Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: Second surprise attack

[@danielh2945]

This is not only a criminally underrated movie, but a stellar example of how you can stick to historical accuracy and make a wildly entertaining movie

[@vincentmarchetti6388]

except that the ennemy frigate should be an US one, but US viewers would not tolerate to see one of their ships loose. In the original book it's a US frigate made on french draws, they choosed to inverte that

[@danielh2945]

@@vincentmarchetti6388 It was very clearly a Constitution Class frigate based on it's tougher walls, 44 guns, and the fact that it was built in Boston. The Constitution is designed based on the razee frigate, which is a ship of the line with the top gun deck cut off, so you have a frigate that is heavier built since the hull was designed to carry more weight and take more abuse. They were seen in most contemporary navies but were more common in the French navy since the Royal Navy was better funded and could build new frigates, which made sense since French aims were primarily based on the European continent and the Brits needed the Navy as a matter of survival, let alone any ambitions outside their borders. However, since the movie is historical fiction, it is plausible that the French could have built a similar ship, though it is unlikely that the Americans would have built it for them. So I wouldn't strictly call it an inaccuracy since it is still leaning into both the plausible and the actual historically available technology, they weren't out dueling with HMS Warrior or USS Idaho. I think US viewers would have been receptive to it regardless, but the studio didn't want to risk it.

[@valdoalmeida6866]

Quite right.

[@654Crossman]

​@@vincentmarchetti6388as an American, I never understood the logic. Can't win em all. Maybe it's cause I'm a history buff, served in the military, and seen how our politicians literally disposed of us at whim.

[@tommiatkins3443]

Very true. I looked at all the missed opportunities in the recent Napoleon film. Pheonix was a great actor, but they CGI'd British third raters in the Toulon scene which was fantastic for me to see, then at the end where naps gets on the Bellerophon, they used HMS Victory as the template. When they had actual CGI of two deckers already done.....

[@gwilym1991]

I love the detail that Aubrey is teaching a navigation class mid-chase a) a nice touch that the midshipman were essentially students and b) the amount of time there could be between key decisions in a naval chase.

[@flyboy152]

Much warfare is that way. Hours of boredom punctuated by moments of terror.

[@Whatisright]

@@flyboy152 So that's where Tarantino got it from. Never boring though in between the action.

[@flyboy152]

@@Whatisright The movie is never boring. I'm talking about the sailors. Day in, day out, scrubbing the decks, tending & mending sails, and all the other routine, mundane duties they perform. Then suddenly, they're in a life or death struggle.

[@samuellourenco9526]

Well, it is what it is, and one has to keep going. Also, if you think of it, it is the attitude to have to raise the moral. The morals inside a ship are as limited as the supplies, so a captain has to manage it well. He was basically teaching that "life goes on", while giving the finger to Acheron.

[@samuellourenco9526]

@@flyboy152 If one enjoys the sea life, mending, tending are never boring. Actually, since your chores vary according to the requirements of the duty, I would say that it is an interesting life. If it was not for my fear of heights, I would take it. I talk by experience because I did some maintenance in a port. The cranes were safe, because they had railings. A mast and a rope ladder is not for me.

[@brndnwilks]

20 years later and this is still the best movie of it's kind.

[@tomgosling4458]

20 years later and this is still the best movie.

[@johnredcorn2476]

The whole movie is like a moving painting. Honestly one of the best movies ever when you weigh in the historical accuracies and the attention to detail.

[@digginz8603]

Check out Hornblower

[@deadreckoning6288]

I saw this movie in the theater with a big surround sound system. It was awesome!

[@brndnwilks]

@DeadReckoning For that I envy you!

[@stevenfrost6441]

"We must survive this day..." The attention to military bearing and detail was what made this movie one of the greatest 19th century naval warfare movies ever made IMO.

[@pyry1948]

It is by far the greatest

[@andrewjolly319]

Is it a long list?

[@ProfessorPesca]

I would go further, I would say that this is definitively the best Peter Weir adaptation of Patrick O Brian’s books that has been made so far this century. It’s that good.

[@stevenfrost6441]

@@ProfessorPesca Agreed. 👍

[@ppumpkin3282]

@@ProfessorPesca It's the ONLY film of O'Brian's Jack Aubry book I am aware of.

[@duuurs]

Absolute shame this wasn't at least a trilogy. One of the best movies ever made. The sets and costumes, the music, cinematography....every thing is perfect

[@TheReaper569]

shame? rather fortunate

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Plenty of novels left in the series to turn into sequels - if someone gets interested.

