Reviews (20)

Hornblower Lives! Three cheers for A&E!
A&E continues to treat fans of the Horatio Hornblower book series with two new movies. These movies are at least of equal quality, if not better, than the six previous films. Everything from the ships to the costumes to the sets hit all the notes and make you feel a part of the period.

Likewise the stories and acting are fabulous. Horatio is given command of the Hotspur and is forced to deal with a new crew (with some old faces), the French, spies, and rebel Irishmen. Coming through with flying colors, Hornblower tackles the unthinnkable - marriage. This second film, Duty, is the best of the series. The central theme of 'duty' is so thoroughly woven into the fabric of the story that almost all of the relationships in the narrative are faced with the question of duty.

Ioan Gruffud continues to give a truly inspiring performance as Captain Hornblower. He continues to let the character grow and mature, while at the same time maintaining the core identity of Hornblower - an honorable, intelligent, courageous soldier who is wholeheartedly devoted to Britain and her navy. The relationship between Hornblower and Admiral Pellew continues to become more of a father-son relationship. Paul McGann (of Doctor Who fame, among many other things) returns as Lt. Bush. McGann gives a strong performance as Hornblower's second in command, showing that that he is more than capable of both being a leading man and an excellent supporting character.

Something that many may find as a negative is the lack of totally new music. Much of the score seems to be a reworking of the major musical themes found in the first four films of the series. Personally, I find this a 'plus.' It helps establish a certain continuity to the series that is nice. I always find myself grinning when the "Horatio has done it again" theme begins playing across the cheers or astonished looks of the other characters!

For those of you who have seen the Gregory Peck film, Horatio Hornblower, the A&E series is just about to catch up (chronologicall) to the events portayed in that film. Let's hope that A&E continues producing the films until the complete life & times of Horatio Hornblower are done with such excellent acting and production values!

Hip-hip Horay! Hip-hip HORAY! HIP-HIP! HORAY!

Those of you who giggle at the word ¿frigate¿...
Will nevertheless enjoy the latest two entries in this neat little series of movies. Fifth Officer Lowe from Titanic has received a promotion to Captain Horatio Hornblower in this rousing seafaring adventure. Ioan Gruffudd, a charmer in the tall, dark, and handsome mold, plays C.S. Forrester's idealistic early 19th century British naval hero in two movies, "Duty" and "Loyalty." Hornblower is passionate about the sea and his duty to King and country, but less so about the woman he marries, Maria Mason. Forrester's hero is a man so ethical that he marries beneath him not out of love, but duty (hence the first title). He cannot bear Maria's complete adoration of him to go unnoticed, and for her to realize his own lack of feeling for her, so he marries her and lives a charade. Alack and alas, this pairing is bound to be ill-advised.

Those who dig rip-roaring stories of the sea will enjoy this one. The writing and direction are excellent. There is enough historical information to please purists. There are swordfights, spies, war, cannons, Napoleon, and enough things blowing up to please action fans. Still, the series is suitable for older children, as the violence is rather tame and the lack of sparks between "Horrie" and the dumpy Maria translates into prim kisses but little else. The relationship between Hornblower and his superior, Admiral Pellew, is distinctly father and son, and between Hornblower and his second-in-command, Lieutenant Bush, distinctly brotherly. Shades of gray do not appear in Forrester's stories as A&E has brought them to the screen; characters are mostly polarized as good or bad. The turncoats aboard Hornblower's ship are entirely devious, the loyal ones entirely good.

The somewhat priggish Hornblower is idolized near-completely by his crew, especially when he throws himself on a bomb thrown on board the Hotspur and claps it out with his hand-knitted gloves (two guesses who lovingly knit them). Then he orders it thrown overboard. Why not just throw it overboard to begin with? Then he is too modest to mention it in his report to the Admiral. When Maria reads of his bravery later, she starts blubbering, as per usual. I love Julia Sawalha, and she does her job well here, as Maria is too googly for words.

The effects aren't half bad, but the same picture of the harbor standing in for Portsmouth every time got a bit tiresome. Comic moments abound, my favorite being with the hapless Styles, who gets into trouble at every turn. "Who's first down the privy, then? Styles?" Barbara Flynn as Maria's conniving mother and Hornblower's landlady, seems to have trotted directly out of a William Hogarth illustration, albeit she's about fifty years out of date. Also brilliant is Greg Wise as Major Cotard, the Frenchman "frog dandy" who Hornblower suspects may not be on the side of the British after all. He is almost, but not quite, as dashing as Mr. Gruffudd, who appears to have a nifty little franchise going here in the upright Hornblower. Let's hope he gets a spirited woman companion to loosen him up a little in later episodes.

