MELANIE MOORE

EVERYBODY'S favourite 'actor with attitude' Russell Crowe sails his superstar charisma on to the big screen in this swashbuckling adventure about life on board HMS Surprise during the 19th century nautical struggles with the auld enemy.

The beefed up Kiwi who probably couldn't give a rat's arse whether the Hollywood heavyweights liked his latest epic adventure or not, is the main man, Captain 'lucky' Jack Aubrey who gallantly leads his troops into battle to capture the good ship Acheron, somewhere off the Brazilian coast, around Cape Horn and on to the curiously titled Gallapagos islands.

The film is based on a series of Master and Commander books penned by Patrick O'Brian and shifts quite smoothly between all out action, as the crew battle the conditions and the enemy to take command of this 'ghost' ship, and the reassuring tale of the friendship between Captain Jack and his close pal and ship doctor/surgeon Stephen Maturin, (Paul Bettany.)

The doc is probably Jack's oldest friend and therefore closest confidant and it's he who manages to keep the gung-ho captain's feet on the ground when he hears the battle call.

The film reunites Crowe, perhaps the best actor of his generation, with the rising star of Bettany, after their efforts in the 'doomed not to win an Oscar' A Beautiful Mind.

I sound impressed? To be fair, the film was perhaps a little disappointing after such a mighty build up and much hype from its numerous Oscar nominations.

There are some fine performances but it's far from a classic. I wait apprehensively for a sequel/prequel.