The Sharpe TV movies are set between 1809 - 1818, where British soldier Richard Sharpe, is a rifleman during the Peninsular and Napoleonic Wars, and then in India. The series follows Sharpe's daring adventures and career promotions during those times, including battles that are both professional and personal. As a general rule, I am not hugely into war movies and battle scenes. The Sharpe series is an exception. I saw one episode from the middle of the series and had to order the rest of them. I was hooked on Sharpe.
The very first episode, Sharpe's Rifles, sets the tone, making us feel empathy for Sharpe's situation in life. He has the brains, brawn and bravado to be just the kind of leader the military needs, but because he wasn't born with pedigree or wealth, he isn't readily accepted by other officers, even after he's promoted, because he's 'come up from the ranks'. And conversely, he isn't readily accepted by his men either, as they consider him to be 'not a proper officer' - again, because he'd been one of them, from the ranks.
Seeing the journey of how he repeatedly proves himself to be courageous, capable and canny, earning the respect of others, preserving men's lives rather than wasting them, and at times refraining from saying aloud what he really thinks, is entertaining viewing.
Sharpe's character reminds me of the Hornblower character from the books by C.S.Forester. This is because they are both men with integrity who put the welfare of their men before their own, particularly when attempting to protect their men from the sometimes stupid, irresponsible orders given by arrogant, incompetent superiors. To me, Hornblower is a more refined and educated character, whereas Sharpe is on the rougher side.
Something that does bug me about the series, though, is Sharpe's speed of recovery from injury. He can be quite incapacitated, yet a few days later, is full on leading his men into battle again.
Some could argue that watching Sean Bean in any role makes something worth watching. I admit, I did appreciate and enjoy watching him play the character of Richard Sharpe, particularly when he smiled. And his accent was pleasant to listen to also.
Other actors in the series include Daragh O'Malley, Brian Cox, Pete Postlethwaite, Elizabeth Hurley, Assumpta Serna, Abigail Cruttenden, Hugh Fraser, and John Tams.
Some of the dialogue is quite clever and witty in places, and it would take me by surprise, making me laugh out loud. I hadn't been expecting that from what are essentially 'war' action movies.
As the episodes went by, I became more familiar with the characters, their words and anticipated actions and I acquired a different level of understanding and reactions to their dramas.
Are the Sharpe DVDs worth watching? Definitely!
The very first episode, Sharpe's Rifles, sets the tone, making us feel empathy for Sharpe's situation in life. He has the brains, brawn and bravado to be just the kind of leader the military needs, but because he wasn't born with pedigree or wealth, he isn't readily accepted by other officers, even after he's promoted, because he's 'come up from the ranks'. And conversely, he isn't readily accepted by his men either, as they consider him to be 'not a proper officer' - again, because he'd been one of them, from the ranks.
Seeing the journey of how he repeatedly proves himself to be courageous, capable and canny, earning the respect of others, preserving men's lives rather than wasting them, and at times refraining from saying aloud what he really thinks, is entertaining viewing.
Sharpe's character reminds me of the Hornblower character from the books by C.S.Forester. This is because they are both men with integrity who put the welfare of their men before their own, particularly when attempting to protect their men from the sometimes stupid, irresponsible orders given by arrogant, incompetent superiors. To me, Hornblower is a more refined and educated character, whereas Sharpe is on the rougher side.
Something that does bug me about the series, though, is Sharpe's speed of recovery from injury. He can be quite incapacitated, yet a few days later, is full on leading his men into battle again.
Some could argue that watching Sean Bean in any role makes something worth watching. I admit, I did appreciate and enjoy watching him play the character of Richard Sharpe, particularly when he smiled. And his accent was pleasant to listen to also.
Other actors in the series include Daragh O'Malley, Brian Cox, Pete Postlethwaite, Elizabeth Hurley, Assumpta Serna, Abigail Cruttenden, Hugh Fraser, and John Tams.
Some of the dialogue is quite clever and witty in places, and it would take me by surprise, making me laugh out loud. I hadn't been expecting that from what are essentially 'war' action movies.
As the episodes went by, I became more familiar with the characters, their words and anticipated actions and I acquired a different level of understanding and reactions to their dramas.
Are the Sharpe DVDs worth watching? Definitely!
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