[@2adamast]

A commander at sea parading in a guilded senior captains uniform, only on a perfect stage

[@ForumArcade]

​@@bricefleckenstein9666But not with this cast and crew, who did such an amazing job. Honestly, I prefer this movie to any of the Pirates of the Caribbean, whose naval depictions pale in comparison.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@ForumArcade That's not much of a recommendation. PotC was a JOKE for anything even remotely realistic.

[@Sanderford]

"He fights like you, Jack." One of the better lines in the movie, and Jack's face on hearing it shows he knows it to be correct.

[@whitleypedia]

The whole point of the movie is Jack needs to learn to think creatively like Stephen whereas Stephen needs to learn to appreciate Jack's commitment to tradition. Beautiful.

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

It is a cool line, but the more I think about it the less sense it seems to make. The Acheron was the superior ship in every measure, and all they had done was come right at the Surprise twice at that point. Even a relatively cautious or even timid captain would have done the same in that situation.

[@amandajstar]

@@donkeysaurusrex7881 Yes

[@carson11100]

@@donkeysaurusrex7881Its not just because the Acheron is a superior ship, it’s the fact the French captain is cunning, knows what he is doing and is a formidable foil to Aubrey. He used the fog to sneak up on and ambush the Surprise, nearly overtaking them and here he waited in an inlet until they passed by to pursue them. Both times he does this he ensures the French have control over the engagements by having the weather gauge in their favour and forcing the Surprise to be on the defensive. Martin is not wrong; the French captain is Aubrey’s evil counterpart!

[@seanzibonanzi64]

He's slowly realizing he'll have to think out of the box and break some his own rules if he wants to win, an approach antithetical to his nature.

[@bomjus1706]

it's crazy how this movie only has two actual "fight" scenes. and only one of them is a pounding match. but it's STILL one of the greatest naval movies ever made. if not the greatest. also the music is impeccable.

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

It is because all the subplots are so strong. Even the weakest, Maturin’s desire to survey the flora and fauna of the Galapagos, leads into a better one, Maturin’s gunshot wound, and then back into the main plot.

[@martinportelance138]

On a good sound system the sound is absolutely mesmerizing, especially when they take on the Horn.

[@markmaher4548]

​@@martinportelance138 Not many ships took on the "Horn", back in the day you were just asking for trouble. Even today, ships go well south & steer back up again.

[@nigelmaund9057]

THE GREATEST! ... AND, MOREOVER, IT WILL NEVER BE BETTERED!

[@markmaher4548]

@@nigelmaund9057 There's rumours of a prequel, though a sequel is probably not going to happen, the original film cost US$150m but only made US$212m, not a big enough profit margin to wet the studio's appetite.

[@EM-wd2vg]

Love this film, one of Crowe’s greatest performances in my opinion. Love the way they extended the yard arms on the Surprise to make more sail to gain speed, then he sees the Acheron do the same thing through the eye glass, wonderful attention to detail.

[@TheCaptainbeefylog]

These are called studding sails or stunsails. The booms for them are attached to the cross boom of the usual rigging and extended out. They were not often used unless there was very little wind (so the amount of sail area was increased to catch as much as possible ) or when every bit of speed was to be gained. In heavy weather or in a ship with a fouled bottom, they were more nuisance to rig than they gained in speed, so they were not bothered with. All square-rigged ships of the time were capable of it. You can see Acheron doing the same thing in one shot.

[@waynemongo]

​@@TheCaptainbeefylog nice info!

[@andywhysall6744]

The stunsails were made of a very light canvas to help a ship make headway in very light winds. You see paintings of late 19th century clippers in clearly strong winds with all their square sails set, including stunsails, but they were built and rigged to take (some of) that massive extra force. Even then, with iron masts and cables, the master would know he was risking his masts...and his whole ship. In the case of a Napoleonic frigate stunsails in anything above a stiff breeze would be an act of massive desperation. Best real example of use of stunsails I can think of was in the War of 1812 when USS Constitution hoisted all her stunsails and put boats out to tow her faster than the pursuing British squadron could manage when all were becalmed. It worked, Connie got away.

[@MyFiddlePlayer]

It's so brief, but the Acheron throwing out her stunsails is one of my favorite parts of the movie. Beautiful, dramatic, and an aggressive power move all at the same time.

[@markmaher4548]

​@@andywhysall6744Ole Ironsides ran away from a hell of a lot more fights than she ever won.

