Master and Commander

I watched the movie again, having seen it in the theatre when it came out. A very fine entertainment by Peter Weir... it really takes you there, and captures some of the high-minded spirit of the novels, with the classical music and natural history. Russell Crowe is perfect. The plot moves along briskly and efficiently. The action scenes are chaotic and exciting. The mis-en-scène is undoubtedly less gritty and nasty than life must have been aboard those tall ships, but enough so to make it cinematically compelling. Your heart might just stir a little for old England during the corny Lord Nelson scene.