Rating: 
Summary: For Sharpe Fans
Review: For those who have never read one of Cornwell's "Sharpe's" books, this movie is a good introduction to Richard Sharpe of the 95th Rifles. For Sharpe fans, the movie blends characters and highlights from "Sharpe's Rifles" and "Sharpe's Gold". Details from other books are altered in order to hold the movie together. Such changes include the battle in which Sharpe saves Wellington's life, and Sharpe's friendship with Hogan. Die hard fans may find this disturbing. Just remind yourself that it isn't possible to cram all of the information from six books into a two hour movie. Enjoy the movie for what it is. A fun movie loosely based on a fun series of books.
Rating: 
Summary: HORRIBLE DVDs of a Wonderful Series!
Review: The BBC Sharpe's Series DVDs are a very very poor picture (the worst I've seen). I bought all four original Sharpe's episodes on DVD and they all are much worse quality (picture and sound) than are the VHS copies I had purcahsed years ago [and VHSs deterioriate with use]!The Richard Sharpe series based on the novels by Bernard Cromwell are absolutely fabulous, and they deserve a FAR better treatment than is presented here! The viewer does not even have the option of going directly to a menu screen, but is forced to fast forward through the opening titles and theme song. Whomever transferred these made-for-tv episode films to MPG2 should be publicly humiliated - this is a disgrace! The picture is fuzzy and grainy as heck! The VHS cassettes actually look better, if you can believe that! I never thought VHS would beat DVD in quality until I compared the Sharpe's series side-by-side. The VHS won out every time. The sound quality is extremely poor on the DVDs too, it has a hiss and sounds muffled. Again, the VHS wins out! Buy these on VHS until enough of us complain and they discontinue these "Joke DVDs" and deliver the public the Sharpe's Series at a transfer rate that is not just acceptable - but worthy of this incredibly brilliant historic series!
Rating: 
Summary: Magnificent adventure!
Review: This is a great old fashioned heroic adventure story filmed with a lot of action, color and heart. These characters are wonderful and alive. The costumes, sets and battle scenes are great, especially since this was just a kind of TV movie. I probably don't have to praise the actors to anybody who has read the cast list but here I go anyway. Sean Bean is a great action star as the hero, Richard Sharpe, an officer who has come up through the ranks. Asumpta Serna, as the Spanish guerilla leader and Sharpe's love interest, is beautiful and soulful. Brian Cox, an actor seemingly incapable of anything other than perfection, gives another one of his flawless performances as Wellington's staff intelligence officer. And high praise has to go to Daragh O'Malley as Sergeant Harper. This is grand adventure indeed.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Beginning
Review: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books are an enjoyable romp through the history of the Napoleonic Wars in the early nineteenth century. So are these films, adapted from the books by the BBC. Sean Bean is Richard Sharpe, an officer "raised from the ranks" when he saves the life of Sir Arthur Wellesley, soon to be Lord Wellington (name sound familiar?). From there, I won't tell, because it's easy enough to get engrossed in these films. Sharpe's Rifles is the first in the series of 14, so there is understandably a lot of set-up to be done. However, it is done with alacrity and is all very fun to watch. (Especially Brian Cox's role as Major Hogan - sheer enjoyment!) And most of it is historically true to the period, even if all the events pictured didn't happen (at least in the way the films show).
Rating:
Summary: Good Quality Entertainment
Review: I enjoyed watching this, and others from the series, tremendously. The period setting is colourful and adventurous and makes a welcome change from the usual bang bang of US TV programmes. Production quality is excellent and with Bean and other fine actors at the helm what more could you ask for. Well worth the cost of a box set!
Rating:
Summary: An old fashioned swashbuckler, but still enjoyable
Review: I first saw Sharpe's Rifles on the local Public TV station and enjoyed it. The film does NOT follow the book by Bernard Cornwell, but don't let this stop you. There's plenty of sword play and shooting in all of the Sharpe films. The costumes, uniforms and weaponry are quite good, although sharp (no pun intended) history buffs will spot inaccuracies. Sean Bean captured the part in the first episode and made it his and Darragh O'Malley is the definative "Srgt. Harper".
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe Vrs. Napoleon
Review: From the moment Richard Sharpe saves Arthur Wellesley from 3 French dragoons, his life is changed forever. As the future Lord Wellington advises this hard bitten British soldier, "You did me a damn good turn, now I'm going to do you a damn bad one", and promotes the brave man to the rank of Lieutenant. However, our hero Mr. Sharpe is not what his fellow officers consider a "gentlemen". Not being of privileged birth in a system steeped in social stratification, our Richard must continue to demonstrate his worth by deeds of honor and valor. And, prove himself he does. Through each installment of this enjoyable series, Sharpe and his trusted Sergeant Harper lead their group of "Chosen men" through one difficult scrape after the other. I love the entire Sharpe series but this first batch of four videos has some truly unforgettable moments. In the tradition of "Zulu" and "Gunga Din", if you love tales of the tenacious English soldier, testosterone and Napoleon, Sharpe is your man.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: Sergeant Sharpe saves the life of Sir Arthur Wellsley soon to be the Duke of Wellington.
You Need to have a sense of history to understand what is going on, and to understand that the Duke of Wellington was a upper class snob that hated common soldiers.
Coming from a Grenadier Guardsman based at Wellington Barracks in London, this is quite a complement. Very Enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: A hero with a rough edge
Review: Four esisodes first shown in the US on Masterpiece Theater. A gritty tale of Sgt. Richard Sharpe and his rise from the ranks to the title of officer. It is a fine adaption and actually more watchable then Mr. Cornwells books are readable. It is dirty gritty and that dirt and grit makes it real. You also fine performances from Bean and O'Malley (and particualrly Pete Postlethwaite as his arch foe in episodes 3 & 4). Our first glimpse of Ducos is also a winner. (you may notice much of the same crowd with DiNero in RONIN.) A definate winner! If there is anything to complain about in episode (Sharpe's Eagle) the scene leading to the fist fight between Sharpe and Berry is cut. It makes me wonder if we are missing anything else. Beyond that great!
Rating:
Summary: High adventure at it's best!
Review: WONDERFUL!! The videos are as spellbinding as the novels! I can't take my eyes off Sean Bean - his Richard Sharpe is the kind of swashbuckling hero every woman dreams of! The rest of the series looks good, too - it draws the viewer into the nineteenth century and into the dirt, the frustration, the fear and the triumph of the common soldiers fighting for England against Napoleon. As a fan of anything hisorical, I enjoy a show that can allow me to feel like I got a priveleged, first hand peek into another time and place and this series does just that. If you are a fan of history, adventure, or great looking hunks,give this series a good, hard look and you won't be dissapointed!
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