[@JohnRoberts-wk6rf]

I always wished there had been a sequel to this movie.

[@GraemeBell9864]

@Berty Wooster Crowe would have signed on in a heartbeat.

[@dylanwight5764]

@Berty Wooster Hornblower is the closest there is, and it makes a damn fine substitute! But no, this film is fine standalone. It compresses the instances of three or four novels into one adventure.

[@jerometaperman7102]

It is an indictment against the movie going public that there was not. From the title, you can tell that it was intended to be the first of a series but it didn't do well enough at the box office despite being an excellent film. The jokers today don't want to see anything but superheroes. 🙄

[@theodosios2615]

​@@dylanwight5764 Hornblower is in a class by itself. I never get tired of watching it.

[@georgecooper5013]

It's pro British film so no there won't

[@vars280287]

This movie could have been over 6 hrs long and I would still love every minute of it.

[@ariochiv]

2:11 As he views the enemy ship in the spyglass, we can see that she's putting on extra sail to increase her speed. Such wonderful unremarked-on detail, throughout this movie.

[@patrickkenyon2326]

Also the reflection on glass, of the rival Captain's spyglass.

[@gluesniffingdude]

Yeah. Those are studding sails, or stun'sls, which would be pretty commonly deployed during chases like these. The ship being chased also historically had options like dumping ballast overboard to lighten up the ship, or even deploying rowboats forward of the ship to physically *pull* the ship along if the wind was too weak.

[@donarthiazi2443]

​@@gluesniffingdude You seem to know a lot about the age of sail... is it true that in addition to piling on as much sail as possible that in a strong gale they would sometimes actually wet the sails to make their ship faster? The resistance being greater or whatever? I believe it was one of Clive Cussler's books that I read that but not sure. Thanks

[@TheCaptainbeefylog]

@@donarthiazi2443 wetting the sails was often practiced during periods of very low wind speed. In a strong gale they would likely already be wet to some degree and no sane Captain would send men up the mast to have them wet the sails in those conditions as it would be nearly suicidal.

[@tsfullerton]

@@donarthiazi2443 Sail trim is complex. Generally in light wind sails can be 'loosened' and allowed to 'bag' thereby catching and holding more wind.

[@Phantom121904]

Always loved that image of the ship rising over the horizon

[@joc3902]

Flat Earthers don't.

[@ishwaashdish6552]

@@joc3902 Deep Fact ;)

[@TheLookingOne]

Everyone rises up to meet everyone else !

[@JSBuehler]

A friend of mine, Mark Rolt, master shipwright and owner of Bristol Classic Boats in Bristol England was one of the shipwrights who worked on the boats in this movie. His lifelong commitment to the art of building and maintaining wooden ships is unequaled. His participation was just one of the many elements that made this such a great, historically accurate movie about the age of sail. I myself played a very small role: I supplied a part for a specific type of saw that he could not find in the UK!

[@neill3040]

This is truly one of the most brilliantly made films ever, sad that they never made a sequel..had such great additional source material to choose from

[@derfunkhaus]

I would love to see a high quality series made by the likes of HBO, Showtime, Netflix, or Amazon.

[@lincolnls050505]

They are making a prequel

[@MyFiddlePlayer]

Their problem is that they condensed a whole 20 novel series into one movie by taking a couple of lines and a couple of characters from each novel and pasting them together. Even though it is a total mash-up, it works brilliantly anyway. However, now how will they do a coherent sequel (or prequel)? They should have started at the beginning and made part of the first novel into a full-length movie. They easily could have had material there for 20 or 30 movies if they chose to utilize the full arc of the novels.

[@johntuttle197]

I love Pullings and Mowett's reactions to Jack saying "Run like smoke and okum."

[@oldman2477]

​@2470qwerty Oakum was used to seal holes in ships from sinking, and when burned, smokes fast.

[@neglectfulsausage7689]

Them duke boys are at it again!

[@sgtjarhead99]

Absolutely love this movie. Can't even count how many times over the years I've watched it, and I've never gotten bored. It's not even the action that draws me in but rather the fascinating glimpses of everyday naval life and living on a cramp ship. I served on two floats while active duty in the Marines from '85-93 so I can relate despite the difference in era, creature comforts, and technology.

