The Far Side of the World (Widescreen Collector's Edition)

When a sudden attack by a French warship inflicts casualties and severe damage upon his vessel, Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey (Crowe) of the British Royal Navy is torn between duty and friendship as he embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes chase across two oceans to intercept and capture the enemy at any cost. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture!

If you have any interest in how this impressive-looking film was put together, you must grab the Collector's Edition. The disc of extras is universally intriguing, smoothly presented, and in depth. As good as the 70-minute documentary is--and it is an excellent survey of how the film was made--a 30-minute segment on how the various effects were combined (ocean shoot, tank shoot, CGI and models) is stunning. There's an equally impressive piece on the Oscar-winning sound and an interactive cannon firing demonstration. The director of the DVD features, David Prior, uses split screens and on-screen notes to efficiently give an abundant amount of information.

There is no commentary track, but the film's director, Peter Weir, has 20 minutes to talk about his approach to the film with "In the Wake of O'Brian." Add a dandy multi-camera segment, 20 minutes of deleted scenes (mostly dealing with shipboard life), dense galleries, a good dose of classical music, and a 28-page booklet, and you have an extras package you will want to show others. Ironically, one of the film's two Oscar-winners, cinematographer Russell Boyd, is only mentioned in passing.

The 70-minute documentary is an excellent survey of how the film was made, providing a comprehensive overview of the production process. The 30-minute segment on the combination of various visual effects, including ocean shoots, tank shoots, CGI, and models, is particularly stunning, showcasing the technical prowess behind the film's impressive visuals. The Oscar-winning sound is also explored in an equally impressive piece, and an interactive cannon firing demonstration adds a hands-on element to the extras.

The director of the DVD features, David Prior, employs split screens and on-screen notes to efficiently convey a wealth of information to the viewer. While there is no commentary track, the film's director, Peter Weir, does provide 20 minutes of insights into his approach to the film in the "In the Wake of O'Brian" segment.

The extras package is rounded out by a dandy multi-camera segment, 20 minutes of deleted scenes focused on shipboard life, dense galleries, a good dose of classical music, and a 28-page booklet. This comprehensive collection of bonus materials is sure to delight fans of the film and those interested in the behind-the-scenes details of its creation.

Interestingly, one of the film's two Oscar-winners, cinematographer Russell Boyd, is only briefly mentioned, despite his significant contribution to the film's visual aesthetic. This oversight is a minor quibble in an otherwise exceptional extras package that offers a wealth of information and insight for those who wish to delve deeper into the making of this acclaimed motion picture.

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