Sharpe's Sword

Starring:Sean Bean, Daragh O'Malley, John Tams, Jason Salkey, Emily Mortimer, Patrick Fierry, James Purefoy, Stephen Moore, Hugh Ross, Michael Cochrane, John Kavanagh, Vernon Dobtcheff, Diana Perez, Pat Laffan, Walter McDonagle, Matthew Pannell, Bob White
Director: Tom Clegg
Studio: Bfs Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Carries on the Tradition in Grand Style
Sharpe saves the day (again...and not for the last time...).
From Rifles to Swords
Enjoyable, but not outstanding
Lots of spy intrigue in one of the best of the Sharpe series

Sharpe's Sword Collection Set
Starring: Sean Bean , Daragh O'Malley , John Tams , Jason Salkey , and Emily Mortimer
Director: Tom Clegg
Manufacturer: Bfs Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Sharpe's Revenge Collection Set
Sharpes - Rifles Collection Set
Sharpe's Challenge
Sharpe's Battle
Sharpe's Honour

ASIN: B000BF0DDI
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Description

"Handsomely mounted epic." - Wall Street Journal

Acclaimed actor Sean Bean (The Island, The Lord of the Rings) stars in this action-packed series set in the midst of the desperate missions and battles of the Napoleonic Wars. Adapted from Bernard Cornwell's bestselling novels, Bean portrays maverick British officer Richard Sharpe who rises through the ranks of Wellington's army by his own daring deeds and ambition. Fast-moving, hard-hitting adventure, Sharpe brings to the screen all the danger, romance and sheer spectacle of one of the bloodiest periods in English warfare.

Includes: Sharpe's Gold / Sharpe's Battle / Sharpe's Sword / Sharpe's Regiment / Sharpe's Siege approx. 8 hrs. col.

Customer Reviews:

Carries on the Tradition in Grand Style.......2007-04-20

I saw my first movie, "Sharpe's Gold" on A&E and became hooked. I am currently on my quest to collect the entire series on DVD, with the Complete Collection being out of my price range, the smaller collections work out just fine! This second "mini-collection" carries on the standards of excellence set by the first movies. Of course, I wish the budgets had been higher for the film, but the directors and producers do quite well with what they have.

The charm of the Sharpe's films isn't necessarily spectacle, though there is room in the very subject matter for that, but character and personality. The actors are all superb. In all the Sharpe's movies (and I've seen most of them) I can't recall one performance that wasn't spot-on. The actors are superb, the friendship and bond between Sharpe and his "Chosen Men" is touching, amusing, and entertaining. You like these people and despise those whom they despise. Great job!

I can't help but wonder if there had been a higher budget, the acting and character development might have taken a back seat to pyrotechnics and spectacle. Not every spectacular film can rise to the level of "Lord of the Rings."

It is also refreshing to see Sean Bean, whose made a career out of playing criminals and sleazeballs, play a good guy - and do a great job of it.

Sharpe saves the day (again...and not for the last time...)........2006-10-05

Just a quick note to emplore you to WATCH the series BEFORE YOU READ the books!!! In this fashion you will get to enjoy them both much more.
For understandable reasons (time and financial constraints), the "Sharpe" film series had to do away with most of the marvelous battle scenes that Bernard Cornwell was so excellent at bringing to life in his "Sharpe" novels. However, the characters and plots were still rich enough to sustain a fantastic screen adventure on a budget. Mr Sean Bean, the actour who plays the title character, had a lot to do with. His on screen charisma was enough to downplay some questionable moves by the writer/directour/producer. For example, I could not understand why the lovely and tragic sub-plot of the marriage of officer Sharpe and Teresa, the fiery Spanish partisan from an impoverished noble family, was abandoned in favour of stories such as the absurd "nun romance" plot in "Sharpe's Sword". This decission aside, there was enough "good stuff" left to make this film linger in my thoughts for many days after the first viewing. And that is the final test of a film well done. Enjoy!
(four stars out of five for the silly "nun" business)

From Rifles to Swords.......2006-08-03

Richard Sharpe finds himself in the unusual position of a swordfight to the death in this episode of the Sharpe series. Sean Bean plays the character with his usual aplomb, and peripheral characters such as Hogan return. Like all the Sharpe movies, this one is watchable and entertaining, and the plot of Napoleon attempting to capture Wellington's spy, El Mirador, adds to the suspense.

