War! What Is It Good For? Apparently, Extremely Compelling Films…

10. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

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Peter Weir’s Napoleonic War adventure plays a long game of cat-and-mouse over two oceans. It involves a French vessel and the British HMS Surprise. Based on the beloved novels of Patrick O’Brian, it re-creates the world of the British navy circa 1805 with such detail and intensity that the sea battles become stages for personality and character. Starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bethany, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is an exuberant sea adventure told with uncommon intelligence.