Rating: 
Summary: True, this is character over spectacle, but characters count
Review: Granted, the budget on these television movies is such that the spectacle of battles during the Napoleonic War are reduced to dozens of soldiers on each side rather than massed formations of thousands of troops. But if these adaptations of Bernard Cornwell's novels were given the big screen treatment so that the battles sequences met our expectations we would certainly not be in double-figures with regards to the number of movies made to date. Consequently, "Sharpe's Eagle," the second in the series (but the first novel), sacrifices spectacle to focus on characters, which is fine because that is what this series is about.
For his second mission Lt. Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean), is sent with his Rifles to join the South Essex. The battalion is run by the incompetent Sir Henry Simmerson (Michael Cochrane), who, along with most of his officers, turn their collective noses up at Sharpe having risen up through the ranks. There are a couple of notable exceptions, one is Major Lennox (David Ashton), an officer Sharpe remembers for his distinguished service in India and Captain (Gavin O'Herlihy), who hails from Virginia, who play pivotal roles in what is to happen. The problem is that Sharpe has to fight his war on two fronts, not only worried about the French in front but also the other officers, who are looking for a chance to stab him in the back (literally).
Another key part of this story has to do with how the South Essex have never been in battle and there are a couple of nice sequences with Sharpe and his Rifles prepare the troops for their baptism under fire. Unfortunately, the incompetence of their leaders results in a disaster during what should have been a simple mission to destroy a bridge when the South Essex lose their colours, which is not a bad thing of monumental proportions. The need to regain their honor and the unspoken promise Sharpe makes to a dying man to capture one of the Imperial Eagles, touched by Napoleon himself, that sit atop the French standards set up the final part of the story.
The climax of "Sharpe's Eagle" is the Battle of Talavera, one of the bloodiest of the war and the one for which Sir Arthur Wellesley (David Troughton) becomes Lord Wellington. Of course the cowards run to live another day and brave young soldiers die, but such is war. As many have indicated, all we get is a sketch of the battle, which suffers in comparison to the historical details Cromwell provides in the book. But the best moments in this movie are those of character, such as when Sharpe proves repeatedly he has more of a sense of honor than the strutting peacocks who call themselves gentlemen and when Major Hogan (Brain Cox) gives an officer some idea of why challenging Sharpe to a duel would be suicide. Throughout the movie Hogan gets all of the good lines, while most of Sharpe's best moments involve intense looks at the objects of his displeasure.
"Sharpe's Eagle" also makes excellent use of a song sung by the British soldiers throughout the episode, especially by one young tenor. There is a sense in which these movies are more about the men serving in the British army during the Napoleonic Wars than about the officers, which is as it should be. The relationship between our hero and both Patrick Harper (Daragh O'Malley) and Teresa (Assumpta Serna) continue to evolve as do the plots to get rid of Sharpe. Clearly there are elements here to be continued, but that is the primary attraction. There are well over a dozen of these Sharpe movies and we can watch these early ones knowing that there is a long haul to enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Low Budget - not like the books
Review: Hi,
i was very disappointed by this DVD Series!
If you read the books forget the movies.
The battles are looking very unrealistic and there are
only around 100 soldiers.
The bridge in this movie is a cheap wood bridge, also there is no
second battle when the bridge after the bridge has been
destroyed.
Even the capture of the eagle is a scene of 2 minutes.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing to fans of the books
Review: I am a big fan of Bernard Cornwell's series of Sharpe books. While I enjoy these DVDs, they do not measure up to the books. The most disappointing part of these DVDs are the battle scenes. Cornwell's books are centered on the battles. The battle's in these DVDs are small, low budget affairs with about 100 soldiers on each side, not the grand spectacle that is demanded.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing to fans of the books
Review: I am a big fan of Bernard Cornwell's series of Sharpe books. While I enjoy these DVDs, they do not measure up to the books. The most disappointing part of these DVDs are the battle scenes. Cornwell's books are centered on the battles. The battle's in these DVDs are small, low budget affairs with about 100 soldiers on each side, not the grand spectacle that is demanded.
