Comments on: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/ Film reviews and commentary tonight, before I forget tomorrow Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:46:57 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: MIKE http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5880 MIKE Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:45:09 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5880 GREAT MOVIE! GREAT MOVIE!

]]> By: Joe Valdez http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5202 Joe Valdez Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:53:17 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5202 <strong>Daniel</strong>: I had completely forgotten that this was nominated for ten Academy Awards (it won Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing.) I won't get into how it's better than <em>Return of the King</em> and why - because it's a completely different film - but let me just say that what Peter Weir made will hold up for years to come. Thanks for commenting! <strong>AR</strong>: William Sandell was the art director. Other than working with Wolfgang Petersen designing the sets for most of his movies including <em>The Perfect Storm</em>, there was nothing on his resume that required the creation of an entire world the way he was pressed to do on this picture. <strong>Patrick</strong>: You're not the first to echo that sentiment. Even <em>Gladiator</em> was such a Happy Meal kind of movie in comparison that I think it takes an additional viewing to appreciate the fine cuisine being offered up in this film. I'm glad you enjoyed it. <strong>Jeff</strong>: I've gotten more response on <em>Master and Commander</em> than any other movie I've written about yet. Either my traffic is improving or my taste in movies is. Thanks for visiting and for sharing your enthusiasm for this new classic. Daniel: I had completely forgotten that this was nominated for ten Academy Awards (it won Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing.) I won’t get into how it’s better than Return of the King and why – because it’s a completely different film – but let me just say that what Peter Weir made will hold up for years to come. Thanks for commenting!

AR: William Sandell was the art director. Other than working with Wolfgang Petersen designing the sets for most of his movies including The Perfect Storm, there was nothing on his resume that required the creation of an entire world the way he was pressed to do on this picture.

Patrick: You’re not the first to echo that sentiment. Even Gladiator was such a Happy Meal kind of movie in comparison that I think it takes an additional viewing to appreciate the fine cuisine being offered up in this film. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Jeff: I’ve gotten more response on Master and Commander than any other movie I’ve written about yet. Either my traffic is improving or my taste in movies is. Thanks for visiting and for sharing your enthusiasm for this new classic.

]]> By: Jeff http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5201 Jeff Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:08:28 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5201 Joe - Excellent review. I did not see the film until it was released on DVD, but it has become one of my all-time favorites. It is an epic, but one on a human scale. As good as the action scenes are, the heart of the film is the Aubrey/Maturin relationship, and both Crowe and Bettany instill in that a depth that you don't see in many movies. The final scene is on my short list of great ones. Joe – Excellent review. I did not see the film until it was released on DVD, but it has become one of my all-time favorites. It is an epic, but one on a human scale. As good as the action scenes are, the heart of the film is the Aubrey/Maturin relationship, and both Crowe and Bettany instill in that a depth that you don’t see in many movies. The final scene is on my short list of great ones.

]]> By: Patrick http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5193 Patrick Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:13:08 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5193 The Horatio Hornblower series was playing on A&E at about the same time as M&C was released. I think having a theatrical release so similar to that series may have hurt the box office for M&C. My first time through Master and Commander I was sort of ho hum on it, have gotten to like it much more after a second viewing. The Horatio Hornblower series was playing on A&E at about the same time as M&C was released. I think having a theatrical release so similar to that series may have hurt the box office for M&C.

My first time through Master and Commander I was sort of ho hum on it, have gotten to like it much more after a second viewing.

]]> By: AR http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5190 AR Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:56:58 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5190 I liked reading that they were trying to make more of a classic adventure movie, since that's exactly what this is. The characters are engaging and allowed to develop, but there are also plenty of thrills and some beautiful cinematography. The production design, too, is excellent. I liked reading that they were trying to make more of a classic adventure movie, since that’s exactly what this is. The characters are engaging and allowed to develop, but there are also plenty of thrills and some beautiful cinematography. The production design, too, is excellent.

