Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Full Screen Edition) asin: B0001HLVSC binding: DVD list price: $14.98 USD amazon price: $11.83 USD

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) directed by Peter Weir. This film is based on a series of books by Patrick O'Brian that follow the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy, and his ship's surgeon and best friend Dr Stephen Maturin during the Napoleonic Wars. In this film, loosely based on the tenth book in the series, Aubrey, commanding the frigate HMS Surprise, is ordered to pursue and destroy the Acheron, a much more powerful French warship that is headed for the South Seas, where it will menace Britain's whaling fleet. Russell Crowe, who plays Jack Aubrey, demonstrates the exact blend of authority and respect in a leader. Paul Bettany, in the part of the doctor, serves as a useful protagonist to Aubrey, forcing him to articulate his thinking process. This film is a feast - almost every scene can be analyzed for its leadership insights. --Larry Stout