BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Kinley This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Leofwine_draca SHARPE'S RIFLES was the first of the made-for-television Sharpe movies made by Carlton for ITV way back in 1993. As a massive fan of author Bernard Cornwell, who created Sharpe back at the beginning of the 1980s, I had to get around to seeing these movies sooner or later, and I'm pleased to say that this one doesn't disappoint. First of all, though, it has to be said that the plot barely resembles the novel of the same title at all; there are extra characters, missing characters, new events, and crucially a lack of the major battle scenes that make the novels so stunning. The reason is the budget – or lack of it – but I'm pleased to say that despite the missing battles, this is still a decent product that belies its made-for-TV origins.The movie was filmed in Portugal and the Crimea and there are some stunning mountainous backdrops that really add authenticity to the proceedings. The production is excellently written with some great dialogue. It starts off feeling a little faltering and you can tell that everybody was new to it, but by halfway through things really hit their stride and it never disappoints after this point. Sean Bean soon makes the role his own, doing such a good job that nobody else could ever come close to playing Sharpe the way he does. The various characters of the close-knit riflemen are all good, with Daragh O'Malley particularly effective as Harper. I also liked David Troughton's performance as Sir Arthur Wellesley, and it's a shame he didn't continue to play this role throughout the series.While the 'talky' scenes and the plot exposition are all adequate, where this series really excels is in the action – and it proves you don't need a big budget to shoot good battles. A shoot-out in a ruined village is a highlight, as is the action-packed finale, which involves the storming of a town occupied by the French. Plenty of grittiness and bloodshed adds to the realism of the film and even the romance – involving a female spy who wasn't in the books, played by Assumpta Serna – doesn't get in the way too much. The highlight of the production is definitely the bit where Harper brings down a mounted Frenchman, using his rifle in a rather novel way. A great touch to a well-written book adaptation.

FlaviusAetius It's a crying shame this mini series didn't catch on in the US. It still stands as the best made-for-TV-movie series ever made.Following the adventures of Richard Sharpe, a rough-and-tumble, tough-as-nails lieutenant in the Peninsular Wars, the series at first strikes you as, well, shoddy. There definitely is a made-for-TV vibe of cheapness, and the wailing electric guitars may turn off some viewers.But then......it hooks you. You become introduced to a wonderful cast of ragtag characters. Hagman, Harper, Harris, Thomas, Perkins, and of course, Sharpe. Over the course of the series they're fleshed out and given their own personalities. By the time of the last addition to the series, they're almost like old friends. You cheer their victories and weep for their defeats. As they slowly die off, you feel real grief. At the end of Sharpe's Waterloo, in a heart-breaking scene you see both Hagman and Harris die. I nearly cried when I wasn't pumping my fist at the screen and shouting obscenities at the villainous, treacherous scum that was the Prince of Orange. When Sharpe killed him later on......so satisfying... Few characters in all media can claim the same. The action scenes are intense once you get past the made-for-TV feeling I mentioned earlier, and are truly exciting. The music may strike you as cheesy, but once you hear Hagman singing the truly awe-inspiring " Over the Hills and Far Away", all your doubts will melt away. That song is easily one of the best I've ever heard.Perhaps the series' strongest point is it's lead: Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe. He absolutely dominates the role, snarling and growling with animalistic charisma. Never once do you doubt that Sean Bean is in fact Richard Sharpe. I mean, Bean must be the best middle-aged English actor there is. Bar none.At the very end of the series, aside from Sharpe's Challenge because I haven't seen that, when Sharpe is marching off into the sunset accompanied to " Over the Hills and Far Away," my heart swelled. It was such a beautiful moment.....I couldn't help but hurrah at the end. A truly touching moment to one of the best series ever made.

Jack OntheNet Comparing to Hornblower, Sharpe is a disappointment. Plot is too flawed, performance is too modern, direction is too weak. However, after reading former comments here I understand the plot of this series is dramatically altered from that of the original book. So maybe I'll still give a shot on the book someday.What amazed me is that, two years after last episode of Sharpe, there is Bravo Two Zero (1999), also directed by Tom Clegg and starring Sean Bean. And that one is PERFECT, just like Hornblower, my all-time favorite.I still remember one IMDb user's comment on Hornblower, which says, "When British decide to do something well, they do it extremely well." I think everybody agree with it after watching Hornblower. But after watching Sharpe and Bravo Two Zero, I'd say, "When British decide to do something well, they ehh... hopefully do it extremely well."

katiepoppycat **SPOILER**As a fan of the books, I'd never actually seen the tv films until very recently. I wasn't disappointed. Sean Bean excels as the maverick Richard Sharpe, and there are some sterling supporting performances - my favourite being Hogan. In the light of LOTR and others, the battles probably don't seem as spectacular as they once may have done, but this doesn't detract from the action at all. The adaptation has been sensitively done, although Wellesley's promotion of Sharpe is a little spurious. Teresa is feisty and sexy, Harper is just as he should be, and Hagman is exactly as I imagined him to be in the book.My only criticism is that whoever was responsible for the scoring of this film deserves to be garrotted with the strings from their electric guitar. Historical dramas should not date, but that music certainly does. Nonetheless, tons of fun!