Master and Commander is a rare film about the duties and agonies of leadership. It’s about maintaining English culture on a small warship lost the Pacific, against all odds.

It’s not about some sailor bromance.

My non-anglosphere anecdote: I love it for the bromance. I don't think anyone cares about the English except the English themselves.

I came for the critique of early century British naval life, but I definitely stayed for the romance <3

You always choose the lesser of two weevils.

It's one of the best films about naval life/combat ever made.

Men being allowed to feel things in an honourable and dutiful way has always been a successful package deal.

The film's OK. The books are up there with Mantel's Wolf Hall series or Renault's Alexander novels. Well worth a read. ETA: This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson is another excellent nautical novel.

The prose is incredible. I find myself agreeing with the author of this opinion piece: it's Jane Austen at sea https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/28/why-patrick-ob...

I watched it. I liked it. I never think about it. I wouldn’t watch it again. I love Russell Crowe.

I hated it when it was released. I watched again a few months ago. I liked it much better. I like the kid who loses an arm. I really disliked the suicide. Also Russell Crowe annoys me