[@erinclarke2695]

“This is the second time he’s done this to me, there will not be a third.” This was the moment Jack resolved beat this guy at his own game

[@Hunpecked]

That statement could be taken two ways. 🤔

[@CognizantCheddar]

It was both of their games. Didn't you hear the doctor? Anyway, there was no other way to defeat the Acheron than with trickery. The Acheron objectively outclassed the Surprise. The Acheron has more cannon, and is constructed from American white oak, making it tougher yet also lighter, permitting the Acheron to be faster than the Surprise even despite carrying more cannon (the fictional French Acheron is a reference to the American warships made of American white oak which outclassed British warships throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries).

[@CognizantCheddar]

@@nathanielbugg7355 The plot takes some creative liberty by giving the Acheron even more cannon than a warship based on American warships of the period using white oak realistically carried.

[@astrotrek3534]

@@CognizantCheddar Not really. They say she carries 44 guns, which the heavy frigates were rated to carry, and in fact they often carried more, Constitution was known to carry 50 guns.

[@CognizantCheddar]

@@astrotrek3534 Okay. I haven't read that myself, but I'll take your word for it.

[@randmeller]

I have this on DVD and watched it at least 20 times. One of my top 10 favorite movies of all time.

[@johnstewart8964]

One of my all-time favorites. The "Surprise" used in the film is at the San Diego Maritime Museum. The subplot about the young, hapless midshipman "Jonah" was very moving.

[@kesararatnavibhushana9795]

"Wouldn't want to lose you" @2.53 - there's genuine concern etched on Crowe's face - the love of a Captain for his crew & his ship above his own ego, yet we know he doesn't hesitate to make hard decisions when needed.

[@lynneperry7454]

It’s an interesting moment of foreshadowing

[@XxowendanxX]

Mr. Worley has entered the chat

[@paulr4353]

I was on a tour of HMS Victory, where it was described what life aboard those ships was really like, and what would happen aboard ship when in battle. This movie was exactly how life (and death) aboard HMS Victory was described. Great movie, and performances by the actors.

[@hawky225]

They didn't only act, they lived this life while making the film. Besides having a fully rigged ship and teaching everyone how to sail, they even gave the actors and extras different coloured shirts to differentiate officers and enlisted, segregating both just like they would've in the 18th century onboard a Royal Navy frigate. There's a Making of Master and Commander documentary that I highly recommend watching if you're interested.

[@Swarm509]

@@hawky225 Great documentary! They even had team games within each separate group to bring them closer together. A masterful movie with everyone involved wanting to make the best damned movie they could about this era.

[@obiwanfisher537]

Perhaps they saw the same tour before making the film

[@helpmaboabb]

I did that tour - and remember one ofthe tourists asking if "this was the Victory replica that was sunk in the Channel in the 1860s?"

[@paulr4353]

@@helpmaboabb It's the original, and only, Victory> I don't know of any replica.

[@ruotsionpaska]

I like how for the entire movie we only see the events from this ship crew's POV, like they really don't have very current news of what's going on beyond their tiny little universe, and then only in the climax the camera boards the Acheron with them and we see a quite similar little universe. Like during this scene Capitaine Jacques Aubree is propably telescoping them back pondering similar questions about them.

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

This ship is our home. This ship is our England.

[@roelmd8907]

@@donkeysaurusrex7881 and "Surprise" is on our side

[@IronMaidenMikey]

1:17 seeing the Surprise under a full press of sail for the first time is glorious

[@MyFiddlePlayer]

I recommend to everyone that they read the novels. In my opinion, they are the best series of novels ever written in the English language. I have read all the way through 3 times. Each time, I find new layers that I didn't appreciate before. The writer is an absolute genius.

[@stevejohns74]

I love Jack’s annoyance at the Acheron’s apparent hard on for hunting him when he is essentially out to do the same thing back. It reminds me of Churchill’s famous line, “Don’t interrupt me while I am interrupting!” 😂

[@RoberttAvro]

I just finished reading "Cochrane, Britannia's Sea Wolf" by author Donald Thomas. The floating lamp in the water was an idea used on more than one occasion by Lord Thomas Cochrane (1775-1860) who kept a number of different naval lamps on board for this very purpose (as well as a large number of various national flags he would fly for disguise too ). Given the nickname "Sea Wolf" by Napoleon himself, he was certainly one of the most highly effective commanders in the British navy during the early 19th century. A Scottish fighter all his life he took Nelson's advice, "never mind the maneuvers, go straight at them" to heart and in doing so captured well over 50 French and Spanish ships during the war. He fought the conservative British Admiralty as hard as he fought the French (all be it with less success) and was voted into the British parliament as a reformer. A few years later he was instrumental in freeing Chile, Peru and Brazil from Spanish and Portuguese control in the 1820's. An incredible career and a fascinating man, and imo the Jack Aubrey hero is a fictional combination of the attributes of both Nelson and Cochrane.

