Based on a series of books by Patrick O'Brian, and directed by Peter Weir, MASTER AND COMMANDER plunges viewers deep into the story of a British Navy ship at sea during the Napoleonic war. Russell Crowe stars as Aubrey, the charismatic captain who wrestles with issues like honor, pride, duty, sacrifice and loyalty while using ingenious tactics to engage his prey--a much larger and better-equipped French Man o' War. Paul Bettany plays his friend, the ship's doctor, who cautions Aubrey about letting revenge cloud his judgement after the French Man o' War almost sinks them in an early battle. Before the incredibly intense final skirmish the men battle a raging storm, launch an excursion to the Galapagos Islands, find time for grog-enhanced merriment, and endure some primitive surgery. Weir fills the film with a rich wealth of period detail, convincing dialogue and the same haunting, dreamlike mood that has informed his best films, like PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, THE LAST WAVE and THE TRUMAN SHOW. The wealth of sounds and sights on display are so evocative one can practically smell the salt air and feel the heave of the ocean beneath their seats. Russell is intense and inspiring as Aubrey and Bettany proves a worthy match. MASTER AND COMMANDER is another triumph for Weir, and further evidence of his ability to fuse poetic realism with rousing entertainment.

Theatrical Release Date: November 14, 2003

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 2.40
Audio:
DTS 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English, French
Dolby Surround - Spanish
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - Peter Weir - Director
Trailers - 1. Bonus Trailers
2. Sizzle Pieces

Russell Crowe: Australian Actor, GLADIATOR (2000)
Paul Bettany: Actor
Billy Boyd: Actor; "Peregrin Took" of THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING (2001)
James D'Arcy: Actor
George Innes: British Character Actor
Mark Lewis Jones: SOLOMON & GAENOR, Welsh/English/Yiddish
Robert Pugh: Actor
David Threlfall: British Actor
Edward Woodall: 

Peter Weir: Director/Screenwriter

Peter Weir: Director/Screenwriter
Samuel Goldwyn: Executive Producer, TORTILLA SOUP (2001)
Duncan Henderson: Producer

Peter Weir: Director/Screenwriter

Christopher Gordon: Music, MUCH ADO ABOUT SOMETHING (2001)
Iva Davies: Composer, MASTER AND COMMANDER (2003)
Richard Tognetti: Composer, MASTER AND COMMANDER (2003)

"...To see Crowe as Capt. Jack Aubrey in MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD is to see a consummate performer doing what he does best..."
"...The battle sequences are filmed with impressive coherence and rigor..."
"...[A] masterful and commanding film....A story in full billow..."
"...A rousing high-seas adventure that sweeps you into another world..."
"[I]t's the film's thoughtful use of naturalism as metaphor and plot device that gives MASTER AND COMMANDER a sense of Tom Stoppard-like, upscale intelligence."
"[T]his is a plain old good movie?.it ought to find fans among the young and the old and both genders."
"[A]n intelligent movie about men tested by the sea. Director Peter Weir mounts an impressive production..."
"[I]t's a wonderfully vivid journey to a distant time and place."
"The detailed depiction of shipboard life is total and overwhelming."
4 stars out of 5 -- "It's all about sweeping views of 1700s battleships, tropical islands speckled across the horizon and weather-beaten shots of Russell Crowe."