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

Russell Crowe in Master and Commander (Credit: 20th Century Fox)
Russell Crowe in Master And Commander. (20th Century Fox)

Russell Crowe has come to the defence of his 2003 sea-faring epic Master And Commander: Far Side Of The World after it came under some scurvy fire on Twitter.

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. May I recommend Master And Commander starring the usually captivating, attention-grabbing Russell Crowe. I've never made it past the ten minute mark. You're welcome. And thanks Russell,” wrote musician Ian McNabb, formerly a member of the band The Icicle Works.

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McNabb tagged Crowe into the tweet, however, and the New Zealand-born actor is rarely one to pass up an online barney.

“That’s the problem with kids these days. No focus. Peter Weirs film is brilliant,” he wrote in rebuke.

“An exacting, detail oriented, epic tale of fidelity to Empire & service, regardless of the cost. Incredible cinematography by Russell Boyd & a majestic soundtrack. Definitely an adults movie.”

It is perhaps worth noting that McNabb is 60.

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

Weir adapted three novels in novelist Patrick O'Brian's series about the naval escapades of Jack Aubrey, who ascends from the rank of lieutenant to rear-admiral in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars.

The film was critically applauded, and while it only made $211m at the box office, it hauled in a massive 10 Oscar nominations.

However, it had to compete with Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return Of The King, which hoovered up the awards for Best Picture and Best Director, though Master And Commander did win Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing.

Crowe has often teased a potential sequel over the years, but nothing has as yet materialised.

Watch: Russell Crowe on cinema post coronavirus