[@TheCaptainbeefylog]

"Go gang up the middle o' 'em" is the phrase I think. Cochrane was on Beast Mode for most of his career.

[@SuperChuckRaney]

The S American countries weren't Pro-British in their rebellians, they were anti-Republicans. Those countries fought for their owqn independence once the Spanish Monarchy was gone.

[@RoberttAvro]

@@SuperChuckRaney But I am referring to the period when the European monarchies still controlled those lands and peoples. Please read the history. Cochrane's contribution was absolutely critical in the defeat of both Spanish and Portuguese coastal forts and military forces. Without him the freedom from colonial power would have taken much longer. His memorial statue still stands today in Valparaiso Chile, as he was an integral part of their release from colonial control.

[@HootOwl513]

I just finished ''LORD COCHRANE, Seaman, Radical, Liberator.'' by Christopher Lloyd. [Not the actor] An inspiring character. Sadly after securing their independence from the mother country, Chile, Peru, Brazil and Greece all stiffed him of the exravagent funds they'd promised.

[@johnc2438]

"Master"-ful movie, Commander; one of the best of the genre. Love every damned bit of it: dialog, characters, ship, sea, music, costumes, sound effects, command of the details -- everything! 😍

[@samuellourenco9526]

Them building that improvised sloop was genius.

[@robert82747]

Masterful strategy

[@computerinsurgent1204]

Fun fact: this once happened in real life during the Napoleonic era.

[@CherokeeFlutist59]

@@computerinsurgent1204 done famously by a Captain Thomas Cochrane

[@Ugh-Fudge_Bwana]

@@CherokeeFlutist59 In fact, Cochrane's career was one of the main inspirations behind Aubrey. Many of the events and exploits in the books were lifted directly out of Royal Navy history.

[@DomWeasel]

@@Ugh-Fudge_Bwana I've seen people claim facts of Cochrane's career as stories from the Aubrey-Maturin books. Cochrane did so many outrageous things that people have a hard time believing they really happened.

[@robertmccall346]

How tough and hardy were those Sailors. They deserve to be remembered for their bravery and seamanship.

[@burningchrome70]

I love the idea of the captain tying him off himself and the excitement of the young captain's expression.

[@JocksRu]

A sequel to this film would absolutely eviscerate the box office if released. Men just want to watch classic yarns with strong moral underpinnings at their centre. No superhero/Marvel film comes close to this for adventure and spirit.

[@jamesrogers47]

They'd have to completely recast, the original actors have aged out of the roles. They would most likely employ CGI to reduce the cost of filming, and they would rewrite the stories to make them more "diverse and inclusive." You would not get anything like Master and Commander, but a very "woke" mashup of a Marvel movie and "The Fast and the Furious," in order to appeal to the prime film going demographic. It would be an abomination.

[@olanordmann2743]

@@jamesrogers47 I mean, the (fictional) crew of HMS Surprise is quite diverse, occasionally she even carries women. I wouldn't trust Hollywood to make a good sequel, but for once the diversity, if done in moderation, would make perfect sense.

[@lynneperry7454]

@@jamesrogers47 if they just followed the books then the casting diversity would take care of itself. CGI would kill it, it requires tall ships.

[@yatsumleung8618]

1:32 Left to right, the 5 midshipmen of Surprise: Calamy, Hollum, Boyle, Blakeney and Williamson Notice Aubrey was holding Blakeney's sextant because he only had one arm.

[@Masada1911]

You noticed many good details

[@Belowbluewaterdiver]

Excellent attention to detail, and here I thought it was a continuity error with Blakeney having both arms!

[@briansprinkle7855]

He hadn't lost the arm yet, that came later in the movie.

[@v-doc5230]

@@briansprinkle7855 No, that happened in the first surprise attack. He is totally right, Aubrey is holding the sextant for Blakeney.

[@TimRHillard]

I have watched this movie a dozen times, and will probably watch it a dozen more. Why can’t they make more movies like this???

[@tom-vf1xv]

The best movie ever made, it's a crime the original planned trilogy wasn't made.

[@KianaMckinney-o1t]

Always loved that image of the ship rising over the horizon. This one needs a sequel. It has the perfect ending for it..

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Russell Crowe fought the studios like a **TIGER** to get a sequel made!! They 100% turned him down, even though the film made mega-bucks at the box office. Apparently, the studios think that the public is too childish, nowadays, to support quality entertainment for grown-ups...

