MovieChat Forums > Hornblower: Retribution (2001) Discussion > Here's a Prime Example of Conflict

Here's a Prime Example of Conflict

posted 20 years ago by cawinnie
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If you ever wanted a great example of conflict, this is it. Whether it's to impress your English teacher or to learn how to plot an exciting narrative, Retribution and Mutiny are the episodes to watch.

What's great is that there was plenty of conflict leading up to the assault on the island, enough to satisfy most writers, but no, not Forester (I suppose most of the events were in the books, which I haven't yet -- and I emphasize yet -- read), Forrester adds about 4 additional complications to the plot (the women, the freed slaves, the command for Hornblower from the acting captain (I forget his name now), and some other ones I forgot now).

I won't analyze the plot & various conflicts anymore, but all you who read this may wish to add your own two cents worth.

[–] tmf_scipio 19 years ago

I agree with you. These two movies are the closest ones to the books yet. The next two are not even close to Hornblower and the Hotspur. I'm not sure why they changed the plot so much since Hotspur has a wonderful story.

Forrester is quite good at layering different complications into Horatio's life. You should read Hornblower and the Atropos to see this example.

His books read so well in how he interweaves the problems facing Hornblower. Horatio actually comments in one book about how problems never seem to come one right after another, but they come all at once.

Twenty-five thousand bucks. That's a lot of money to pay for a dame without a head.