Sharpe's Honour

Rating:
Summary: Sharpe has to go undercover to restore his lost honour
Review: 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.





Rating:
Summary: Good not great
Review: Honour was dissapointing as it marked my switch to DVD from VHS in the series. I agree sound and picture quality are poor. This series is crying out for a repackaging in a DVD box set with digital quality and behind-the-scenes stuff. That said, Honour is fairly entertaining. A good plot and some decent action, along with the traditional kick-to-the-groin fight scenes. The climatic battle sees Sean Bean catapulted over over a downed cart, sword in hand. Great stuff that. The romance is downplayed a bit, with one exception ("He was at her all night sir") and the scene where Sharpe rescues the Marquesa from the band of nuns is hilarious. Worth the time. I'm looking forward to getting further into the series from this point on.

Rating:
Summary: Good not great
Review: Honour was dissapointing as it marked my switch to DVD from VHS in the series. I agree sound and picture quality are poor. This series is crying out for a repackaging in a DVD box set with digital quality and behind-the-scenes stuff. That said, Honour is fairly entertaining. A good plot and some decent action, along with the traditional kick-to-the-groin fight scenes. The climatic battle sees Sean Bean catapulted over over a downed cart, sword in hand. Great stuff that. The romance is downplayed a bit, with one exception ("He was at her all night sir") and the scene where Sharpe rescues the Marquesa from the band of nuns is hilarious. Worth the time. I'm looking forward to getting further into the series from this point on.

Rating:
Summary: Sharpe's New Fan
Review: I am hopelessly addicted to the Sharpe series. As a history major I find the story line fascinating, especially since it's a period they don't teach us much about here in the States. I was drawn in from scene one and haven't come up for air yet. Superb acting, witty dialogue, great battle scenes, lots of action/suspense, endearing characters, wonderful ensemble casts...and a dashing hero to boot! Need I go on? Throughout the series there are some great episodes and some not-so-great, but none truly bad (except perhaps Sharpe's Gold). Sean Bean absolutely *becomes* Richard Sharpe. He's fabulous (and not bad looking either). Daragh O'Malley is wonderful as Sharpe's best friend Harper. Any history fan, military fan, action fan, or swashbuckler fan needs to check out Sharpe. Be warned, though--you can't buy just one. Wonder why don't they show it on American TV? This series is truly a secret that needs to get out.

Rating:
Summary: Sharp's Honor
Review: 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.

Last the Movie did not do justice to the horror of 1700th century warfare and it made the battle of Vitoria look like a platoon Action instead of the Clash of whole Army groups that it was.

Rating:
Summary: DVD or Video tape?
Review: I was very disappointed in the DVD picture quality; it's on the same level as video tape. I was expecting a much sharper (no pun intended,) clearer transfer. The movie itself was 5 star. I can only hope the next Sharpe Collection transfered to DVD will move up to a DVD quality picture.

Rating:
Summary: DVD or Video tape?
Review: I was very disappointed in the DVD picture quality; it's on the same level as video tape. I was expecting a much sharper (no pun intended,) clearer transfer. The movie itself was 5 star. I can only hope the next Sharpe Collection transfered to DVD will move up to a DVD quality picture.