[@godsicle2021]

No if there was to be a sequel it's shouldve been made then, when it would have been good, they will fail to do it well nowadays

[@sandwhich1172]

@@godsicle2021 completely agree, the climate nowadays wouldn’t make a good period piece

[@joergmaass]

Peter Weir is a genius, I love his films, and he found the perfect actor for the role of Captain Jack Aubrey, Russell Crowe.

[@TheCaptainbeefylog]

Reading Patrick O'Briens books, it's hard to see any face but Crowes when imagining Lucky Jack.

[@bendevere8525]

I’ve had to admit that this is my favorite film. I come back to it more than any other. It’s practically perfect.

[@mikef.1000]

One of the truly great films. If Crowe could get back to this sort of epic then it would be great, wouldn't it?!

[@ellesimon4149]

This kind of story-driven, character-driven epic movie may be a thing of the past, I'm afraid. Comic books and CGI have overtaken anything else.

[@SamuraiShampoo77]

@@ellesimon4149 disney it all goes back to disney

[@1WillyK]

This might be my all time favorite movie. Just a fantastic adventure. After seeing this I bought the entire book series and over the next few years read it through three times.

[@MyFiddlePlayer]

I recommend to everyone that they read the novels. In my opinion, they are the best series of novels ever written in the English language. I have also read all the way through 3 times. Each time, I find new layers that I didn't appreciate before. The writer is an absolute genius.

[@TraustiGeir]

"Your first command." That's a good one.

[@hansostlund4626]

Crowe one of the greatest actors of all time, noone takes a discussion they follow orders, this guy was never mobbed in school thats for sure, some of us have it others not

[@MyFiddlePlayer]

This movie is made from the best series of novels ever written in the English language. I strongly recommend that you read them! The writing is spectacular and the attention to historical accuracy is impeccable.

[@charlieharper4975]

A fine book and a fine movie.

[@lezkobrandone9397]

Crowes greatest movie IMHO

[@reaper411b]

Ooh, that’s a tall order my man, I love this shit but you really think it beats out Gladiator?

[@vangroover1903]

Certainly the most openly homoerotic of all, despite that being his thing. At points this is like watching a UFC ManOnManAction marathon without the kicking and the mankinis.

[@donarthiazi2443]

The remake of _3:10__ to Yuma_

[@robertallen6710]

@@vangroover1903 GROSS comment....

[@boshman78]

​@@vangroover1903 yep, can't have two men be friends without being gay for each other. 🙄

[@richardt2332]

I love this movie. Lucky jack is one of the best cinematic military leaders and portrayed about perfectly by Crowe.

[@303round]

Why can’t we get films like this anymore 😢 this to me stands with Last of The Mohicans

[@chrissmith7669]

The parallels to the big fight between Kirk and Khan in the second Star Trek film are awesome. Both battles between commanders more than anything else

[@johnrobinson4445]

After reading (so far) ten of the novels on which this movie is based...the movie gets EVEN BETTER.

[@tfewald01]

Loved the books - read (listened to on cassette) almost 20 of them from the series, if I recall correctly. So disappointed they didn't make more movies.

[@sumowang1265]

What books?

[@tyler_bt3326]

@@sumowang1265 it’s based on books following the character Jack Aubrey. Just search master and commander books, it’ll come up

[@rossmcinnes106]

Author is Patrick O'Brian and there are 21 books in the series. The last (21) was unfinished as P O'B died whilst writing it. The film combines elements from 3 different novels of Patrick O'Brian, but the basic plot mostly comes from his tenth novel 'The Far Side of the World'. However, in the film version, the action takes place in 1805, during the Napoleonic wars, instead of 1812 during the War of 1812, as the producers wished to avoid offending American audiences.

[@addisondebter9468]

@@rossmcinnes106 smart choice on the producers their plan worked lol

[@highstepperARF]

How that ship rises from the horizon is so menacing. Very well done!

[@erock736]

Whenever my friends and I talk about a sequel for a movie we wished was made this always gets my vote.

[@robertbrown3064]

"All hands, make sail!" is probably the coolest way someone could possibly say, "shit just got real!"

[@nycot107]

I get the feeling that, despite being on different sides, every French, English, and Spanish Captain had a sort of admiration and respect for each other. They didn't like each other, but they had a sort of understanding of what they all went through.

