Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

I wasn't expecting much from Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Russell Crowe is not my favourite actor by any means, but in this he is very good indeed. He was born to play characters such as this. Supporting cast is excellent too, outstanding in fact - not often you see a film where this is the case (especially the promising young actors).

If you're a sailing fanatic you'll also enjoy this film - the photography is immensely polished, and the pace of the film reflects the varying conditions of the oceans. One day it's stormy as it can be, the next dead calm. The film and script work with these elements brilliantly, and this is the film's strength. That's why it is original and utterly gripping. Ok, some may find it a little slow... but they've got used to high speed action films in recent years and that's all they want.

This is a more realistic film, and the emotion behind the action is very well handled. I particularly recommend it to those who appreciate watching a film to think about things, as well as be entertained. This has it all.