Peter Weir's adaptation of one of the ' Master & Commander' novels by Patrick O' Brian; O' Brian's novels are set during the Napoleonic Wars & feature the character Captain Jack Aubrey. After conquering much of Europe already, Napoleon's forces have set their sights on taking Britian, so Captain Aubrey (Russell Crowe) & the crew of his ship, the HMS Surprise, take to the Pacific to intercept any attacking ships from the French fleet. When Aubrey eyes a renegade French super-frigate, the Surprise pursues, leading to an adrenaline-charged chase through the distant reaches of the sea.