Enjoyable, but not outstanding.......2005-03-30

I tried this movie because I think Sean Bean is terribly, stunningly attractive and a intensely convincing actor. He gives a great portrayal of a self-confident, manly British major, and his great Yorkshire accent is, for once, allowed to lilt unmolested. However, the drawbacks are not due to his performance, but to the movie itself.

I have only glanced into the books, but Bernard Cornwell seems to be involved more in plotlines than anything else - a lot of swordplay, a lot of romance, and, in the movie, at least, a lot of gore. The gore bothered me more than the other problems, because for the most part the battle sequences were mild and not in the least high-tech, and yet when there is a wound to be stitched or an arm to be slashed, they are unbalancedly heavy on the blood.

Then there is the whole subplot of the novice and her relationship with Sharpe to consider. (Some reviewers have reffered to this female character as a nun; she is NOT: she is a novice, A.K.A. nun-in-training.) The story is one to please many teenage girls, I am sure, but for those of us who don't like faux sentimentality it is annoying to have her tagging along everywhere. Besides, no novice rethinking going back to the Church (and receiving Holy Communion...no mention of confession, somehow!) would be slipping into a sick man's bed to keep him warm. Not that the general portrayal of the Church is negative; the novice's throwing away her crucifix and then, after Sharpe's recovery, taking it back, was a nice little touch. The priest is a memorable character as well. Some of the humor seemed a bit off, but it was made for British audiences and I'm just a stupid American, so what do I know. :D

Ingoring the iniquities and enjoying the improbability of it all, it was a fun movie. Wouldn't watch it if it weren't for Bean, though.

Lots of spy intrigue in one of the best of the Sharpe series.......2004-09-16

In "Sharpe's Sword," it is still 1813 on the Franco-Spanish frontier and the French army is now in full retreat from Spain. But Napoleon is planning a surprise counter-attack and to make it work he has to flush out and capture Napoleon's master spy, El Mirador. Of course, Major Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean) is in the middle of the intrigue, although for a large part of the story he is sidelined by a severe wound. There is a battle sequence at the end of this one, as the British take another French fort, but this one is much more of a character drama, where all of the subplots pretty much come together in the end.

Major Munro (Hugh Ross) knows the identity of El Mirador, but he is not about to tell Sharpe. Napoleon has dispatched Colonel Leroux (Patrick Fierry) to find and kill El Mirador, but he is captured by the British. Pretending to be a mere captain Leroux is given his parole, and none of his superior officers will listen to Sharpe who sees through the pretense and tries to avoid the inevitable tragedy that will result from this stupid mistake. Sharpe also comes across a frightened lass (Emily Mortimer), who will not speak, and evidence of a code book that suggests there is a traitor among the English.

Meanwhile, Sgt. Harper (Daragh O'Malley) and Ramona (Diana Perez) are having fighting because he is not sure about bringing a Spanish woman and an illegitimate baby back to Ireland when the war is over. Sharpe and everybody else thinks the two should get married, but Patrick does not see the sense of it. Then we find out that Sir Henry Simmerson (Michael Cochrane), the oaf who was Sharpe's commanding officer in "Sharpe's Eagle" and who once lost one of the King's flags, is back to cause more trouble as he takes an interest in the lass.

"Sharpe's Sword" offers two of the more interesting supporting characters and better performances in the series to date. John Kavanagh is Father Curtis, an Irish priest whose church provides sanctuary to soldiers who have been tortured beyond endurance. He is a particularly strong figure with surprising depth who plays a key role in several of the plotlines. Then there is James Purefoy as Lord Jack Spears, who has already lost one arm to the war and who strikes up a friendship with Sharpe (it has been a while since he has had such a thing with a fellow officer). Two of the best moments in this eighth story in the Sharpe series belong to these two characters.

