Director Peter Weir’s Academy Award-winning high-seas period drama could not compete with Capt. Jack Sparrow back in 2003 and, despite critical acclaim, did not find an audience.
However, its debut in the ultra-high definition format, in collector’s packaging no less, guarantees to make waves with a new generation of home theater aficionados with Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World — Limited SteelBook Edition (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, rated PG-13, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 138 minutes, $69.99).
Based on a trio of nautical historical novels from author Patrick O’Brian’s celebrated series, the plot focuses on the friendship of Capt. Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) of the Royal Navy and Dr. Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), his favorite ship’s surgeon.
The adventure takes place in 1805 around the Brazilian coastline and the Galápagos Islands. Capt. Aubrey’s vessel, the British frigate HMS Surprise, finds itself engaged in a deadly cat-and-mouse game with the superior-class French privateer ship Acheron.
Between a trio of high-stakes sea battles, viewers get a gritty and immersive look into the daily lives of men and boys working on a man-of-war ship during the early 19th century.
Additionally, the script takes the screen time to study the tough characters tasked with keeping the HMS Surprise functioning while navigating the sometimes treacherous waters that occasionally led to tragic outcomes.
Overall, Mr. Weir’s underappreciated epic returns within the best technological light possible and makes a perfect package for an addition to any disc-based film library.
4K in action: A well-deserved restoration (newly remastered and rebuilt from the original elements) very much helps with some of the often dark imagery (turn off all the lights to appreciate) below the decks and any of the nighttime sailing.
The opening battle between the two ships sets the tone for the 4K magic, showcasing Oscar-winning cinematographer Russell Boyd’s dive into combat as wood splinters during the massive cannon attacks to pummel and assault each ship while blood runs with water to soak the period costuming.
Multiple shots of the crew and ships taking a beating due to storms and high seas remain clear and detailed throughout the drenching, highlighted with a snapped sail mount and a man overboard fighting the waves.
And, of course, viewers get a visual travelogue of the Galápagos Islands filled with the subtle color schemes of its odd creatures and vivid hues of the textured terrain, a gorgeous respite between the action.
As far as the enveloping Dolby Atmos soundtrack, it covers the fullest of aural ranges, from the occasional soft-spoken rumblings of Mr. Crowe to the room-shaking moments of cannon explosions and its balls destroying ship parts.
Best extras: Viewers also a Blu-ray version of the film, simply a copy of the disc from the 2008 high definition release, offering first a pop-up historical and geographic trivia track.
Informational text appears on pieces of nautical-themed parchment paper around the screen and includes nuggets such as “Russell Crowe would be greeted ‘good morning, Captain’ 70-80 times a day while traveling between his trailer and the set.”
Also available is a pop-up locator map, signaled as a corner compass icon, that opens in the lower-left third corner of the screen when viewers press the enter button on their remote. It reveals the locations of the HMS Surprise and Acheron around the coast of Brazil at any time during the film and can be turned off by pressing the enter button again.
Under tragic missed opportunities, Disney fails to include on the discs any of the extras found on 20th Century Fox’s 2004, two-disc Collector’s Edition DVD of the film.
Those extras were spearheaded by a roughly hourlong look at the production explored by the director and crew and also loaded with information on creating real ships.
Still, fear not, those entering the waters of home online streaming will be able to use the included code through the Movies Anywhere digital service to find the entire complement of extras, accessible via computer and also viewable via iTunes.
They include that great making of the documentary as well as 20 minutes on Mr. Weir’s research to help craft the script; 30 minutes on the special effects and models that helped bring the warships to life; 18 minutes on the sound design; and a 25-minute “HBO First Look” program from 2003 promoting the movie.
Equally tempting with the movie’s 4K release was the elegant SteelBook packaging featuring a front cover with a detailed faux golden etching of a poised Capt. Aubrey (torso and up) with his sword drawn and the HMS Surprise below him, ropes outlining the illustration and set against a streaked neon blue-and-black backdrop.
The back cover offers a detailed golden compass rose (polar diagram) dead center in front of the same blue-and-black background while the interior center spread spotlights a stylized photo of Capt. Aubrey aboard his vessel with the Acheron behind him and set against the stormy seas within an ocean vista.
• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.
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