Rating: 
Summary: Whetting my appetite for more!
Review: The folks at Meridian and A&E have done it again--aided and abetted by a stellar cast led by the incomparable Ioan Gruffudd as Hornblower.This time around, the waters are murkier, the villain(s)more multi-dimensional, the choices harder as Horatio walks a fine line between strictly following the rules and saving his ship from certain catastrophe. How do you deal with an unstable captain, an incompetent 1st lieutenant and a mission that's "heading for disaster?" As usual, Horatio's intelligence, pluck and willingness to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY (unlike some characters I could mention) save the day, but not without mistakes on his part--and not without a price. The supporting cast is brilliant: standout performances are given by Nicholas Jones, who embodies Buckland's dichotomy of well-meaning incompetence and self-serving vindictiveness and Phillip Glenister, whose Hobbs makes the transition from Sawyer's apologist to a man who is able to recognize and appreciate in Hornblower all the leadership qualities that Sawyer himself once possessed. David Warner as Sawyer is a horrific, yet sympathetic Sawyer, and despite his cruel actions of the present, gives us fleeting glimpses of the great captain he once was. The center of the piece is still Horatio, and Gruffudd plays him with just the right mixture of subtlety and elan. The sequence in "Mutiny" when Sawyer discovers Horatio sleeping on watch is exquisitely played by Gruffudd. We see--in a space of seconds-- Horatio's shock, near-panic, despair, fear, loathing, and bewilderment just from Gruffudd's reation shots alone. Two nitpicks: First, my wish is that the actual filming could have taken place at sea instead of on a stationary set, but that is a minor (MINOR!) quibble, and after reading interviews with the producer and director, I'm well aware of the logistics that prevented it. Still, for the next installment in the series (I am very hopeful there will be one. ITV, what say you?), the cast and crew will surely "go back to sea" as the Hotspur is a much smaller vessel than either the Renown or even Indefatigable. Second, I hope the next movie in the series has a tighter focus around Horatio, as the first four movies did. Having read the books, I realize that "Lieutenant Hornblower", upon which this series of movies is based, is told from another character's point of view and that the book itself gives vital backstory that sets up subsequent events in Hornblower's life. Still, I don't think the producers should underestimate the appeal of Gruffudd's Hornblower--it's his delving into the complex character of Horatio that made so many of us fans to begin with. Anyway, I'm anxious for the next installment. I'm looking forward to seeing HH down and out in Portsmouth, marrying "the wrong woman" and cementing his friendship/working relationship with Bush. And for the action-minded, there's plenty of swash and buckle to be mined in the "Hotspur" story. Hurry A&E!
Rating:
Summary: Horatio is Back
Review: The series on A&E motivated me to read C.S. Forester's Horatio series. The upcoming new A&E installments are great and two of my favorite Horatio stories. If you always wanted to see the ships and times depicted in Patrick O'Brian's books check out this DVD. You are in for a great treat. The Mutiny and Retribution are the titles of the two new episodes and will be aired on Sunday and Monday.
Rating:
Summary: The best gets better
Review: This follow on to the earlier efforts of A&E are actually an improvement where few thought that possible. The widescreen format and the quality of the filming are superb. Forrester's work is excellently adopted to the big screen. With a large screen televison and surround sound this ranks as an all time favorite.
Rating:
Summary: The best gets better
Review: This follow on to the earlier efforts of A&E are actually an improvement where few thought that possible. The widescreen format and the quality of the filming are superb. Forrester's work is excellently adopted to the big screen. With a large screen televison and surround sound this ranks as an all time favorite.
Rating:
Summary: A great story of the days of wooden ships and iron men!
Review: This is an excellent adaptation of one of my favorite Hornblower novels "Lieutenant Hornblower" to the screen. Let me say first that it is not terribly true to the original novel. The screenplay has more and different characters, and they are not terribly similar in most cases to the analogous characters in the novel. In particular, First Lieutenant Buckland is nothing like the same character in the novel. Archie Kennedy, a major character in the film, does not appear in the novel at all. I won't go into all of the many differences here, other than to say that they are substantial. This having been said, "The Adventure Continues" is a wonderful story in its own right, which certainly derives from some of the best components of the original novel. Great performances by really all of the actors playing the major characters combine to make this a wonderful viewing experience. This is a story of leadership, hardship, hard-luck, and hard fighting. Anyone who liked the Hornblower novels will also like this movie, even if it isn't completely faithful to the original story.
Rating:
Summary: A great story of the days of wooden ships and iron men!
Review: This is an excellent adaptation of one of my favorite Hornblower novels "Lieutenant Hornblower" to the screen. Let me say first that it is not terribly true to the original novel. The screenplay has more and different characters, and they are not terribly similar in most cases to the analogous characters in the novel. In particular, First Lieutenant Buckland is nothing like the same character in the novel. Archie Kennedy, a major character in the film, does not appear in the novel at all. I won't go into all of the many differences here, other than to say that they are substantial. This having been said, "The Adventure Continues" is a wonderful story in its own right, which certainly derives from some of the best components of the original novel. Great performances by really all of the actors playing the major characters combine to make this a wonderful viewing experience. This is a story of leadership, hardship, hard-luck, and hard fighting. Anyone who liked the Hornblower novels will also like this movie, even if it isn't completely faithful to the original story.
Rating:
Summary: Not From the Books!
Review: This is an original story written just for A&E and should be taken as a bridge to the next films that are being planned for next year. This film serves to answer questions not answered in the books: whatever happened to Archie? What happened to Captain Pelew? Don't be alarmed, though -- the Forester estate gave approval and oversaw the story construction. After sharing these films with your kids...be sure you share the books as well. Your entirely family will enjoy the films and learn a great deal about British Navel History. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Great installment, but it is based on a Forester book
Review: This is just to say that the series continues to be excellent, and that unlike the statement in the review below, this _is_ based on a C.S. Forester novel, Lieutenant Hornblower. It was adapted for the movie (as were the original four films) but it's still a very close adaptation of the second book chronologically in the Hornblower series. Absolutely fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: It was for the good of the service
Review: This new adventure of Horatio Hornblower is wonderful and interesting, even more than the four previous ones, and the distinguished in the fifth part-"Mutiny" -that it makes you angry, and the sixth part- "Retribution"- makes you confuses. And when the captain James Sawyer was locked up and provokes his first lieutenant Bukland, he reminds me with Dr. Hannibal in the Silence of the lambs. And I did not like the way the four lieutenants wears theirs military hats, I think if they wear it in the normal way it would be better. And what is the point of Horatio Hornblower nudity scene? It is an Action/Adventure movie...
Rating:
Summary: Even More Swashbuckling
Review: This second series of Hornblower films dramatizes Lieutenant Hornblower, the second installment, chronologically speaking, of C.S. Forrester's fictional character's career. Hornblower is older but still daring. This series is more interconnected than the first, so you really have to watch them in order. Hornblower is in trouble as the series begins, having been accused ofparticipating in a mutiny against his captain. As the story unfolds, we learn what caused the mutiny and the outcome of Hornblower's court martial. As in the first series, there's plenty of swashbuckling derring do and high hearted bravery as Hronblower and the British continue their war against the French and Spanish. Hornblower's complex inner nature and the turmoil he often feels within himself are also well depicted. I hope we will see future episodes in this series soon.
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