If you liked it on DVD, you would have loved it on the big screen. It is so well filmed that you feel like you are on that ship.
On the DVD cover it says "Nominated for 10 Academy Awards." Didn't win any, but there was no shame in that, just bad luck that it was up against LOTR.
Speaking of which, did you catch LOTR's "Pippin" (guy with the very thick brogue) as the First Mate in "Master & Commander"?