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[hiryu]

One of my favorite movies. It was totally robbed of the Oscar by the overrated Return of the King.

I listen to the soundtrack at least once a week too.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

I have to agree. <3 Gladiator.

sorry but Gladiator was chick flick comapred to this movie. I was impressed with the lack of melodrama.

 

[Bill_the_Butcher]

Paul Bettany should have won best supporting actor for it. I don't even think he was nominated.

 

[AndresON777]

sorry but Gladiator was chick flick comapred to this movie. I was impressed with the lack of melodrama.

Gladiator a chick flick? Really? Really?

Master and Commander was good but it was kind of slow and boring

 

[Krowley]

The books first came out in the seventies, after Star Trek came out.

Ahh, well maybe just coincidence then. I will say that fans of classic trek will find some extra things to enjoy in this movie.

HELL no. Picnic at Hanging Rock is the best film he's ever made.

I saw picnic at hanging rock for the second time not too long ago and I liked it much less than I did on my first viewing.

First time I saw it, I thought it was haunting and eerie and it really stuck in my brain. On my second viewing, it came off as a little overambitious and immature. It has an in your face arthouse quality that has become less appealing to me as I get older and watch more movies. Everything about it screams "we're making an art film!!!" and it suffers for that. I really enjoy the movie, but it's definitly lost some of it's luster for me. The great moments are still great, but the stuff in-between just drags.

 

[Narag]

This thread convinced me to pick it up on BRD finally and I'm so very very pleased. This'll probably get watched once a week for a while to come.

And what's with the Gladiator comparisons? Not every thread needs to be a versus thread.

Yup, Sound Design I think.

I used to play the cannonball scene when demo-ing a/v gear.

That scene stood out to me so much in the theater due to the audio.

 

[Flynn]

Same thing here. Bought the Blu-ray at Target with a gift certificate. Looking forward to watching it again.

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Great film. Peter Weir really delivered on this one. Picnic at Hanging Rock is undoubtedly my favourite of his, containing the most haunting atmosphere ever put on screen, but this comes as a close second. Crowe is also great in his role as Lucky Jack Aubrey.

The novels are exceptional if you ever get a chance to read them, although Maturin takes a much larger role there than in the film. I'm currently half-way through the series, and so far I'd recommend these novels as much more than simple historical naval fiction.

It's a crime this film hasn't found a sequel. That, combined with the death of the Hornblower miniseries, has brought age of sail fans back down to earth - or rather, back to the written word. More historical fiction in films, please.

 

[Flynn]

Great film. Peter Weir really delivered on this one. Picnic at Hanging Rock is undoubtedly my favourite of his, containing the most haunting atmosphere ever put on screen, but this comes as a close second. Crowe is also great in his role as Lucky Jack Aubrey.

The novels are exceptional if you ever get a chance to read them, although Maturin takes a much larger role there than in the film. I'm currently half-way through the series, and so far I'd recommend these novels as much more than simple historical naval fiction.

It's a crime this film hasn't found a sequel. That, combined with the death of the Hornblower miniseries, has brought age of sail fans back down to earth - or rather, back to the written word. More historical fiction in films, please.

I may like The Last Wave a slightly more than Picnic. But man are both amazingly unsettling.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Why even bother debating with people who compare two random films based on some actor who happens to be in both.

Spoiler

And obviously they would prefer cheap brainless entertainment like Gladiator.

Director, writer, cinematographer, sure, but this is not "a Russell Crowe movie"...

 

[Dedalus]

Didn't catch this at the theatre, but it still looks stunning in 1080p, can only imagine how much of a better experience it would be in the theatre. Managed to get hold of some books from audible and I'm pretty impressed so far.

 

[hc2]

I've read all the Master and Commander books, a very good series. I imagine the budget versus the potential audience is what holds back any sequels.
Another movie that begs to be made is from one of the Richard Sharpe books. Especially when they are fighting in Spain. The TV series was OK, but a big budget movie with one of the big battles in all its glory would be very good.
My favorite "historical" movies are:
1. Master And Commander: At World's End
2. Last Of The Mohicans
3. Kingdom Of Heaven
4. Gladiator
5. The Bounty
6. Apocalypto

 

[Mashing]

As has been said a million times in this thread, the sound track to this movie is amazing. I love how the sound design grabs you and pulls you into their world. I felt like I was on the ship with them. It's one of the best movie experiences I've ever had.

 

[Grimmy]

I saw picnic at hanging rock for the second time not too long ago and I liked it much less than I did on my first viewing.

First time I saw it, I thought it was haunting and eerie and it really stuck in my brain. On my second viewing, it came off as a little overambitious and immature. It has an in your face arthouse quality that has become less appealing to me as I get older and watch more movies. Everything about it screams "we're making an art film!!!" and it suffers for that. I really enjoy the movie, but it's definitly lost some of it's luster for me. The great moments are still great, but the stuff in-between just drags.

I saw it again 2 weeks ago on my 40' HDTV.
It's still one of the best films ever made.
No other film oozes atmosphere like it.

 

[Timbuktu]

I've read all the Master and Commander books, a very good series. I imagine the budget versus the potential audience is what holds back any sequels.

They've still got the boat, haven't they? Isn't it at some San Diego habour? Surely any M&C followup would do better than any of Fox's output this year. And Peter Weir isn't up to much. The most expensive part is probably getting Crowe... it's too much to hope for when it doesn't feature Depp as a pirate.

