I recently discovered this series and WOW, it is great. I admit I got into it because Sean Bean is in it but there is so much more. Great supporting cast. I love this series. I started w/HOnour and have worked my way through most of the series. I am addicted. Does anyone else share this addiction??
share[deleted]
I started my interest in the Sharpe's series when I was in my second last year of elementary school (I'm 20 years old now) and I watched Rifles Company Enemey and Honor to start out with but I also read the books along with it and it's quite interesting to see what remains the same between the two and what changes for instance miss louisa parker who we see barely mentioned in Sharpes Rifles plays a much larger part in the novel and ends up marrying Blas Vivar at the very end of it and it's the last we hear of either until the very last book (chronologically) I do like the videos I really do but I have to say I much prefer the books. I myself am I historical re-enactor for the war of 1812 and I wear the clothing and carry the equipment of a soldier from that time who was stationed in canada(thats the only difference between a redcoat fighting napoleon and a redcoat fighting america...just the location) so I tend to notice alot of innacuracies of the movie, loading one of the baker rifles sharpe carries actually takes around a minute if your'e loading it with a bullet, soldiers carrying the smooth bore brown bess musket during that time were expected to be loaded after 20 seconds, by the 1830's the moved that time to 15 seconds, I've seen one loaded without the ball but with using the ramroad at 9 seconds, it was one of the fastest things ever...
in sharpes eagle they use a computer format of music in the place of fife and drums which sound different...
I adore the movies I really do, I would say my favorit would have to be sharpes company because of the storming of badajoz which by the way the 95th rifles DID take part in historically; they have more of a reason to be in that siege than the south essex, a unit that never existed...but yes the sieging on the fort was excellently done, battering at the walls with round shot (cannon balls) the storming of the breach and the mines going off, it was well done. in fort erie ontario theres actually a re-enactment of the sieging of fort erie (in southern canada) and they attempt to do much of the same for the public audience, just without the injury:P but they set ground charges to create poofs of turf to signify cannons and they pack the bastion with powder charges and peat moss and blow that off so it looks as though the whole side of the fort blows up all the while the fort being attacked by british forces running up siege ladders...quite a sight
but yes, best Sharpe movie: sharpes company, best sharpes book...if I was forced to pick I would say either sharpes sword or sharpes triumph(takes place while sharpe was in india, really good read
I'm rather glad the books and movies are so mixed up. The books are good. I saw most of the shows first, and then was confused when I read the books. The movies had bits and parts of the books. Now, it's easier to watch the films, I'm not looking for an exact adaptation, so I can enjoy each one without the frustration of missing a key part of the books. The only thing that is hard for me now is that when I read a book, my mind's eye gives me Sean Bean. On second thought, that's not such a bad thing!
shareYOu reckon these Sharpe's series are better than the HOratio Hornblower ones then??? Coz I absolutely looooooooved Hornblower.. and Ioann Gruffud!!
Haven't seen these Sharpe's series YET... but we'll find out soon I guess! I'm getting these Sharpe's series in... hopefully by next week and I CANNOT wait to watch them! They were recommended by a mate who told me about them.. I hope they'll be everything I expect them to be and I'm also hoping that there isn't going to be too much romance stuff... coz that'll just totally ruin it!
But boy oh boy... I'm totally addicted to these honour, loyalty and british/napoleonic war type movies/series!!! Does anyone know of any others???
"Pain is temporary... but glory lasts forever!!"
Ooooh Sean Bean. Yum. I love Hornblower and Shrpe, but would have to say Sharpe was more enjoyable for me. Though it's tough. Two very good looking men...
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day. You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way
I love HB and Sharpe both equally, how can anyone really compare? HB is set of sea(mostly) and Sharpe is on land. Both contain wonderful fight scenes and are packed full of fun and adventure and both star very sexy leading men, the TV series compliment the books and my only gripe is that neither series are running now. I'd love to see Sharpe's devil made into a TV movie!
Patricia Pans lost girl #1
HBP 16/07/05
You can say that again. And I definately agree about the sexy guys. Woot!
We don't need no education
I must have been 8 or 9 when I first saw the Sharpe series, since I saw the first one, I never missed one. Unfortunately, I've never seen them on tv anymore after the last episode. Same with Hornblower, I saw that serie when I was around 10 years old and I saw it again recently.
Both of the series are simply great, but I think I like Sharpe a little bit more, though I don't really know why.
but I've never seen any of the movies. Are they any good? And what about the language is it PG-13 or R?
shareI think they're...I dunno.He says bugger and bastard and stuff...but I dunno, there's something not sweary about it. I'm talking poo aren't I? I have all 14 films on DVD...I got it for christmas. If I knew you I'd lend them, it's so good...so good...
There's someone in my head...but it's not me
Sharpe kicks Hornblowers arse. Hornblower is great, but nowhere near as good as Sharpe. Sharpe is a rogue and has a bond with his men. I would recommend the books to anybody who enjoys Sharpe, the TV series skip alot of the better stuff out. Also the episodes in which Sharpe goes back to England suck.
shareYah
There's someone in my head...but it's not me
All of the Sharpe's movies are available to rent through Netflix. I stumbled across them and as a lover of the A&E Hornblower movies (I own the entire set of DVDs), I requested the first...second...th ird. I just watched #8 (Sharpe's Sword) tonight.
The language isn't as bad as some that you'd hear on a regular cable TV network such as TNT, TBS, WGN, etc.
The movies are jolly good..I think they're a must-see.
But who the *beep* cares about the language? ;-)
Are you not alowed to watch rated-R movies yet?
---I'm totally addicted to these honour, loyalty and british/napoleonic war type movies/series!!! Does anyone know of any others???
thePuurfectLoB----
Yeah, try the Ramage novels by Dudley Pope. Ensign/Midshipman/L ieutenant/Commander/ Captain Ramage is Horatio Hornblower without the many neuroses LOL Fantastic Napoleonic War novels. If you like Hornblower and Sharpe, you'll like Ramage too.
Laurie
Thanks for the Ramage tip; I'll look for them.
I've seen most of the Sharpe's and a couple HH movies. I look forward to completing both series but I much prefer Sharpe. I must confess I am biased because I read all the books (the original 1-12 anyway) before seeing the movies and am a great fan of the books. If you have any time to read I very, very highly recommend them. Warning: They are addicting...you will lose sleep.
Are you going to pull those pistols or whistle "Dixie"?
[deleted]
Shortly:
I have to agree that this is a brilliant, exciting and often touching series. I'm so glad my brother discovered it and owns it on DVD. Horaay! It's not often that a series is this good all the way through...
"Over the hills and far away..."
I think Sharpe is better than Hornblower
You could get killed walking your doggie
As a previous poster said...Sharpe kicks Hornblower's arse. No question!
Twelve times did the iron register of time beat on the sonorous bell metal
For the chap who likes Napoleonic Wars films, try The Duellists. Superb.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075968/
I started watching these recently because Peter Jackson said Sean Bean's line "Still sharp after all these years" from Fellowship of the Ring was an in-joke about Bean's role as Sharpe. That got me curious
I've seen the first two now. I'm not a rabid fan but I'm enjoying them. I like Sharpe's character and I'm learning about the Napoleonic Wars which I knew little about before this. I'll keep working my way through the series
"Oh indeed" - Omar Little