Okay.........just got back from seeing the new Russel Crowe movie, Master and Commander (What? JJ, you don't know where the Milford theatre is?). Ultimately, I was disappointed.

Maybe it was a distinct lack of best friend(s) present (JJ and I had some mis-communication, and Jason was at a church function).............Maybe I assumed M&C would be like Gladiator on the high seas (actually.........they were only on *a* sea the whole movie).........I dunno.

Things I liked- the galleons/ships, the dialects, Russel Crowe and his accompanying character, weevil jokes (groan), the costumes, ancient mariner's tools (sextant, telescopes, and the like), the weapons, a sailor who was a former Hobbit in LOTR, and the constant jokes at Napoleon's expense.

Things I disliked- Just like every nautical story ever told, the main dynamic relationship in the movie was between Russel and his First Mate (the prodigal roomate from A Beautiful Mind).........and it was weak, at best. I found out that I'm still squeamish around bloody, non-anethiesed surgery, even on a boat. Half the crew of the boat were children- that took a bit o' getting used to. To top it off, the entire final battle was centered around a simple trick that was poorly developed through the plot (I'll avoid giving it away for the sake of those who haven't seen it). Given, the movie was set in like, 15something, but still.

Half the movie itself was "let's go exploring while Russel and First Matey over there bicker and argue over 'ou killed 'ou." The half that did contain action was, like I said, not Gladiatoresque. I guess, in an attempt to contain realism that stems from being on a rocking ship, the battle scenes featured horrible camera work. This really took away from what little violence Crowe did accomplish (not that much..........board a ship, brandish a sabre, shoot a few guys, moving on).