All in all, most will enjoy the story, acting, and production values. It appears to remain true to the novels. Rent it or buy it, you will not be disappointed.

The best yet!
Of all the hornblower movies, the two newest are my favorite. All the old charecters are still there- Bush, Matthews, Pellew, Stiles- and better than before, with some interesting new charecters. Keeps you gessing who the enemy is. A new twist to an old tale, you're sure to love these!

Worth Every Penny
Our boy is back. This time he is on a secret mission to return a French defertor to France. I know that doesn't make any sense but you have to see the show to understand. Also at home he stuggling with a marriage that he does not want be involved in. Really interesting to see him back a decision, will he grow up or have the mindset of a midshipmen forever?

Overall-I always enjoy the vast majority of A&E stuff especially these movies. The characters are mostly due true to the books, the actors seem to care about their job and when the movie is boring it never stays that way for long. highly recommended

Great Fun!
Horatio Hornblower and the crew of the Hotspur are sent to investigate Napoleon Bonaparte and the rising threat of the French. Accompanied by a suave French officer and the young son of a rival officer, Horatio is challenged by saboteurs, a shipboard fire and other menaces. Along the way Horatio marries the daughter of his landlady not out of love- but more out of guilt.

I really loved this 2 DVD set! Horatio shows a great deal of humanity and some weakness in this series and we learn a bit more about the rest of the crew.

Peeves: I'm probably the only one, but I thought his Steward was treated terribly. I felt Styles was awful towards him, and that anyone could see that the Steward did not intentionally hit the officer. I also wish that Horatio's relationship with his wife was more solid. I just didn't get the sense that he was happy.

Overall, an excellent, excellent video series. I hope and pray there will be another sequel. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Dull but entertaining
When I first went to rent this movie, I was expecting a wonderfully portayed old-english love story with one of my favorite actors, Sean Bean. However, after watching it, I feel it falls short of a romance movie and instead makes its way toward a low-budget comedy movie. This movie was entertaining in that it had comical value in one of the main characters, John Ridd and it had some rather funny action scenes. It lost its potential as a romance when the production crew spent all its money on mediocre actors and gave little attention to sound effects and the screenplay itself.

Lorna Doone, the story of an unrequited love!
Lorna Doone is the story of the banished"Doone" clan, and it is a period film that Sean Bean does very well. Sean plays Carver Doone a man who must live by his wits after he and his clan are banished. Its the story of the love also between John Ridd and Lorna Doone, who was married to Carver. Sean's character is masterfully played, he is a man who is a product of his environment, who must hunt, hurt and yes steal in order to have his family survive! Its Sean Bean at his best, and it also stars his castmates from "Patriot Games" Polly Walker and Hugh Fraser, its a period film that should be seen! Its Sean Bean with the walk and the language of a man who is forced to become an outlaw so that he can survive, its a man who does what he hates to do in order to live, and its the story of Carver's love for Lorna as well as John Ridd's love for her. Enjoy the film! Sean Bean does wonderful work for the BBC and English TV.

A little bit of old England
To appreciate this video you must have an intrest in old England and the period around the 'Monmouth Rebellion' It is a tale of Love overcoming barriers in the West of England in the Counties of Devon and Somerset. Realistic shooting captures the era well and avoids Holywood 'glitz'. Worth watching.

