Entertainment 21-11-2003 who: Russell Crowe what: Stars in "near-perfect adaptation" or seafaring adventure novels when: This weekend snippet: Tim Robey in The Telegraph says Peter Weir`s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a very fitting tribute to the acclaimed novelist Patrick O`Brian, who sadly did not live to see his stories about Captain Jack Aubrey (played by Crowe) and ship`s surgeon and botanist Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany) translated into this lavish epic. The Guardian`s Peter Bradshaw agrees but both critics are disappointed by the Brit rom-com Love Actually, which is also released in Britain this weekend. The best Bradshaw can say about this ensemble piece starring Hugh Grant is that it is "put together with professionalism and care". The Mirror, on the other hand, reckons it`s "the perfect feelgood film for Christmas". [... more]

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