]]> By: Daniel http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5188 Daniel Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:27:05 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5188 You know this one faded in my memory a bit after I left the theater. I know it got a whole bunch of Oscar nods but I never thought of checking it out again until now. Everything was overshadowed that year by The Return of the King. You know this one faded in my memory a bit after I left the theater. I know it got a whole bunch of Oscar nods but I never thought of checking it out again until now. Everything was overshadowed that year by The Return of the King.

]]> By: Jeremy http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5178 Jeremy Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:29:15 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5178 Thanks Joe...I love Bettany and I must admit that he is certainly living the dream in his personal life. Thanks Joe…I love Bettany and I must admit that he is certainly living the dream in his personal life.

]]> By: Joe Valdez http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5172 Joe Valdez Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:43:37 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5172 <strong>Andrea</strong>: I think you need your own website. You could write about coffee for all I care. Your enthusiasm is infectious. <strong>Marilyn</strong>: Keep writing top quality reviews like that, I'll keep quoting you. <em>Master and Commander</em> is one of the best movies about work ever made. Those pithy corporate slogans that are thrown around an office - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4RtiI6e5GU" rel="nofollow">leadership</a>, commitment, motivation, initiative, pride - are actually put into context here, like the carpenters who build the model of the Acheron and get an extra ration of rum. Only here, if you didn't know your job, you got everyone killed! Great, great movie. <strong>Jorge</strong>: I hear you. Like I mentioned, the studios did pressure Peter Weir to make this more palatable to mass audiences. Obviously, he knew what type of film he wanted to make and didn't let this devolve into <em>Pirates of the Caribbean</em>. I think we're all much better off because of it. <strong>Jeremy</strong>: Dr. Marutin is the heart of the film. I've got to credit Patrick O'Brian for creating that character as much as I've got to give props to Paul Bettany. I thought he totally stole the show in <em>A Knight's Tale</em> as well. Life must be good when you can steal movies like Steve McQueen and you're married to Jennifer Connelly on top of it all. Thanks for commenting! Andrea: I think you need your own website. You could write about coffee for all I care. Your enthusiasm is infectious.

Marilyn: Keep writing top quality reviews like that, I’ll keep quoting you. Master and Commander is one of the best movies about work ever made. Those pithy corporate slogans that are thrown around an office – leadership, commitment, motivation, initiative, pride – are actually put into context here, like the carpenters who build the model of the Acheron and get an extra ration of rum. Only here, if you didn’t know your job, you got everyone killed! Great, great movie.

Jorge: I hear you. Like I mentioned, the studios did pressure Peter Weir to make this more palatable to mass audiences. Obviously, he knew what type of film he wanted to make and didn’t let this devolve into Pirates of the Caribbean. I think we’re all much better off because of it.

Jeremy: Dr. Marutin is the heart of the film. I’ve got to credit Patrick O’Brian for creating that character as much as I’ve got to give props to Paul Bettany. I thought he totally stole the show in A Knight’s Tale as well. Life must be good when you can steal movies like Steve McQueen and you’re married to Jennifer Connelly on top of it all. Thanks for commenting!

]]> By: Jeremy http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5168 Jeremy Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:13:27 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5168 Totally agree...this is a fantastic film. As great as Crowe is, I think Paul Bettany nearly steals the show here and I am still shocked he was ignored at Oscar time. Totally agree…this is a fantastic film. As great as Crowe is, I think Paul Bettany nearly steals the show here and I am still shocked he was ignored at Oscar time.

]]> By: sir jorge http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/comment-page-1/#comment-5167 sir jorge Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:34:59 +0000 http://thisdistractedglobe.com/2008/06/08/master-and-commander-the-far-side-of-the-world-2003/#comment-5167 i took my mom to see this one in at the cineplex, and she fell asleep. The one thing about this film is the length, it's really lengthy, and at some points I felt sea sick...weird. i took my mom to see this one in at the cineplex, and she fell asleep. The one thing about this film is the length, it’s really lengthy, and at some points I felt sea sick…weird.

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