A film review

Director: Peter Weir

Producers: Samuel Goldwyn Jr., Duncan Henderson, John Bard Manulis, Peter Weir

Cast: Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, Billy Boyd, James D'Arcy

Screenplay: Peter Weir & John Collee, based on the novels by Patrick O'Brian

Cinematography: Russell Boyd

Music: Iva Davies, Christopher Gordon

It is the year 1805. The Napoleonic Wars are in full swing. Nowhere is the fear of Napoleon becoming "International Emperor" more prevalent than in England, where the anti-French sentiment is the strongest. So, "Lucky" Jack Aubrey, Captain of the HMS Surprise, is stationed off the east coast of Brazil with the mission of stopping the French ship Acheron. However, the first engagement is near disaster for the Surprise; the French ship is much larger and more sophisticated than theirs, and only the presence of a fogbank saves them.

With the Surprise badly damaged and much of his crew...