[@ottersirotten4290]

True, in Fact its true still today, Sailors(of any Rank) are a special Bread of Men. On a related Note, till/during WWII Air Force Men had the same Attitude to each other regardless of Country, like "if you are an Air Man you are an Air Man" sort of Way

[@cameronnewton7053]

I think deep down, all sailors understand that the sea is their first and foremost enemy.

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

This is more common than not in warfare especially once the war is over. Modern people or at least modern Americans have trouble understanding this.

[@Krzyszczynski]

Indeed. To take a more recent example: have a look at the clip from Sink The Bismarck where HMS Hood gets blown up. There's no triumphalism among the Germans - they knew only too well it was "there but for the grace of God .... ".

[@2adamast]

@@Krzyszczynski I imagined the footage taken on the Bismarck was destroyed. Only that of the Prince Eugen is left.

[@T-1001]

I can't believe they never made a sequel to this.

[@robertallen6710]

I would have liked that too...except the film barely recouped it's budget...

[@laurasaxon694]

"We must survive this day. Let's get about it, Mr. Allen, gentlemen." Classic Captain Aubrey line right there. I love how Aubrey is teaching a navigation class and Williamson's attention wanders and he has to admonish him.

[@MatthewKohn-l6z]

I rarely view movies various times... This one is an exception. It was able to capture the essence of life and naval service some 300+ years ago. Bravo, Bravo

[@amvlabs5339]

0:20 Russel Crowe's voice is like buttered whiskey, my god.

[@Mauidemigod249]

One of the greatest movie ever made.

[@gregnoble8799]

This was ripe for a sequel. It was the beginning of a saga that may have spanned the centuries.

[@Swarm509]

I wish had gone to see it in the theaters when it was new, but wasn't able to at the time. I do wonder how well it did box office wise since Pirates of the Caribbean was out the same year, and probably took more of the glory. Not that I hate the first Pirates movie, basically the total opposite kind of movie but still does a good job with what it set out to do (swashbuckling pirate movie). Maybe the director wasn't interested in a sequel right away, or it didn't perform well?

[@peterlovett5841]

@@Swarm509 In comparison to Pirates of the Caribbean it performed badly at the box office and in commercial terms it failed so there was no impetus for a sequel or franchise series. Critically it was praised but didn't really connect with the public. I think it is only lately that it is being looked at again with a more favourable response.

[@robbiereilly]

I get chills every time I watch a scene from this flick. Russell won for Gladiator. I feel his performance here is far more worthy of that distinction. I thoroughly enjoyed every frame of this film. I only wish there had been a sequel. The ending-in an almost Star Trek's Kirk, Spock, McCoy way-begged for it. Three cheers for lucky Jack!

[@DizzleFitzpizzle4eva]

This is the best naval movie I’ve ever seen … so good!

[@zacharybrown7354]

This is one best scenes in the movie. So much suspense and action and it isn’t even a battle scene.

[@praetorian11]

This one needs a sequel. It has the perfect ending for it.

[@David-ic4by]

In my view, the historical accuracy and the relational subtleties make this superior to Crowe’s other blockbuster, Gladiator. Fabulous movie.

[@jacopodigirolamo1335]

Maybe the best scene of the movie

[@ivar637]

One detail I enjoyed is how Jack refers to the senior officers as “Mr. Allen, gentlemen” because sailing masters weren’t considered ‘gentlemen’. They were usually promoted sailors with a lot of experience in sailing and navigating.

[@michaelwilkinson2928]

"The Navy consists of officers trying to be gentlemen, the Army of gentlemen trying to be officers and the Air Force of neither trying to be both"!

[@charonsferryold]

I swear this is one of those movies where every other frame has the exact juxtaposition of an 1800s romanticist painting. Perfection.

[@echohunter4199]

Crowe did a great job at displaying how we were then, we have a lot to be proud of as a people.

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! Britons, never, never, never, will be slaves!

[@JeepWrangler1957]

I can be doing things around the house and after watching this movie about 50 times, I will always stop what I am doing if I see it on TV, make a cup of coffee and watch it.

[@gonzaleo]

Sounds like a worthwhile day!

[@gator_bait_8583]

There will not be a third....now that's soldiering!

[@harryp6484]

A Sharpe reference I see

[@huskyfaninmass1042]

Shouldn't it be "sailoring?"

[@cgross82]

One of my favorite films!

[@frankkolmann4801]

Master and Commander was a superb movie deserving many sequels, just like the books, but sadly no sequels were made.

[@ppumpkin3282]

Jack Aubry's talk to the crew before the battle made me imagine Lord Nelson.

