MovieReview: "Master and Commander"; "Looney Tunes: Back in Action!"

title: "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"

starring: Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D'Arcy, Edward Woodwall, Chris Larkin, Robert Pugh, Billy Boyd

genre: action adventure

"Master and Commander" is seaworthy fare, if only for the performances of Crowe and Bettany, and the undeniably explosive ship battles. Based on the best selling Patrick O'Brien novels, Crowe stars as Capt. Jack Aubrey, who steers the graceful H.M.S. Surprise, and Paul Bettany sails along as the ship's medical captain, Stephen Maturin. Aubrey finds himself under scrutiny while trying to find and fight a French warship during the Napoleanic reign. Crowe is well-cast for his macho persona, but darn if even half of his shouted words are audible. Crowe also brings a certain sleekness to an otherwise stone role; he's your captain's hero. Bettany is even better as the doctor/naturalist, who takes interest in rare and unknown species, and then makes cringing if blatant metaphors comparing the animal world with the warring boats. Above all, though, is director Peter Weir's masterful direction; a ship's ripple in the water seems to explode with emotion; the same for a flocking bird or incoming wave. Weir, who directed "The Truman Show" and "The Mosquito Coast" is accomplished because he makes madness out of mediocrity. Even the recurring boredom of the film is tense and creeping. If "Master and Commander..." somehow matched the intensity with character, and flashed with passion through the whole voluminous voyage, then perhaps this ship would really float. grade: B-

cool scenes: the surgery

look for: Aubrey's boating tactics

MPAA: PG-13

Quick Flicks:

"Looney Tunes: Back in Action!": Live action/cartoon smorgasboard featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Brendan Fraser and Jenna Elfman. The plot is lame, the acting is worse, and the heralded WB characters are only generic self-promoters of the "Looney Tunes" DVD Collection. Skip the movie, get the box set. D+

"American Splendor": Paul Giamatti stars as Harvey Pekar, the realist who spawned underground success with his comic book "American Splendor." Giamatti captures the Pekarian schtick with witty morbidity, and his fervored spiels on everyday-isms are mixed in hilarity and taboo truthfulness. Hope Davis costars, and Molly Shannon has a small cameo. A-

"Elf": Jon Favearu's very Christmas-y story about a human who's raised as an elf (Ferrell) is spastic, funny, and delightfully delirious. But even Ferrell and a slew of stars (Bob Hope, Ed Asner) can only suggest the magical moral, before jumping to more elastic humor. B

out there:

"Wonderland": C+

"Matrix: Revolutions": C-

"Scary Movie 3": B+

coming up:

"Gothika"

"The Cat in the Hat"

"Bad Santa" ...............

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