Rating: 
Summary: Sharpe's Eagle-- best of the bunch.
Review: I find it amazing that, of the four Sharpe episodes now on DVD, that this one, "Sharpe's Eagle" has the lowest sales ranking. I've seen all four, and this is clearly the best of the bunch. It is the second of the 14-part series (parts 5-14 are planned for near-future release)This is the last episode containing the original actors for Wellington and Hogan-- they were both replaced with inferior versions in "Sharpe's Company". But this one has it all-- the best script, the best acting, the best plot. Don't miss it. I've seen several baffling complaints about the video quality of these discs. All of my episodes I would rate good to very good here, and certainly well above VHS clarity. Certainly better video mastering has been done...but I have seen far, far worse. Perhaps they show poorly on a low-end DVD player, but my Sony 7700 (as well as my computer DVD drive) play them outstandingly.
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe's Eagle-- best of the bunch.
Review: I find it amazing that, of the four Sharpe episodes now on DVD, that this one, "Sharpe's Eagle" has the lowest sales ranking. I've seen all four, and this is clearly the best of the bunch. It is the second of the 14-part series (parts 5-14 are planned for near-future release) This is the last episode containing the original actors for Wellington and Hogan-- they were both replaced with inferior versions in "Sharpe's Company". But this one has it all-- the best script, the best acting, the best plot. Don't miss it. I've seen several baffling complaints about the video quality of these discs. All of my episodes I would rate good to very good here, and certainly well above VHS clarity. Certainly better video mastering has been done...but I have seen far, far worse. Perhaps they show poorly on a low-end DVD player, but my Sony 7700 (as well as my computer DVD drive) play them outstandingly.
Rating:
Summary: Great Adaptation of the Book
Review: I found the movie captured the imagination, feel, and spirit of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Rating: 
Summary: The Video quality is POOR!
Review: I have watched these DVD's. They are great adventures. But the video quality leaves a LOT to be desired. Do not expect anything better than a below average VHS tape.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite TV Series
Review: I own the entire Sharpe series on VHS but this is the only episode I have on DVD, and it is one of the best. (Incidentally, I don't understand all the complaining about the quality of the DVD and the lack of grandiose battle scenes--I have no complaints with either the quality of the DVD or the fact that the battles are on a relatively small scale. As to the last, this was a TV series, after all, and the point, as I see it , is the study of the central character, Sharpe.)This is a beautifully done series, with Sean Bean absolutely sterling as Richard Sharpe. I have thought for some time that Sean Bean is underutilized in most of his films and wish that he had more opportunities like Sharpe, whose character as a low-born man who found the army the only place he could go and who proved himself a better man and soldier than most of his high-born peers, is a role any actor would relish. In this particular episode all the elements that make the whole series good come together particularly well as Sharpe has to defend himself from lesser officers out to get him while asttempting to right a number of wrongs, including ill treatment of women and sacrifice of a heroic officer by the cretin who leads the South Essex. He captures the essence of the character perfectly--a "man among men", a rough soldier with a strong sense of honor, a willingness to "stand and fight" and, as Major Hogan tells him, a romantic soul. What could be more captivating? Not much, judging by Sharpe's almost unconscious success with the ladies. The entire cast is excellent, pasrticularly Darrah O'Malley as Sgt. Harper, Sharpe's tough and loyal subordinate, and Brian Cox as the aforementioned Maj. Hogan. I regret that Cox didn't remain with the series because he added a wonderful element of cynical humor, but the series still has a strong humorous element throughout and that is one of its many virtues. In sum, whether it is the depiction of the behind-the-scenes conniving or the blood and gore of the battles or the easy comraderie of the up-from-the-gutter riflemen led by Sharpe (the "Chosen Men"), you will find it hard to tear youself away from this terrific series.
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe's eagle is the best
Review: I viewed the whole Sharpe's series, checked out from the local library, and this one was the best, it has little bits of all the best characters, the repartee between Sharpe and Hogan is terrific, as well as the bit where Sharpe has to whip a green regiment into shape, and of course the tender moments between Sharpe and Commandante Teresa. If I could only have one of the videos, this would be the one I would get.
|
