Have you ever wondered what life on a war ship must have been like in the 1800’s? Whether you have or have not, one can assume it must have been only for the grittiest of characters, giving reason for their appropriate nickname of "sea dogs." In 20^th Century Fox's "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," director Peter Weir ("Gallipoli," "Dead Poets Society") faces the challenge of accurately depicting the characters and atmospheres described in Patrick O’Brian’s novels chronicling the adventures of Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey and his friend (and ship’s doctor) Stephen Maturin. It’s a tall order, but in Weir’s typical style, he lives up to the challenge. Sort of.

Having not read any of O’Brian’s novels myself, I was unfamiliar with the characters and storyline. Much to Weir’s credit, however, there is not a lot of back-story needed to set up the premise for the film. We are given the simple surmise that the H.M.S. Surprise is off the coast of Brazil in 1805, with 28 canons and 197 souls on board. Her mission: intercept the French Privateer Acheron, by sinking, burning, or capturing the ship as prize. From there, we thrown right into the middle of the ocean during the height of the Napoleonic War, and stay on board the ship the entire film as it sashays in and out of battle with the Acheron.

If anything, the film is quite clear in depicting the harsh realities of sea life, particularly during war. With such cannons nicknamed Jumping Billy and Sudden Death blasting in its bowels, The Surprise is a hardened ship with a scruffy grin-and-bear-it crew. The brutal battle scenes are not for the squeamish, and the aftermath is even more atrocious. One particular scene involving a young boy is very difficult to watch, and further deepens the perception of hardening the youths on board for war.

The Captain of the ship is the aforementioned "Lucky" Jack Aubrey, played by Academy Award winner Russell Crowe, who is in full leadership mode. His character clearly evokes the dignity and command of his more famous character from "Gladiator," but with a drive that would have left Maximus far behind. Crowe is clearly extending his resume of brilliant performances here, and his steely eyes and dramatic speeches drive much of the films more memorable scenes.

The ship’s doctor, Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany) serves as both friend and grounding conscience to Aubrey’s go-for-broke attitude. As a naturalist and man of science, Maturin looks at things logically and from a human side, but he also knows that they are in the midst of a war, and his duty comes first. But when Aubrey pushes the boundaries of what he will risk to complete the mission, Maturin is the human conflict he must overcome to justify his actions. Bettany plays the part very subdued, which serves him well and comes across as being a very believable character.

However, with all of the drama, battle scenes, and terrific acting, in the end we’re left with a two hours of a rather dull story. Granted, the images of the ships are breathtaking, and the acting top notch, but the conflict between the Acheron and the Surprise (as well as between Aubrey and Maturin) is rather boorish. In between battle scenes, we’re left with the drama on the vessel, which really doesn’t materialize. Even though there isn’t much background presented on the characters, we really don’t need it because there’s nothing to care about, with the exception of the relationship between the Captain and the Doctor, and even that is rather bland. Even the crew of what is supposed to be hardened sea soldiers turn out to be more like a rag-tag crew of pirates, and their ruggedness is almost silly, especially when compared to this past summer’s other 'Pirate' movie.

While great performances can sometimes elevate even mundane stories, Crowe’s excellent performance just doesn’t seal the deal as being a worthwhile trip because the story never materializes. Acting plus direction plus story results in a desirable affect, but unfortunately, two out of three won’t cut it. Crowe is the embodiment of a leader, Weir’s direction is top notch, but Weir’s screenplay is the hole that sinks the ship. Two hours and a few ocean battle scenes later, "Master and Commander" has traveled down the coast of South America and ended up disembarking on the Galapagos Islands. Too bad those two hours felt like an eternity.