Russell Crowe gives a dominating performance in this epic of grandiose proportions. Think Ben Hur or The Ten Commandments. Everything about this film is fantastic. The set design, the costumes, the supporting actors, the special effects, it all “flows” beautifully together. The story follows “Lucky” Jack Aubrey, the British Navy’s greatest Captain, circa 1805. Napoleon’s enormous privateer ship is running roughshod over the seas and Aubrey gets orders to stop the French. Crowe develops his character brilliantly and is a definite Oscar prospect. His interaction with Paul Bettany, who plays the ship’s doctor Stephen Maturin, really gives the movie a human touch as they both struggle with the horrors, realities and extremely difficult decisions which Aubrey must ultimately make. The battle scenes are among the best of the genre ever filmed and the adaptation of the legendary Patrick O’Brian’s nautical novels truly is authentic to the last detail. A must see!