(by 6 people)
A captivating movie based on the even better "Master and Commander" book series written by the late Patrick O'Brian.
This movie stars Russell Crowe as British Navy Captain "Lucky Jack" Aubrey and Paul Bettany as ship's surgeon Dr. Stephen Maturin. It takes place during the Napoleonic wars when Captain Aubrey is ordered to pursue a French warship and prevent her from sailing into the Pacific to disrupt British whaling.
This is also the first feature (non-documentary) film ever filmed in the Galapagos Islands. It includes dramatic footage of the islands and the unique creatures that inhabit them.
At The Oscars
It was also nominated for 8 other Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Visual Effects.
The Movie Trailer
Online Reviews and Movie Info
- Watch The Trailer
- See the original movie trailer.
- Internet Movie Database - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
- Synopsis, cast and crew list, related news, photographs, and links.
- Filmtracks: Master and Commander
- Soundtrack review, track list, ratings, and user comments.
- All-Reviews.com - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
- Reviews of the movie.
- HARO Online: Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World
- Haro reviews the film.
- Movies for Guys: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
- Review of the film, including ratings of interest to a male audience.
- Ten Movies: Master and Commander
- Review by Adnan Khan.
- Scorereviews.com: Master and Commander
- Soundtrack review by Thomas Kiefner.
The Movie and Related Stuff
Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Widescreen Collector's Edition)
I have this version. Great extra feature on the making of the movie.
Amazon Price: $28.99 (as of 11/22/2008) 
Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Widescreen Edition)
The movie without all the extra features.
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/22/2008)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
The movie soundtrack.
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 11/22/2008)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Movies Double-sided Poster Print, 27x40
Own the movie poster.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/22/2008)
The Making of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Learn more about the efforts put into getting the historical details of life aboard ship right. Includes interviews with the crew/cast and lots of color photos.
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 11/22/2008)
Learn About the Books
To learn more about them and their author, check out my other lens Master and Commander - The Books.
The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels
The complete 20 book set in hardcover. A great value if you intend to read the entire series or want a set that you can pass down through the generations.
Amazon Price: $110.25 (as of 11/22/2008)
Related Books
Patrick O'Brian's Navy
A very educational primer on the history, ships, wars, leaders and traditions of the Royal Navy during Jack Aubrey's lifetime.
Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 11/22/2008)
Man-Of-War : Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections
Cut-away views and descriptions of Lord Admiral Nelson's flagship, the HMS Victory.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/22/2008)
Tour The Ship
- Tour A Tall Ship Near You
- This site highlights tall ships available to tour all over the world. It includes information for touring the HMS Rose which played the starring role of the HMS Surprise in this movie.
Other Seafaring Movies
Sea Warriors - The Royal Navy in the Age of Sail
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 11/22/2008)
Mutiny on the Bounty
The classic. I toured the ship used in the movie when I was a kid. You can find out more info on HMS Bounty here.
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/22/2008)
Damn the Defiant!
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 11/22/2008)
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
A fun adventure based on one of my favorite rides at Disney World.
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 11/22/2008)
Horatio Hornblower - The Complete Adventures
Amazon Price: (as of 11/22/2008)
Treasure Island
Amazon Price: $11.49 (as of 11/22/2008)
Differences From The Book
There were several major differences in the book that I did not expect. I haven't listed those here because I think they might spoil your reading of the book. Even though the movie took some dramatic liberties with the book's plot, I think it still admirably followed the spirit of the O'Brian novels and was a great movie.
- The movie takes place in 1805 and the enemy is the French ship Acheron. The book occurs during the War of 1812 and the enemy is the American ship Norfolk.
- Aubrey's orders were to pursue the enemy ship into the Pacific, if needed. The movie portrayed this as Aubrey's own initiative.
- Hollum's death occurs much differently in the book.
- Pullings is only on the Surprise for a short portion of her voyage in the book. He is also a captain by this point in his career.
- In the book, Aubrey and Maturin have an interesting encounter with a tribe of Polynesian women while in the Pacific.
- The movie does not cover any of Maturin's intelligence agent activities from the book.
Write Your Review
What did you think of "The Far Side of the World"? What other O'Brian titles would you like to see as a movie?
