'Master and Commander: Far Side ...'
(Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany / PG-13 / 148 mins / 20th Century Fox)
Overview: Set in 1806, the story follows British Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) as he sails his ship, the HMS Surprise, toward Cape Horn in pursuit of a French frigate known as the Acheron, which had previously attacked the Surprise. His friend, the ship's surgeon and a spy, Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), may have ulterior motives on the journey.
Verdict: 'Master and Commander' is a constantly compelling picture that pays as much attention to the quieter aspects of character motivation as it does to those rousing action sequences. Extraordinary and award-worthy, Crowe carries the film with the rare combination of charisma and brute masculinity that has made him a star. In fact, 'Master and Commander' may be the best-looking film ever made about a seafaring vessel! An exuberant sea adventure told with uncommon intelligence, Director Peter Weir's greatest accomplishment may actually be that it never feels claustrophobic. See this film at all costs!
CLICK HERE to watch the 'Master and Commander' trailer.