Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a long combo title for a lengthy movie that flows more easily than Transformers 2; granted, it's 12 minutes shorter than the robot action flick. Russell Crowe plays a gladiator-like, British war ship captain obsessed with destroying a French frigate of superior class during the Napoleonic Wars. Director Peter Weir's sea saga successfully recreates a captivating atmosphere of what global sailing voyages must have been like during that historic time period. It's surprising that Hollywood has yet to harvest a sequel from the acclaimed Patrick O'Brian book series.