Lorna Doone
This movie is centered around a doomed love between two young people from bickering families. The movie is extremely slow with the first five minutes showing two people on horseback. There doesn't seem to be anything pulling the movie together to make you want to watch the ending. The basic theme and plot is an excellent storyline, but there is something lacking. Overall, I was expecting a romantic love story and instead found a dull way to spend 2 hours. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Move over, Mr. Darcy, A&E has a new heartthrob. He's third lieutenant Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd reprising his star-making role), C.S. Forester's swashbuckling hero of the high seas. Devotees of the original Emmy Award-winning miniseries will want to "have at" this boxed set containing two feature-length episodes in which the dashing Hornblower and crew engage in "foolhardy actions, rash judgments, and irresponsible adventures." "Mutiny" finds our young hero awaiting trial for "black bloody mutiny" against a once distinguished, but increasingly unhinged Captain Sawyer (David Warner). "It was for the good of the service," Hornblower insists to his mentor, Sir Edward Pellew (Robert Lindsay). "We were headed for disaster." Hornblower relates the events that led him to a Kingston, Jamaica, prison cell. In "Retribution," Hornblower's trial unfolds, and the events surrounding the mutiny are further revealed: Captain Sawyer is detained in a straitjacket, disgruntled crew members desert, dithering acting captain Butland assumes command, and Hornblower leads a surprise attack on a Spanish fort. Meanwhile, the judges look for a scapegoat "to take away the smell." Maritime buffs will have a merry time, with all the shipboard intrigue and skirmishes. Like the "hot shot" that disables an escaping enemy vessel, this boxed set will be "a palpable hit." --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Hornblower, The Adventure Continues
The cast, producers, directors, etc. did and outstanding job in the latest two episodes, Mutiny and Retribution! I heartily echo the sentiments made by Hornblower fans in previous reviews.

It is so refreshing to see a wonderful story, with outstanding acting, direction, etc. without relying too heavily on complicated special effects. With that said, I would like to state that the sequences with the model ships were outstanding yet again!

Because I have so enjoyed the Hornblower series on DVD, I have eagerly read all the Hornblower reviews by you long-time Hornblower fans.

Being a fairly new fan of just one year, I have recently learned here on this site, that CS Forrester had written a series of 11 books about Hornblower's career. I have purchased and read Mr. Midshipman Hornblower. What an excellent book! Looking forward to reading the remaining 10 books and hope more televison movies will be made!

Hornblower On Trial
This was one fantastic movie. Ioan Gruffund, Jamie Bamber, David Warner, Paul Copley, and all the other members of the cast did a superb job. No longer a boy, Horatio has grown into a man while maintaining an honorable character. This movie begins with Horatio, who is in prison with the charges of mutiny on his head, being paid a visit by the obviously ditraught Commodore Pellew who cannot believe that Horatio, of all people, would be in prison for mutiny. Horatio assures him that it was for the good of the service that he and those who were in agreement with him should take over the ship. He then launches his tale starting six months prior to his imprisonment. Horatio, along with Archie, Styles, and Matthews,is stationed on a British War Frigot known as the Renown that is captained by the aged war hero Captain Sawyer, who is out of his mind. Horatio and his friends for a long time must put up with their captains crulety and his strange antics, until when he endangers the ship and its entire crew, the men have him chained up and locked in his cabin. Fearing court marshall should they not do something quickly, the men attempt to take a Spanish fort. The second half of the movie is about their on land adventures and how Horatio must prove his innocence in court. This fantastic movie is filled with adventure and loyalty and honor just as much as the original four movies. Along the way, Horatio will lose friends and gain them as he fights for survival during the Napoleonic Wars.

The best gets better
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.

the best movie in the world!!!!
i love horatio hornblower its my absolute favorite movie i would deffinetly give it five star, i'd give it ten if possible.
it's absolutely amazing, interesting, and the best movie in the history of time!!!!
watch it!!!

it was the best movie ever writen
In the movie Mutiny we find Horatio In a prision with Captian Pellew coming to see him. Then we see that horatio begin to tell captian pellew the whole story. Including every bit of detail possible. Also in Mutiny we meet Mr. Bush and we see that he is not trusted at and has no friends aboard the Renown.

In retrubution we see Horatio Hornblower and Mr. Bukland tell the rest of the story at the trial. At the end of the secound movie it ends very tragicly but it had to end that way be sure to keep a box of tisues near by.

It defently has to be rated five stars for the best acting and spacial features and the feelings that Ioan Griffudd shows. I recomend it to any person who loves action/ drama movies. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It has a great story, and even a better surprise ending.
This Poirot video is one of the best of the collection. It amazed me from the start. It is very ingeniuos and and a great ending. I definitly recommend it ... Read more

Description

At the request of one of his literary heroes, Commander Dalgliesh is called to the headquarters of Peverell Press to look in to a stream of hate mail received by its boardmembers. When a series of macabre deaths occur at the venerable firm, Dalgliesh and his team uncover a snakepit of family rivalry, sexual jealousy and tragic secrets. ... Read more