Director: Peter Weir

Category: IIA

The most surprising thing about Peter Weir's foray into the seafaring epic is just how different it is to all the films that have come before. Get the likes of Errol Flynn out of your mind, for starters. Weir presents a stunningly realistic version of life on the high seas, but perhaps his greatest achievement is to have made the whole thing so intimate - about as close as you can come to copping a face full of sea spray without leaving terra firma.

As a director whose reputation has been built mainly on his explorations of men under pressure, Weir is on familiar ground in this film set during the Napoleonic wars.

He has two men here - Captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) and his surgeon, Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany) - whose friendship is put to the test as their ship chases a French frigate all the way down the South American coast and to the Galapagos Islands.

The character of Aubrey was made famous through the 20-odd novels written by Patrick O'Brian, and Crowe pulls out all the stops. As the man in command, he is all grim-faced determination, but never a man beyond reason. As Maturin, Bettany gives us a sympathetic 'man of knowledge' caught between science and servitude, between his head and his heart.

Weir fleshes out his crew with a motley assortment of haggard sea dogs, and a few fresh faces for the young officers who command them. Best of all is the young Max Pirkis, who shows remarkable strength and depth as Lord Blackeney.

Of course, it helps Weir's cause that he has such a well of detail, character and story to dip into. O'Brian was famous for the believability of his work, and Weir sticks to the plan. You feel every creak of the timber.

Cleverly, he presents the 'enemy' as some faceless, almost mythical foe that is simply 'out there' - beyond reach and, at times, beyond comprehension. This adds immeasurably to the excitement as the crew's fear becomes almost palpable.

It says a lot about the film's success that even the hoary dialogue is forgiven (despite being at times confusing). What we are left with is a rollicking, gripping tale that holds you riveted from the moment you're thrown on board.

Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World opens today.