Master and Commander 4K UHD (2003)

[Rizor]

Originally Posted by biggquis

So... I've never seen this one. Would you consider this a safe blind buy? I love Crowe typically. Also huge fan of Gladiator, Braveheart, etc. Is it along those lines? Meaning epic battles and intense moments?

This one is more of a "dad movie" about life on a ship, serving in the navy during the Napoleonic Wars, duty, honor, friendship, superstitions, appreciating the natural world, making puns, and jamming on violins. There are some good naval war scenes. But it feels more like a way of life movie. It's got its pleasures and charms. It moves at its own pace and might be more vignette-y than one might expect. It's more prestige-y than a rip-roaring adventure - more Merchant/Ivory on a naval ship than Gladiator or Braveheart. But it's well loved and has a very loyal fanbase. For my part, I've probably seen it as many times as I've seen Gladiator or Braveheart but my friends and I speak of it more fondly.

There was an amusing GQ article (looks like it's pay-walled) written on the occasion of its 20th anniversary about the cult of guys in their mid-30s who love this movie. The article mentioned the man at Fox who greenlit the movie was Tom Rothman who was a big fan of the Aubrey-Maturin novels this was based on. He's now the CEO of Sony Pictures so maybe he's got some pull now that Sony is releasing the Fox/Disney catalog on home video. Hopefully he's got the power to make sure this gets done right.

It'll be interesting to see how a 4K fairs. One of the guys who worked on this film admitted on Twitter a few years ago that the DI was a bit rough and was done at a time when they were still figuring things out. On my last watch, the Blu-ray looked rather soft and some of the CGI window replacement (adding in the sea) looked a bit dodgy.

[Maggot]

Originally Posted by singhcr

I would call this film more about

[Show spoiler]life on a ship than anything else. There are battle sequences but it's definitely not the focus of the film. The trailers are very misleading

.

My dad and I saw this in the theater and both of us walked out bored to death. The "life aboard ship" and misleading trailers are accurate depictions. The movie reminds me of so many sandbox-open world RPG computer games these days. Pretty visuals but boring gameplay. Walking simulators.

[Fat Phil]

My goodness.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by GrouchoFan

IMHO, this is one of the best Star Trek movies ever, even though it apparently takes place entirely in the holodeck!

Still going to hold on to the DVD Collectors Set with all the swag.

I've been trying to pull back a little from 4K upgrading / $teelBook collecting lately, but I will throw caution to the winds for this title!

Is that the DVD set with all of the bonus stuff that you can't get anywhere else?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Maggot

My dad and I saw this in the theater and both of us walked out bored to death. The "life aboard ship" and misleading trailers are accurate depictions. The movie reminds me of so many sandbox-open world RPG computer games these days. Pretty visuals but boring gameplay. Walking simulators.

You probably hate Star Trek too.

M&C is Star Trek. In the early 1800s.

[Maggot]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

You probably hate Star Trek too.

M&C is Star Trek. In the early 1800s.

Oh not at all. I love Star Trek. I just don't like this movie.

[rocknblues81]

It was hilarious that I bought this title used this past weekend because the Blu was OOP and the movie didn't do that great at the movies. I figured it wouldn't get a 4k since it didn't make much money and it doesn't have a following like Tombstone. The 4k gets announced like a day later.��

[infiniteCR]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

It was hilarious that I bought this title used this past weekend because the Blu was OOP and the movie didn't do that great at the movies. I figured it wouldn't get a 4k since it didn't make much money and it doesn't have a following like Tombstone. The 4k gets announced like a day later.��

Let's get some of that magic involved for a sequel.

[mindset]

Originally Posted by deet

Great battles and audio/video/production design, but I thought Crowe's inability to get anything interesting out of the lead role fatally wounded the movie.

I agree. Loving Patrick O'Brian's work, I wanted to love this film too, but couldn't accept Crowe as Aubrey. As perfectly cast as he was in Gladiator and LA Confidential, it's not the case here for me. Not being English enough is the least of it, though YMMV if you're unfamiliar with the books.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by mindset

I agree. Loving Patrick O'Brian's work, I wanted to love this film too, but couldn't accept Crowe as Aubrey. As perfectly cast as he was in Gladiator and LA Confidential, it's not the case here for me. Not being English enough is the least of it, though YMMV if you're unfamiliar with the books.

