Critique of Master and Commander

Critique of Master and Commander * The “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” is an impressive action/adventure movie that takes place during the time of the Napoleonic War. Based on the novels of Patrick O’brian, it recreates the world of the British Navy in 1805 with such detail and intensity that the sea battles become stages for personality and character (Ebert, November 14, 2003). Captain “Lucky Jack” Aubrey of the HMS Surprise is played by Russell Crowe and the ship’s doctor, Maturin is played by Paul Bettany. Aubrey and Maturin is strained by Aubrey not following through on a promise made to Bettany. The friendship is proven when Maturin is injured from gunshot from another grew member and Aubrey has a choice of saving his friend or continuing to pursue the enemy. The main plot is how this British ship ambushed and out gunned and out manned by the enemy ship. With the HMS Surprise obtained heavy damaged in a surprise attack in a fog bank the Captain of the British ship manages to evade the enemy, and eventually repair his ship to do battle again. * The directors’ mise-en-scene immerses the viewer into the early 19th century as how life is like on a ship during the early 19th century. The director provides realistic settings with lighting, costumes, and management of time along with the feeling of working and living out on the ocean. The beginning of the film gives the viewer a little tour of the harsh environment of the living conditions below deck. Though a steady camera is used for most scenes, the occasional shot with a handheld camera suggest the bobbing motion of a ship (Woolly Days, April 2006).
The sound in the opening of the movie sets the mood with the creaking sails, seagulls squawking, chickens clucking, and some human dialogue. Sound was realistic the director seemed to go to great lengths on the sounds on a wooden ship, from the battle scenes using the cannons and the storm scenes with the wind. The sounds gave the viewers a feeling of how it was and how hard it would have been during the period to live and work on a ship. * The directors’ cinematography was effective in giving the viewers a sense of location, and time. In the opening scenes of the film from literary titles the audience is given the time, location and purpose. That the story is set in April 1805 and Napoleon is trying to dominate Europe, and only the British fleet stands in his way where the ocean is the battlefield. Aboard the HMS Surprise has 28 guns, 197 souls, and off the Northern coast of Brazil. The enemy, the French privateer the Acheron. The audience has a sense of the films purpose from the orders from Admiralty orders to Captain Aubrey must intercept the Acheron and “sink burn or take her a prize.” The film starts by showing the vast ocean and an 1800 style ship then it takes audience below deck, which the low light and how life would have been. * Editing is well-coordinated from one shot to the next. The film starts with shots showing the ship from different angles and from the ship looking into the ocean. After all the titles have been displayed, the viewers are taken into the confines below deck. With a sudden cut to an hourglass and a hand which taps it before turning it upside down to indicate the end of a shift and the bell ringing and viewers see men climbing the rigging to show the direct consequence of the changing of the shift. These are small scenes but they give the audience in the daily routine of the ship.
The context of the film was not portrayed as a historical event, just that the director Weir creates Master and Commander both. In the historical context of the period, the story delivers all expected from a, sea-bound crusade, from beginning to ending with an underdog the HMS Surprise against a new ship, the French ship is called the Acheron with twice the speed, artillery, and manpower. Playing a Cat-and-mouse game the fuels the plot, the long shadow of Lord Nelson cast over a faceless enemy, which the audience may begin to think that Captain Aubrey would do anything to get the enemy.
The film was nominated the best film editing, and won the best sound editing, viewers could feel and see why, and the film had a great flow in telling its story. In this critics opinion this movie was a great action adventure film. Masters and Commanders was one of the top films for 2003. The film was enjoyable, from the action of the gun battles to the storms and how the crew lived day-to-day was interesting and enjoyable. The class has not changed my opinion on films that I watch, but they have opened my eyes to see more of the film from the editing, sound, and cinematography I would rate this film a four stars. *

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