In the past I have complained because Sharpe usually does not get to be the one who delivers the death blow in these movies adapted from Bernard Cornwell's novels about the Napoleonic War, but he does get to do one in "Sharpe's Sword" and the one that he does not do is handled really well so that I did not mind. Yes, the battle sequence leaves something to be desired, but that is a constant in the series given its limited production values and director Tom Clegg handles this one better than most, taking advantage of the sight of those nice lines of British troops in their red coats marching across the field under fire (and there are lots of beefeater hats this time around).

This is one of the best of the Sharpe's series, its rating warranted by the strong characters, the intricate storyline, and the multiple payoffs in the last act. Sharpe gets to do not one, but two sword duels, so that he has some nice action moments to go along with the strong dramatic moments between the characters. Sharpe is not as dominant in this one as he is in some of the others, but maybe that is why it works so well. All of the other members of the cast are involved in making this a superior outing.

Average customer rating:

Excellent entertainment!
British TV series continues apace with "Sharpe's Honour"
Sharpe's Honor
Sharpe has to go undercover to restore his lost honour
Sharp's Honor

Sharpe's Honour
Starring: Sean Bean , Daragh O'Malley , Hugh Fraser , Michael Byrne , and Alice Krige
Director: Tom Clegg
Manufacturer: Bfs Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Sharpe's Enemy
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Sharpe's Sword Collection Set

ASIN: B000055WAL
Release Date: 2000-11-28

Customer Reviews:

Excellent entertainment!.......2007-03-09

In spite of a lifelong fascination with history, I have never had much interest in the Napoleanic era, or the Napoleanic Wars--until I started watching this series. Now we own the entire set, and are acquiring the books on which it is based as rapidly as we can. That alone should indicate how high my opinion of these films is.

If you've read the books, you will find that the timeline has been altered for the movies--but I doubt you will be disappointed. In my opinion, this entire series is one of the best adaptations of book to movie that has ever been done. Both mediums remain emminently enjoyable, and I cannot say that "the books are better than the movies" or "the movie is better than the books." They are entirely complimentary

If you liked Horatio Hornblower and Master and Commander, you will almost certainly enjoy these. Highly recommended!

British TV series continues apace with "Sharpe's Honour".......2007-02-17

Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe novels are among the most beloved stories in historical fiction. Cornwell, a Brit living in America, has captivated fans in his native and adopted homelands with the heroic tales of Sharpe, gutter trash raised from the ranks by Wellington to become a critical officer during the Napoleonic Wars.

The TV adaptations are slightly askew from the novels, but that's no surprise. By the outset of "Sharpe's Honour," Sharpe's beloved wife Teresa, the "Needle" who killed so many Frenchmen, is dead. Sharpe (Sean Bean) grieves, even as Sergeant Harper looks to become a father for the first time.

The French care not for Sharpe's woes, and Major Ducos - Sharpe's sworn enemy - thirsts for revenge. (Napoleon himself wants to see Sharpe ruined!) Ducos convinces the beautiful wife of a Spanish colonel to write a false letter accusing Sharpe of rape, hoping to simultaneously ruin Sharpe and also drive a wedge between Wellington and his Spanish allies.

The letter apparently succeeds, as Sharpe is accused of the murder of the Spanish colonel following their duel. Thanks to the representation by the worst lawyer to ever serve in the English bar, Sharpe is sentenced to death by hanging.

For anyone who has paid attention to the fact that this is the fifth installment in a fourteen DVD pack, it should come as no surprise that Sharpe is not killed. What ensues following his "hanging," however, is a rollicking tale of vengeance, rescue, derring-do, and even a wee bit of honor. Again, there is no electric guitar on the soundtrack to sully the waters, so this is one well-executed if low-budget adventure story. And without giving too much away, even the most cynical Sharpe fan will laugh uproariously as Sharpe does battle with a bunch of protesting Spanish nuns, brandishing a chicken like a battleaxe and taking a few cabbages upside the head.