Crowe is better as a more common guy or a character where he can project a certain male earnestnes and toughness in an understated manner.. Its why he works so well for films like Gladiator and Cinderella Man. He was good at doing that without needing sappy or cheesy lines of dialogue all the time. Even when he does characters that questionable there is always a part of me that still wants to root for his characters.

[thelwig14]

Originally Posted by mindset

I agree. Loving Patrick O'Brian's work, I wanted to love this film too, but couldn't accept Crowe as Aubrey. As perfectly cast as he was in Gladiator and LA Confidential, it's not the case here for me. Not being English enough is the least of it, though YMMV if you're unfamiliar with the books.

Love the movie so Crowe as Aubrey is definitely the lessor of two weevils.

[cgpublic]

While I understand the argument that perhaps an actor who represented a better 'fit' with the role of Aubry would have been preferable, I'm curious which actor with Crowe's ability, credentials and box office upside should have been cast in his place?

Hollywood is Hollywood, and Crowe was riding the waves of LA Confidential, The Insider, Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind, with multiple award nominations and a Best Actor win for Gladiator.

There's an argument that without Crowe, this film never receives a green light.

As far as the film in the context of the source material, let's not forget that the Aubrey–Maturin series has most often been compared to the works of Jane Austen, one of O'Brian's greatest inspirations. The caveat is that there are no women in the M&C film, i.e., no romantic angle. Likewise, nor is the 'spy' angle for Maturin, which is present in the books.

While a fan of the film on its own merits, I don't believe the books as written could ever justify the type of budget that they would require in order to remain faithful to their original source. Sure, Tom Rothman was a fan, but that only goes so far.

Regardless, I'm very pleased this title will receive a UHD release, with hopefully more Weir (The Year of Living Dangerously and Mosquito Coast), Blu or UHD, on their way.

[NYorker]

This may end up a real expensive year for me as far as 4K UHDs are concerned...Kingdom of Heaven DC, The Third Man, The Searchers, to name a few. Master and Commander was also on my wishlist.

[Trekkie313]

Whoever has The Bounty needs to get it onto 4K soon.

[Arcluna]

The bonus features on the collector's DVD are amazing. I so wish they would give this film the respect it deserves like that DVD release. I'll keep my fingers crossed and expectations tempered.

[drb999]

I don’t remember being bored at all while watching this. I really enjoyed it.

[Juan de Internet]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

Crowe is better as a more common guy or a character where he can project a certain male earnestnes and toughness in an understated manner.. Its why he works so well for films like Gladiator

But he’s the hand-picked Emperor of the Western World (however briefly) in Gladiator, precisely because he commanded the loyalty of the legions. He was higher status in Gladiator than a mere ship’s captain whose greatest claim to fame was once having spoken to Nelson.

At least in this one he doesn’t spend the whole movie “on the far side of the world” - I can’t think of a non-British nationality more suited to a tale of early 19th Century adventure in the South Seas than an Australian.

[Watershipdownisgood]

Originally Posted by drb999

I don’t remember being bored at all while watching this. I really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed this film a lot too one of Weirs more underrated films I'm so excited about this release. I will be picking this up along with Sound of Music, Tron, and Lilo and Stitch. They liked to show this title on AMC a lot back in the day, and I watched it a few times with my dad.

[kevin87]

Originally Posted by JackyJacquard

Thank you for your service



Praying that at worst its a similar deal to Tombstone and Kingdom of Heaven where some countries at least get a plastic case alongside the steel

Elevation distributes in the UK, Sony is only for the US. Which is why I fully believe steelbook only is a Sony decision. Say what you will about Disney's 2023-2024 exclusives but at least they offered more consumer choice.

As long as this is like Tombstone and Willow, it'll just keep coming back after each production wave. Limited edition (and pricing) is the problem.

[spudeus]

In a lot of ways, Master & Commander reminds me of Das Boot (also overdue for a 4K). Both examine shipboard life, and try to capture the reality of wartime service: 99% boredom punctuated with 1% terror. They both do so brilliantly, without the need for continual explosions. Authenticity matters in moviemaking (maybe not for everyone, but for many).