 

[roosters93]

Rented this on Blu due to GAF but haven't gotten around to watching it yet due to my parents and my faint dislike for it but since it's been so long...

Definitely will get around to watching it this week though.

 

[Menaged]

I watched it around 2 months ago on cable TV (meaning shitty sound and poor video quality) and didn't adore it like you guys. Maybe beacuse it was on cable TV and my parents were at home and there was noise which ruins the atmosphere for me, or maybe it just didn't do it for.

Now I'm tempted to watch it again, but to enjoy it fully on BD, I need to buy it, and I don't have money! It sucks that there isn't a place to rent BD movies here.

 

[Clevinger]

So, Russell Crowe is interested in, and working towards, a Master & Commander 2 movie

He said as much to our good selves in an interview a couple of months ago, but Russell Crowe has once again talked up the possibility of returning to the seafaring world of Master and Commander.

Russell Crowe is in the early stages of negotiations to reprise the role of Jack Aubrey as a British sea captain in a new movie version from the Master & Commander series of novels.

Crowe told The Associated Press on Friday that a script based mostly on the eleventh novel of Patrick O'Brian's 20-novel series, The Reverse of the Medal, had been written, but that discussions were at a very early stage.

"There's still a long way to go," the New Zealand-born actor told AP at a cricket match between England and Australia in London. He said talks had been taking place with the owner of the rights to the novels.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Dead]

I actually rewatched this on Sunday after hearing about news of possibly another one. So damn good.

 

[Eagle 209]

Kind of an old thread, but what the hell.

Master & Commander is my second favorite movie of all time. A great period piece, with great cinematography, effects, acting and story. Love this movie. I just randomly bust out with it and watch it. Never get tired of it.

 

[Salazar]

The novels are indeed very good. I prefer Hornblower, but O'Brian (a fantasist and bastard in life) is certainly worth checking out.

 

[Forkball]

I really loved this movie. It's based off of a book series, but I guess Master and Commander was either too expensive or didn't make enough money to warrant sequels based off of the books. A shame, I would love to see more of these films.

 

[krioto]

I'm a Russell Crowe fan and thought this movie was pretty good, but it clearly didn't stand up to the greatness that was Gladiator.

You might as well compare Die Hard to Harry Potter - both contain Alan Rickman.

Gladiator was a historically-incorrect hollywood slash-fest, whereas M&C - TFSotW is a fantastic, beautifully haunting, sea-faring epic.

oh, and russell crowe is in both of them.

 

[Witchfinder General]

Fuck yeah!! I hope it happens.

 

[-NeoTB1-]

I'm glad to see other people here who like this movie. I need to grab this on bluray.

 

[Binabik15]

Another one? Niiice.

I can´t put my finger on what I liked (most) about the first one, but for whatever reason I loved it.

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Hopefully, they can get Weir back to direct.

 

[Meier]

So, Russell Crowe is interested in, and working towards, a Master & Commander 2 movie
Fingers crossed.

Yessss, make it so! Peter Weir needs a new project if nothing else... it's been too long!

As far as the OP, Master & Commander truly was stunning. Sorry you missed out on it in the theatres.. it really was a sight to behold.

 

[equap]

I think this movie is the best Star Trek movie, ever.

 

[JoeBoy101]

I'm a Russell Crowe fan and thought this movie was pretty good, but it clearly didn't stand up to the greatness that was Gladiator.

How can you be on so much crack at once?! Gladiator was excellent, but failed to capture the epic feel and nature that is in Master and Commander. And for Crowe, it was not 2 hours of him being stoney-faced, but having to emote, show excitement, compassion, leadership, etc. Much more of an acting challenge.

I think it also helped that MaC had a great supporting cast as well.

 

[whytemyke]

I'm trying to create a list of DVDs I want to upgrade to Blu Ray once I get an HDTV (I know, stone age living sucks) and I think Master and Commander needs to be on that list.

 

[Diseased Yak]

The blu-ray of this movie ranks up in the top 3 movies for sound staging. The rear channel effects have a presence that is just mind blowing. The opening ship attack, when the cannon fire splinters wood all over, it sounds like someone literally dumped a truckload of wood chips across my home theater. When they cut to the shots of the doctor working on injured people, the footfalls over his head sound like people running in your attic.

Best of all, the subwoofer hits when the cannons go off rattle dishes in my kitchen. M&C really is reference material in every sense of the word.

 

[LocoMrPollock]

Love this movie. It's too bad they never made any more in the series.

 

[Gary Whitta]

Good to see this thread back; the more word about this movie gets out to those who haven't seen it the better. I bought the Blu-ray recently and was disappointed that it didn't have all the extras that my special edition DVD has, but now I just keep 'em side by side.

 

[Holtz]

Just watched this, thanks to Gaf's recomendation. Totally great flick, just beautiful stuff. Now i'm mad at myself for not watching it in the theater. Hoping a sequel happens, Jack Aubrey and his crew deserve it.

 

[shintoki]

Lets hear it for Lucky Jack!

An amazing movie, Probably one of my personal favorites from this decade. <3
I remember this coming out around the same time as The Last Samurai, and was trying to decide which one I wanted to see. I so chose right.:lol

 

[Gilgamesh]

Master and Commander is an amazing film. I got a great condition collector's edition DVD used from FYE for around $12. It's a shame I was too young and foolish to appreciate it when it was in theaters.