The life of a young ambitious and courageous captain, who has taken the mission of tracking the powerful French vessel in South America during the Napoleonic Wars, has been changed completely, as he takes his ship and by the help of his best friend sale, but everything changes, when Napoleon wins the war.
Peter Weir makes the Surprise a world to explore, not a splashy CGI simulation. Like a human body, the boat stays afloat through complex processes. A knockout mix of organic elegance, reflective drama and aggressive action on par with Sir David Lean.
Crowe and director Peter Weir have thrown the cliche overboard and replaced them with great storytelling. Run -- don't walk. I liked it so much i wanted to enlist.
It never achieves the visual elegance or majesty that a David Lean might have provided. The story line isn't the freshest. And yet the film is satisfying all the same.
Common Sense Media
December 26, 2010
Intense battle scenes and a strong story of friendship.
To put it plainly, two ships playing tag across the seas is no longer my idea of whoopee, especially at a time when grown-ups are popping up all over the screen with uncensored stories of the eternal affinities and all their variations.
an expansive cinematic achievement that sits well against such adventure classics as Lawrence of Arabia, and is a sure bet for fans of ocean bound drama.
Thanks in no small measure to Perfect Storm designer William Sandell, this handsomely mounted actioner exudes the authentic tang of salt, sweat and gunpowder.
