"Time Magazine" – 100/100!
"The Wall Street Journal" – 100/100!
"The Washington Post" – 100/100!
"Vanity Fair" – 100/100!
"Chicago Tribune" – 100/100!
Perfect scores! The screen is filled with nothing but glowing reviews as the market erupts with enthusiasm.
"Chicago Sun-Times" critic Roger Ebert joined the praise, too:
"Like David Lean, the film achieves the grandeur of an epic while retaining its human touch. It reminds us, in a masterful way, that a great action movie isn't just about destroying buildings with explosions but orchestrating breathtaking visuals and soundscapes to evoke deep, soul-shaking resonance."
100/100!
Unanimous acclaim and an avalanche of praise—an absolutely spectacular reception.
Could it be…
Another victory for Anson?
No, this time, it's Russell Crowe.
All this fervent praise is for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, which has arrived to a rousing ovation.
Following A Beautiful Mind and Gladiator, Russell Crowe has scored a hat-trick of critical successes. The excitement surrounding this release rivals the fanfare of Gladiator, marking the pinnacle of Crowe's career.
No wonder!
No wonder 20th Century Fox exuded such confidence. Their overwhelmingly positive internal screenings solidified their belief in the film's potential.
They're eyeing box office domination.
They're aiming for Oscar glory.
And they're planning to conquer the holiday season with both.
Let's not forget that epic films like The Lord of the Rings and Gladiator have been among the most celebrated and commercially successful works in recent years. Master and Commander isn't competing with Pirates of the Caribbean; its sights are set on the box-office-smashing, Oscar-winning champions.
And sure enough—
Upon release, Master and Commander swept the reviews.
20th Century Fox: "Even if the 'Butterfly Effect' premiere had a novel gimmick, so what? In the end, it all comes down to strength."
And strength they have. Roger Ebert went so far as to compare Peter Weir and Russell Crowe's collaboration to the legendary David Lean—
David Lean, the British director behind classics like The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, and Brief Encounter. With two Oscars for Best Director, a Palme d'Or, and a Golden Bear to his name, he's considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
Ebert's unreserved admiration for Master and Commander speaks volumes, with his 100/100 score still feeling insufficient to convey his enthusiasm.
And yet, that's not all.
Among 42 major outlets, the film received 34 positive reviews, 7 mixed, and just 1 negative, resulting in a stellar aggregate score of 81/100.
So, how does "81" stack up?
Looking at Russell Crowe's own filmography:
- Gladiator: 67
- A Beautiful Mind: 72
The difference is clear!
Crowe has carved out his place in Hollywood, achieving both box-office and critical acclaim, with Master and Commander serving as a springboard for even greater heights.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The impact is thunderous.
Before its release, Master and Commander had already stirred excitement within 20th Century Fox and among industry insiders, who anticipated a strong showing. But few predicted such a meteoric debut, instantly positioning it as the frontrunner of the awards season.
Meanwhile, The Butterfly Effect? Trouble looms.
From the moment the release schedules were announced, industry experts expressed concern over New Line Cinema's decision to pit The Butterfly Effect directly against Master and Commander. It seemed like a risky gamble.
Although The Butterfly Effect managed to make some noise on its opening day thanks to Anson's innovative promotional tactics—pulling hundreds of reporters away from the Master and Commander premiere—the wave of attention lasted less than 12 hours.
As the entertainment headlines filled with coverage of Master and Commander's glowing reviews, the storm shifted.
Russell Crowe is, indeed, aiming for victory.
And The Butterfly Effect?
Even the media began to worry. A glance at its aggregated reviews painted a grim picture—
Not good.
Review aggregation often varies in timing depending on when critics can view and critique a film. For instance, Roger Ebert attended Master and Commander's premiere but planned to catch The Butterfly Effect after its public release. As such, his review of the latter wouldn't influence its initial score.
This nuance becomes significant when examining the first wave of reviews for The Butterfly Effect, which included only 23 critics—a stark contrast to Master and Commander's robust 42.
This disparity underscores the difference in media interest and perceived importance between the two films.
A rocky start.
For a rising star like Anson, such an outcome is rare. But Russell Crowe's formidable presence and 20th Century Fox's aggressive marketing were enough to suppress Anson's momentum.
Some in the media remarked: "Anson's box office pull has always been a topic of debate. This time, it seems he's still a bit unsteady on his feet."
Worse still, out of those 23 reviews, The Butterfly Effect received 10 negative scores.
Ten!
The sheer number of negative reviews paints a concerning picture, even without comparing it to Master and Commander.
For example:
- The Wall Street Journal: 10/100
"A dismal life and a dismal film."
- Vanity Fair: 20/100
"Like opening a surprise Valentine's Day box of chocolates only to find grass-flavored ones. Yuck."
- Los Angeles Times: 20/100
"An immature exploration of chaos theory. Every plot twist feels juvenile, obvious, and riddled with logical holes."
Oh, no!