[@TheCaptainbeefylog]

As written by O'Brian, Jack was a huge fan of Nelson and wished to emulate him as much as possible.

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

Aubrey, could I trouble you to pass the salt?

[@philoshaughnessy906]

The story of the making of this movie is almost as legendary as the movie itself. Not just a feast for the eyes it's a banquet.

[@aloysiusjones3985]

Great movie, my wife hid the DVD because i was obsessed watching it. Had our three year old quoting lines from it. 🇦🇺👍🍺

[@bendenisereedy7865]

Fantastic film. Don't forget that the British Empire was enabled by British sailors at a time when ships were square-rigged and so could only sail with a mostly following wind. It took the invention of modern rigs to allow ships to sail close to the wind and by then steam was becoming common.

[@adambritain5774]

This was an absolute classic the day it was released.

[@Kitchdmn3]

“We’ll pull out our pocket handkerchiefs if we have to!”

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

Recalling the great sailing movie Summer Rental wherein John Candy’s pants are hoisted up the mast to help the Barnacle, floating restaurant turned racing ship, defeat the snooty townies in the yacht race.

[@sblack48]

I was flabbergasted to learn that the larger sails weigh well over 1000 lbs

[@Spacegoat92]

So does ya mum....

[@Spacegoat92]

Sorry, i couldn't resist that one, it was too good an opportunity. I will accept your retaliatory burn...

[@Trebor74]

Dry

[@scottb4579]

I deal with freight of all kinds. Yeah, cloth is HEAVY.

[@PapiBienzobas]

Una de las películas de aventuras en el mar de las más bellas y bien hechas que he visto. Maravillosa.

[@mar10ssj1]

That's one hell of a first command.

[@fergalosanchez7675]

An under appreciated masterpiece

[@crazy-diamond7683]

Crowe and Bettany are hugely underated actors.

[@CallsignEskimo-l3o]

After A Beautiful Mind I just assumed Bettany is still portraying his imaginary best friend.

[@ToyotatechDK]

Gotta love that they had a doctor called Higgins as in The Bounty. Two absolutely great movies

[@benjamineckford1718]

He was called Huggan on the Bounty

[@ToyotatechDK]

@@benjamineckford1718 you’re right. My mistake

[@brutusbarnabus8098]

To use an over-used word, what amazes me about this is that the Surprise is a small 5th rate, but I am still impressed by her size. The ship chasing, the Acheron, is a 4th rate. Both smaller square riggers, but both impressive in scale.

[@2adamast]

You mean the fifth rate should have been faster than a fourth rate

[@brutusbarnabus8098]

@@2adamast yes exactly. The Surprise should have been able to sail away from the Acheron.

[@stephenhill6003]

Ok, now I know which movie I'm watching next, for like the 30th time.

[@paulreed5077]

I met Lee Ingleby who played the one that couldn't quite handle the responsibility and threw himself over the side holding a cannonball. He was filming with Martin Shaw in Hartlepool (George Gently) and it was only for a minute or two, but had I realised at the time he'd been in this film, I would've spent a bit more time with him. I managed to get his photo though and he was a thoroughly nice bloke. What a cracking film to be a part of.

[@mcnubbets]

One of the best movies ever made

[@bobthecanon3457]

Best Film in this genre ever!!!!

[@robertliddle4711]

Crap, now I got to watch it again. Thanks. 😊

[@PY5RA]

That fkin score when the Ascaron looks like it was glowing wings (extra sails), so frigging cool.

[@RPGisDUM]

Love when Jack looks straight at the camera and says, “Prepare to die.”

[@davidparsons9362]

stunning and massively underrated film how they make what is essentially a car chase at 15mph so thrilling is a masterclass in the film-makers' art and why, in the name of any deity you care to mention, did they never make a sequel?

[@richardsmith1799]

I loved the O'Brian books and so did Peter Weir. What a film and, oh, how I wanted sequels!

[@johnmcclain2848]

I love how Caesar Augustus was on the crew.

[@gregobrix]

One of my favorite naval movies and, for that matter, any genre of movie.

[@xslonk]

Not even fine wine could hope to age like this movie does.

[@tommyjoestallings855]

Tyne best movie about old world sailing adventures. Why can't Hollywood put out decent movies anymore. This was a master piece

[@kenc9236]

One of the best movies ever.

[@DystrophicEvolution]

Great soundtrack as well.

[@nongthip]

Remains in my top-20 favorite movies. Peter Weir director with Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany at top of their game. Re-watchable quality 10 out of 10.