For fans of the series, this is a must-see. If you're not a fan, grab a copy of Cornwell's first book in the series, "Sharpe's Tiger," and get reading. (It helps to watch the movies if you've already read the novels.)

Sharpe's Honor.......2006-02-05

Being enthralled with the Sharpe series, I have really nothing negative to say about any of the installments. Sharpe's Honour is no different. Following the tragic "Sharpe's Enemey", "..Honor finds Sharpe further put upon by having to restore his tarnished reputation, thanks to a frame-up by his nemesis, Ducos. It's a rousing story, told well, filmed well. The two amusing things of notice is Sharpe's chosen men start to dwindle ridiculously low and This epsiode marks the beginning of the "Love interest of the week" scenerio that will continue in the following stories. Nevertheless, it's a great poignant episode in the series and a must have for any Sharpe collector.

Sharpe has to go undercover to restore his lost honour.......2004-09-02

At the beginning of "Sharpe's Honour," the fifth in the series of television films adapted from the novels of Bernard Cornwell about the maverick officer raised from the ranks by the Duke of Wellington, we discover that Napoleon (Ron Cook) himself is looking forward to our hero's demise. It is 1813 and Bonaparte is retreating from Russia and trying to hold on to Spain, currently ruled by his brother Joseph. Wellington's successes are putting things at risk and the wily Major Ducos (Féodor Atkine) has come up with a plan that will not only result in Sharpe's death, but keep Spain allied with France. The plot hinges on a letter written by the beautiful La Marquesa (Alice Krige) accusing Sharpe (Sean Bean) of rape. Because keeping their potential allies happy might mean more than either Sharpe's honor or life, the truth of the matter might not matter to Wellington (Hugh Fraser) and his own spy master, Major Narin (Michael Byrne).

"Sharpe's Honour" combines a little bit of courtroom drama with a whole bunch of sneaky around behind enemy lines. The plan Ducos has put together is rather complex, trying to put all several pieces into position to solidify the French position in Spain (apparently at this point in time it still pays to expect the Spanish Inquisition), and making doubly sure that Sharpe swings at the end of a rope. Meanwhile, Sergeant Harper (Daragh O'Malley) has to worry not only about Major Sharpe's neck but the impending birth of a child by his wife. Still, for those who like it when Sharpe and Harper are thrown together at every opportunity this Sharpe movie does more than its fair share. There is a classic exchange in this one where Sharpe spies the sergeant and says, "Drunk again, Harper?" Without batting an eye Harper replies, "Oh, me too, sir."

This is a solid offering in the series even if it is not part of the top rank. One of the things I have learned from "Sharpe's Honour" and the previous film, "Sharpe's Enemy," is that Cornwell's stories tend to violate the conventional expectations of such dramas. There are a lot of people that I expect Sharpe to kill in these stories, but he never seems to get to most of them, although they tend to meet their richly deserved fates. But then you know that for our dashing hero being accused of assault by a woman is no reason not for sparks to fly between them. We can only wonder what Napoleon will have in store for Sharpe next on their way to getting together on the field at Waterloo down the road in the fourteenth and final adventure in the series.

Sharp's Honor.......2003-02-02

I was disappointed in the screen play of this great book. I found the book much richer in story. In the book Sharp and the (golden Whore) had known each other in a biblical way from a previous book (Sharps Sword) wherein he also slaughters her evil brother(Colonel Leroux ). In the screen play they do not know each other at all. Also Harper did not accompany Sharp on this Mission to capture La Marquesa,this role was better served by the Spanish boy Angel.

Customer Reviews:

Carries on the Tradition in Grand Style.......2007-04-20

Sharpe saves the day (again...and not for the last time...)........2006-10-05

From Rifles to Swords.......2006-08-03

Enjoyable, but not outstanding.......2005-03-30

Lots of spy intrigue in one of the best of the Sharpe series.......2004-09-16

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