Master and Commander Reaction | FIRST TIME WATCHING | Russell Crowe

this is absolutely one of the few truly Legendary movies

The speed of the operation in cutting off lord blakeney’s arm is historically accurate for the time. Back in those days without anaesthesia, surgeons were trained and prized for their quickness and efficiency during surgeries and amputations. Back then, the quicker you were, the less blood was lost, and theoretically the less pain the patient had to endure. Speed was the key to survival of the patient. Then the Hope that the patient would recover from the inevitable infection was all they could do till antibiotics were invented. Back then, best they could do was to keep it dry and maybe if lucky, the surgeon would have some honey and cloves to spread on the wound. Honey is a mild antiseptic and cloves or Szechuan pepper were used to numb the wound.

One of the most historically accurate movies ever made.

I can't belive they never made more of these master and commander movies

This film is frequently cited as a benchmark for historical filmmaking...despite the fact that it is a fictional story. The way that just about everything in this movie is accurate to the period and the setting is something I wish that more filmmakers tried for. Other than the changes that were made to the original story to switch the "bad guys" from American to French, this movie is about as close to reality as it may be possible for it to be. For another Russell Crowe movie that really captivates and does a good job with history, definitely check out Cinderella Man from 2005. It is an adaptation of the story of Jimmy Braddock, a boxer who rose to the heights of the sport during the Great Depression...and it was directed by Ron Howard. 💯✌

The thing is officers had to come up as midshipmen, there was no purchasing a commission like in the Army. In the Navy you had to know your business.

The books are So good I've reread the entire series 4 times.

Crow is perfect casting for Aubrey. It's like Ian McKellen playing Gandalf. I loved the series. highly recommended.

One of the rare cases where the movie lived up to the books. All 21 books were epic and I cried when I read the last one, knowing it would be the last. And I agree, I could watch this movie again and again.

You might find it interesting to know, that the wooden blocks hammered into holes, is still used in the modern Royal Navy too. Also that on most ships there is a detachment of Royal Marines (the Redcoated chaps) and that stands true today as well. Nothing like proper Tradition in the Royal Navy. Aubrey is sort of based off the legendary Thomas Cochrane, who I highly suggest you guys look up. Utter madman he was. Definitely recommend the Hornblower series (with Ioan Grufford) as a watch, not quite this level of production, but certainly a cult classic. The Sharpe of the Seas basically, plus a whole bunch of actors you'll recognise.

As I hear your discussions about Captain Aubrey's decision making as captain I have to point out that most of you are taking your ideas from our modern times. I the early 19th Century, life and morals were very, very different. Captain Aubrey was under orders from the King. So were all of the enlisted men. England and France were at war. Nothing mattered but to serve King and Country. Losing men in battle was just part of the game. Remember, this was the time when armies stood in long rows facing each other 50 yards apart and firing volley after volley of .50 caliber lead musket balls at each other. Wave's of men would fall to the ground dead or with mortal wounds and another row of men would simply step up and take their place. Naval ships fought the same way, as depicted so brilliantly. This was close quarters combat, even for cannon. A captain couldn't be worried about whether his orders got men killed, he couldn't weigh his tactical decisions on how many might die. If he made decisions that would guarantee none of his men would get hurt, he would never win a battle. He had to obey and execute those orders to the best of his ability. No mater how minor the skirmish, in the early 1800's, there would always be casualties and because medicine and technology was so basic, it was very common to amputate arms and legs, with no anesthesia because it hadn't been invented yet. Anesthesia was invented in the mid 1800's by a dentist. Penicillin was still more than 100 years in the future so there was very little to stop infections or disease, so cutting off arms and legs was the only way to stop it. The only real thing to deal with the agony of early surgery was to let the patient swig down strong drink and bite down on a stick. This is the world in which this movie is set. So judging Aubrey harshly because his orders got some of his men killed is out of place by at least a 100 years. That is the only real thing I have to disagree with your comments. Brilliant move, brilliant acting. If you want to watch another great Russel Crow film, what "Cinderella Man" another historical film about a real person, set during the great depression in the early 1930's.

I mean, Captain Kirk had advanced technology on his side. He was less likely to kill everyone on his ship if he stopped to rescue one man. if they hadn't cut those ropes when they did, the whole ship would have sunk and everyone on board would have died. The horrible decisions ships captains had to make :(

The "Horatio Hornblower" series of ten novels by C. S. Forester is the granddaddy of naval adventure stories. They're great and I've re-read them all multiple times - literary comfort food. The TV series based on them, with Ioann Griffudd as Hornblower, is very good too, but only covers Hornblower's early career. The movie "Captain Horatio Hornblower" (1951) with Gregory Peck, is based on three novels in the middle of Hornblower's chronology.

This movie is incredible. It does not dumb it down, or shy away from period-correct terminology. The result is an authentic and genuinely unique film. I'm so happy you guys enjoyed it.

This one is among my favorite epic historic movies of all times. The action is so good, but the depiction of life at sea in that time is just done masterfully and takes this movie to another level despite being so underrated. I'm glad it's getting more love from reactors like you

I always have to shout out the gorgeous soundtrack of this movie. I love your reactions, appreciation of history and sensitivity to human emotion and relationships. 💜

Above all this movie is a brilliant study in leadership and command. Russell Crowe just rocks the role. You didn't mention it, but watch him as Bud White in LA Confidential

I feel like this movie really didn't get the hype that it deserved. Every single person I know who's seen it loves it (myself included), but I barely remember hearing about it when it came out, and it seems like hardly anyone knows about it. It's such a great story, with such great characters, and it's one of the most historically accurate period pieces ever. Such a great cast, great sets, great costumes, great effects, everything! It all just feels so real.

Agreed, I can watch this over and over. I always wished for a sequel too. So glad you guys enjoyed it. ✌️

'L.A. Confidential' was a great Crowe movie...his first big role.