I saw the movie last weekend. It is an excellent movie, extremely entertaining and exciting. Crowe managed to get Aubrey as right as any actor could, and was indeed heroic, just like in the books. I recommend the movie to everyone.

BUT: I was very disappointed in the portrayal of Maturin! Aubrey and Maturin were equally featured in the books. Maturin was absolutely incompetent at sea, and Aubrey was just as bad ashore. Aubrey was wysiwyg, but Maturin was a deeply complex and layered character. I actually believe more time was spent on Maturin than Aubrey in the books. I understand a movie can only contain a limited amount of material, but Maturin was not just a sidekick like Gabby Hayes in the Roy Rogers movies.

Maturin was personally sloppy, always wore an ill-fitting wig, had to be helped by the crew to get aboard or depart the ship, and to get into the rigging on those rare occasions when he tried it. None of this appeared in the movie, but could have been easily portrayed. Instead he was portrayed as well-dressed, and simple and at home in the high rigging.

OK, that's my quibble.

O'Meara