Director Peter Weir (Dead Poet's Society) has been nominated for six Academy Awards and, in 2023, received an Honorary Award for his expansive body of work. His films are intricate explorations of interpersonal relationships and often say more than what one sees on the surface. In 2003, he co‑wrote and directed a visual masterpiece based on a series of novels by Peter O'Brian called Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.
The film is an amalgam of several of O'Brian's novels and follows the Surprise - a British Naval warship charged with patrolling the seas off Brazil in order to protect British whalers from the French. While critically acclaimed and nominated for 10 Academy Awards, it had only moderate success at the box office. Fans will now be able to purchase it on 4K in a special steelbook release.
The year is 1805, Europe is under Napoleonic rule. The 28‑gun British frigate, the Surprise, is patrolling the waters off Brazil when it is attacked by a French 44‑gun vessel called the Acheron. Faster and stronger than the Surprise, Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe; Gladiator) must find a way to keep his ship afloat and his crew alive. After a second attack, Aubrey garners an idea from the Surprise's doctor and Aubrey's friend, Dr. Stephen Maturin's (Paul Bettany; WandaVision) insect that disguises itself as a stick to hide from its enemies. Aubrey decides to disguise the Surprise as a whaling ship, and once the Acheron gets close enough to try and overtake the ship, the Surprise attacks and defeats the Acheron, but not without losses along the way.
Master and Commander has several positive elements going for it, which makes it a great film. The first is the cast. Crowe is fearless and almost regal as he helms the ship. Bettany portrays the intellectual, civilized doctor with the gravitas he deserves, and the friendship between the two characters is a fascinating study of how opposites attract. The younger members of the cast are surprisingly good for their level of experience.
One of the two Academy Awards won by the film was for Cinematography, and it is easy to see why. The vast, open ocean is a magnificent backdrop for the Surprise, and the wide shots make even more of an impact in Dolby Vision. The terrain of the Galapagos Islands is beautifully detailed, and the sharpness of the upgraded picture quality is evident in every moment of the movie, including the fabric of the uniforms and the wood grain of the ships.
The Dolby Atmos Audio is a bit of a mixed bag. The times when the surround sound is evident offer rich and lush audio, but there are many scenes throughout the movie that the sound sits in the front speakers only, and the viewer can't get the full experience. In fact, the first time I noticed the ambient sounds both in front and behind me was the first time the Surprise was attacked by the Acheron. The sound of the wood of the mast splitting was enveloping, as if it was happening all around me.
Unfortunately, one area in which this new release is lacking is the extras. They are housed on the Blu‑ray Disc only and are all previously released, so nothing new has been added in that regard. They include Deleted Scenes, Historical and Geographical Trivia Track, Pop Up Map, Theatrical Trailer, and D‑Box accessibility.
While not an overwhelming box office success, Master and Commander: Far Side of the World offers wonderful technical aspects that are enhanced by this new 4K release. It is easy to understand why Disney chose this movie for an upgraded re‑release, and the result is a version worthy of the incredible work done when the film was originally shot. This is one steelbook that is worth owning.
Grade: B+
