More than most of Weir or Crowe's previous films, this one relies as much on effects and scenery as on the individual performances of the cast. Make no mistake, many of the performances are excellent, but this is an action/adventure film. Unlike many Hollywood action films, the action is pretty realistic, rather than simply graphic. Having seen several films and read several books set during this war, I found the story fairly formulaic, and therefore predictable. But that did not lessen my enjoyment of the film. It was a rollicking high-seas adventure that I found very exciting.
