ever, 25 November 2003
Author: mediahombre2 from Hudson Valley, NY



See this film NOW at the best, state of the art theater you can find. You'll know why five minutes in.

I didn't want to leave the theater when this roller coaster rhapsody to sea soldiery circa 1805 was over. It's stirring entertainment. No love interests needed. This was what it was really like. One ship, 197 men, 4500 miles from home. Chasing a French ship twice her size. No retreat.

Pirates of the Crappy Be-in was a cute romp, but Master and Commander has real ships, real crews, real cannon,convincing characters, historical accuracy and a REAL film director.

Director/ Peter Weir (Witness) has returned big time and, with this one film, revived classic Australian realism, actually surpassing the production values of Peter Jackson's Ring Trilogy. This is not a fantasy film, but history - painstakingly recreated. And rousing history it is, with plenty of action AND robust character development. The adaptation by Weir and John Colley is right on target, brimming with great characters and scenes.

And Russel Crowe? Other than "The Insider", this is his best role ever. Gladiator was just a warm-up. A Beautiful Mind? Well, nice acting from the neck up. Go see this if you want to see both his athleticism and his formidable acting chops! And he decent musical gifts as well (RC studied violin for the role).

I've always thought Weir was one of our great directors. Now he's been given all the toys Peter Jackson enjoys. And Weir uses them to great effect - recreating a nautical reality that lacks nothing except the need to wipe your face every ten seconds. The cutting of Russel Boyd's fabulous photography is perfect. You get to know every inch of the ship, topside and down below. You also get a strong sense of the social dynamics on board - how men got along with each other for so many months. I felt swept along in a perfect mix of virile action and characters I could get to know and care for. One thing I loved was the constant caring between many of the men along the rank and file. There's a strong sense of honor and decency in the film. Yet enough grog flows to keep things loose.

This is vigorous stuff and my most thrilling two hours in a theater for a while. Congratulations to everyone involved.

For now, the best director Oscar goes to Peter Weir over Clint Eastwood (Mystic River)in 2004. Master and Commander is my pick for best picture, just because it is so masterfully realized. A stunning, exhilarating, and - at last - realistic action saga.

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more (637 total)

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Rated R? jstewart01
The Other Phantom ex250
What Kind Of Food Is Served To The Captain? verbusen
Did anyone else cry when... Mark1988
Why did I wait so long?? brianpritchard
The Sound! Theeace
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