Had it not had to compete with another small little film about hobbits and rings, Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World might have been a contender at the Oscars. A grand adventure, rich in detail and texture, M&C ranks high on my list of last year's best films for its authentic depiction of life at sea.

       Set in the 1800's during the Napoleonic Wars, Master & Commander tells the tale of Capt. Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) and crew as they pursue, under orders from Britain, a French man-o-war in hopes of overtaking and destroying her. But, it is the French Acheron that gets the jump on Aubrey's vessel, Surprise. Out manned and outgunned, it is only through the Captain's ingenuity that ship and crew escape with their lives, setting up a compelling game of cat and mouse on the high seas.

       Peter Weir has done an excellent job of adapting a thrilling screenplay from the novels of author Patrick O'Brian. Weir fills his movie with moments that capture the difficulty and camaraderie of life at sea. He fills his dialogue with the jargon used by weathered seamen, so much so that you may need a nautical translator to understand much of it.

       Crowe proves to be an excellent choice for Aubrey. He is the perfect mixture of bold bravado and sensitive humanity, a man who cares deeply for his crew but is determined to carry out his orders no matter the cost. He is a man unaccustomed to losing and pride forces him to push his crew to their very limits, but he is not so much a cad that he does not mourn his decisions when they come at a deadly price. Crowe absolutely nails the role with an intensity that hearkens back to his Gladiator days.

       Paul Bettany is also outstanding as the ship's doctor and surgeon Stephen Maturin. Maturin and Aubrey are polar opposites but have maintained a lifelong friendship despite them. Maturin is a man of peace, a naturalist whose views on war and duty approach anarchy. However, like Aubrey, Maturin is a master of his craft, a wonderfully skilled surgeon performing medical miracles under the unlikeliest circumstances (at one point even performing surgery on himself). It is under this umbrella of difficult decision-making and courage to follow through that Aubrey and Maturin find common ground and a mutual respect for one another.

       The supporting cast is filled with wonderful character actors who bring the crew to life and Weir's screenplay allows us to get to know a few of them. Other critics have balked at the amount of time Weir takes to develop these secondary characters saying that it slows the pace of the film like an anchor dragging on the ocean floor. Personally, I appreciate the human element and the personal dynamics of living together in a unique microcosm. Weir's decision to include some of these smaller moments within the scope of the bigger picture serves to emotionally invest his audience in the final battle rather than make them casual observers.

       Visually, the film is stunning. Sweeping views of the horizon, aerial shots of ships at sail, masts, sails, & rigging shot from every conceivable angle fill the screen. A sequence in which the Surprise is caught in a storm at sea is breathtakingly intense, while the battle sequences rattle you bones with the sound of cannon fire in scenes so realistic you can smell the gunpowder. Master & Commander is one of those films that is so richly textured it places you right into its world and becomes a treat for the senses.

       As I understand it, Master and Commander is available on DVD in a bare bones edition (meaning no bonus features) so you'll want to get the 2-disc set if you like extras – and it is loaded with them. 'The Hundred Days', named for the amount of time it took to make the film, is a lengthy look behind the scenes at nearly every aspect of the film. Covering such topics as makeup, music, set design and construction, writing of the screenplay, casting, and cinematography, this making-of documentary is loaded with interesting tidbits. 'Cinematic Plasmids' is a 3-part featurette explaining how CGI and special effects were blended to create the action scenes. 'In The Wake Of O'Brian' offers a detailed look at the history behind the film, including the series of books that inspired it. 'Sound Design' is a two-part explanation of the sound used in the film. The second part features an interactive element that allows you to pick different cameras set up around a cannon and hear what the cannon blast sounded like from that camera. It is a similar feature to the one on the S.W.A.T. DVD that allowed you to hear gunfire from different perspectives. 'Multi-Camera Shooting' offers several views of three action sequences from the film. Also included are a handful of deleted scenes, a still gallery, and the original trailer.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a sweeping saga of life and death on the high seas, expertly acted and directed, and a must see for anyone who appreciates excellent cinema.