Some men were born to be leaders while others were born to play them in movies. Russell Crowe is such a dynamic and charismatic commander in "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," that it is easy to see why he is up for so many of these similar roles. Like his character, Maximus, in the movie "Gladiator," Crowe's on-screen presence demands respect and he balances his authority with sincerity that naturally draws people to him. This film is the real deal if you are looking for an authentic and entertaining sea movie.
             I am not a huge fan of ocean movies because in most cases, the sea is personified as a character, but "Master and Commander" captured my attention for most of its lengthy 138 minutes with a rich, enjoyable story and thorough character development. An incarnation of two Patrick O'Brian's novels, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," directed and adapted for the screen by Peter Weir, would have surely made the late novelist very proud.
             "Master and Commander" follows the adventure of "Lucky" Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe), a British naval Captain during the Napoleonic Wars at the start of the 19th century. This film takes a look at life at sea during these difficult times. Everything is done with a purpose, teamwork, and above all the respect of the men under your command are necessary for survival and highlighted in the film. For much of the film I felt like I was a crew member aboard the British ship of war, which made me feel claustrophobic, but obviously, the authenticity was there. Because the movie takes care in developing many of the characters featured, the audience genuinely cares about the fate of the ship's men. On the contrary, the antagonistic giant French ship looms in the fog for most of the film. Much like the shark in "Jaws," the anxiety of the French ship is created in moviegoers' imaginations through anticipation carefully planned and skillfully executed by filmmakers. Interes...