she's in her prime

April 1805. Napoleon is master of Europe. Only toxic masculinity stands before him. The discourse is now a battlefield. H.M.S. Surprise. 28 guns, 197 bros.

a quintessential "dudes rock" movie!!

It's a bummer to think Paul Bettany was so close to discovering evolution had Russell Crowe not been getting in the way.

Another Peter Weir movie in the books, and wow does he impress here. He is given a massive budget and he certainly is up for the task, crafting a suspenseful movie. It is intentionally chaotic throughout, and claustrophobic. It is peak A-lister Russell Crowe and so fun to see him command the screen.

This movie is only difficult at times because it is long and there is much downtime between action, however I grew to really appreciate the characters in that time, especially Bettany's Dr. Maturin.

It's bizarre to think Fox was trying to launch a franchise with this film as it seems like a story that would be hard to follow up, and a story audiences likely wouldn't return to.

not really anything new to say, but.

the "This ship is England" thing puts a pretty perfect button on this, duh. the ship's rigid structure with its necessarily ironclad procedure, harsh discipline and social stratification carefully (selectively for the time being) adapting to the encroachment of more humanistic pursuits of pacifism, skepticism, and science. perhaps the lesser of two weevils har har, but Weir's rich, simple, deep frames and unhurried editing are mesmerizingly devoted to the quotidian, and so maybe the unquestioned structure of a common end can point to a middle ground. it's drawn well-earned comparisons to Lean but Weir's study of polite masculinity here and the frequent downright abstract compositions wouldn't be out of place in Johnnie To or Michael Mann.*

"Were it from another man, you'd cry out 'Oh, what pitiful stuff', and dismiss it as mere enthusiasm."

*which i've been watching a bunch of lately so i could be pulling that entirely out of my ass.

when i was 15 i broke both my legs from jumping off a church w/ a umbrella. my grandpa took care of me while my family went to California, and one night we watched Master & Commander on DVD. soon after it started, i looked over & noticed his nutsack hanging out of his kacky shorts. i asked him to get me a cup of water thinking it would solve da issue. NOPE. he sits back down, his plums still out in da open. that is what i remember most about this movie, also da part where they cut a boys arm off & he bites down on a stick

This film is so beautifully crafted in every way.
The detailed characters, the ships in battle all feel so real for the era.

Russell Crowe as Capt. Jack Aubrey gives another full throttle energized performance that I loved. Smart, funny, compassionate he's a joy to watch.

The film is about Crowe's led ship in pursuit of a French war ship through sea. With beautiful cinematography, delightful performances most notably Crowe, and some vividly intense battle scenes Master and Commander was one big wave after another that I continued to ride.

Peter Weir is master and commander of the screen

An epic and intimate tale of both the violent turbulence and extreme mundanity of life and war at sea, this meditative, visceral chase movie is comprised of an unexpected amount of historical precision, impressive action sequences, stunning visuals, a realistic tone, and solid performances. While its slow pace and clumsy narrative style don't make it quite memorable, it is an increasingly rare commodity among studio films for such an experience to be conveyed without irony, pandering or self-indulgence, and in that sense it is enormously refreshing.

thx Michael!

In my preferred universe, this movie made a billion dollars and has a dozen sequels and there's a Lil' Master prequel cartoon and kids would yearn to grow up to be naval commanders. Instead it didn't even make $100 mil in the US and they haven't made another one. Bah.

The best Pirates of the Caribbean film by a nautical mile, but without the pirates.

Needed some more Paul Bettany in my life, so I had to rewatch "Master and Commander" with my dad.

I honestly don't know what to say other than this film is absolutely incredible. Also the music, both diegetic and non-diegetic, slaps.

4/4.

The not as fun version of pirates of the caribbean.

Dare I say I was disappointed in some regard. I know, it's not fair! I mean those god damn ships! The raw energy of the colossal vessels! The sound and wind and fury! Magnificent! And yet... the story. The words. Every moment of poetry missed or slightly cliched. Not terribly so but adjacent to such visual wonders, an awkward embarrassment. So I do some math. A 5 star voyage on the waters with a 3 star bunch of folk gives you 4 stars in the subjective arithmetic of my letterboxd. A conflicting rating that reflects a conflicting movie experience.

Movie about a dope Man-o’-war. But also a one armed boy-o’-war.

Way better than I expected. Sweet battle scenes!

Got to the end and realised, ahh fuck I watched this on International Women's Day.

Crazy to think that your dad's favourite movie is this good.

‘Never met a dead man bought me a drink’
‘Never met a live man you bought a drink for’ 

This script is dynamite. Lapped up every single sound bite of ship jargon. Ships are the best. Fine seabirds indeed.

russell crowe was right to drag that guy on twitter

Only men allowed

finally, a film starring literally every type of hot traumatized guy

a goddamn MOVIE. russell crowe delivers a short love speech to a ship and you’re like “what a fucking star.” top shelf.