Russell Crowe rushes to defend 'Master And Commander' from Twitter bashing

Adapted from three novels in Patrick O'Brian's epic Aubrey-Maturin series and starring Russell Crowe, the film is set at sea during the Napoleonic Wars and tells the story of British Captain Jack Aubrey's mission to find and sink a French privateer that's been harassing the British whaling fleet off the coast of Brazil.

The Gladiator actor didn't take kindly to a user who said his 2003 film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was the flawless film to put you to sleep if you had issues sleeping.

Crowe accused "kids these days" of having "no focus" after one Twitter user recommended the movie as a sedative.

"Lots of folk complaining about lack of sleep during the Pandemic". "I've never made it past the ten minute mark".

The user also tagged Crowe in the post, perhaps to make sure the actor saw it - and he did.

The 56-year-old wrote: "That's the problem with kids these days".

Naturally, Crowe wasn't pleased with this insomnia-centered mockery of what he and many critics consider to be a very fine film in the actor's catalogue. "No focus. Peter Weirs film is brilliant", he wrote in rebuke. Actor Josh Gad replied to Crowe's tweet: "A ideal movie".

Crowe highlighted the film's co-writer and director, Peter Weir, whose nomination for best director made up one of the 10 Academy Awards the film was nominated for. Richard King won the other Oscar for best sound editing.

However, Master And Commander is a firm favourite among Crowe fans.

Variety also praised the film, writing in our November 3, 2003 review: "Rare proof that a enormous production in contemporary Hollywood can possess a distinctive personality, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World proves as bracing as a stiff wind on the open sea".