Sharpe - The Complete Series (14 Disc Box Set) [DVD] [1995]

WHAT'S GOOD:
As one reviewer has mentioned, these are very akin to Bond films, filled with action, bravery, romance and heroism. Each one is a gem of British television and a gripping story unto itself. The acting is generally very good, but the best moments are when the four main characters (Sharpe, Harper, Hagman and Harris) interact in the calm between battles, their contrasting personalities but absolute commitment to one another making compelling viewing. The series is a veritable who's who of British actors with internationally recognised stars as Sean Bean, Liz Hurley, Brian Cox, Pete Postlethwaite, Alice Krige and Paul Bettany as well as actors who've appeared in everything from 'Poirot' to 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' and back to 'Coronation Street'. If you like swashbuckling, gunfighting, bosom-heaving historical adventures, then I can't recommend this DVD box set enough. I'd like to make the additional point that I really enjoyed the musical interludes by John Tams (Hagman), particularly the theme song at the end of each episode.

WHAT'S BAD:
Most of the episodes have one or two failings (usually owing to the occational poor performance by a temporary character) but the only two real problems that last across the series are a) because of budget restrictions, some of the battles seem a bit small-scale and b) the fact that characters come and go from the series (obviously due to the actors having other plans), such as Hogan, Nairn, Munro and Ross who're basically the same character but different actors (although I was much more distressed by the abrupt disappearance of Cooper).

O'er the hills and o'er the Maine, through Flanders, Portugal and Spain, King George commands and we obey, over the hills and far away.

The box contains all fourteen episodes of the historical drama "Sharpe", on seven DVDs. The series is based on the books by Bernard Cromwell, and shows the exciting career of Richard Sharpe as an officer in Wellington's army during the Napoleonic wars.

Each individual episode is enjoyable and almost all of them are fantastic television, but the series has its low points. Towards the end, when the war finishes and Sharpe returns to England, one has the distinct impression that Sharpe is confused and out of his depth, struggling against more subtle, peace-time threats rather than military ones which he would know how to handle. It is frustrating to see snobs and aristocrats running rings around a hero who would have previously dealt with them by showing them up as useless soldiers, or humiliating them some other way. Instead, they seem to get away with the last laugh. Because of the way the excellent series connects you with the characters, it is very irritating to see Sharpe helpless and defeated.

Yet this is only the case in about two episodes. For the rest of the series, the arrogant "officer class" who resent Sharpe being promoted officer from NCO (something that didn't normally happen in those days) will often become jolly good croppers for messing with Sharpe - one way or another - and there are few things as satisfying.

The acting is excellent and Sean Bean is wonderfully cast in the lead role - I can picture no one else as Richard Sharpe. The episodes are very well done and the series is close to perfect period drama - even the not-so-good episodes are above average for this undervalued genre.

Each episode is loosly based upon the books by Bernard Cornwell, & although they have been 'downsized' for television, (regiments being portrayed by a handful of men etc)they still manage to draw you into the plot. There are a few inconsistencies between the books & the screenplays (Cornwell's Sharpe is a londoner whereas Bean's Sharpe is from yorkshire, yet in Sharpe's Regiment he also claims to have London roots) OK, so i'm nit-picking a bit, however these minor points in no way detract from the excellent storylines or the presentation.

The stories follow Sharpe on his quest to rise through the ranks and later for his revenge against his cheating wife. This usually involves a mission that only Sharpe & his band of men can complete, which of course they do, although not without the occasional casualty, which goes to show that no-one is indestructible, except of course, the gallant Sharpe! So, with the mission complete, the damsel saved (including the likes of Liz Hurley & Abigail Cruttenden) Sharpe makes it back to Wellington in time for tea & medals. Sean Bean is an excellent choice to portray Sharpe with his arrogance & hatred towards his fellow officers who hold their ranks & titles through financial means rather than the abilities that are shown by Sharpe on the battlefield, a comparison to todays forces perhaps???
All that is missing is a Miss Moneypenny & some fancy gadgets, then we would have a 200 year old 007! Thoroughly recommended for anyone wether you have read the books or not. Congratulations to Bean et al.

The boxed set itself contains 14 discs in a 7 box set.
Each disc has a single episode, a photo gallery showing screen shots from the episode that runs like a powerpoint brief & gives a quick synopsis of the film. There is also a section of 'Sharpe Facts' containing such things as the weaponry used, some of the battles & other historical facts. There are also tokens to receive a further disc.
Unfortunately my original set contained 4 faulty discs out of 14, but i am sure this is an exception rather than the rule.