Sharpe's Rifles
List Price:
Our Price: $11.45
You Save: $8.49 (42%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.25 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Assumpta Serna, Brian Cox, Daragh O'Malley, David Troughton, Sean BeanBrand: BFS ENT and Multimedia Limi
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-07-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Bfs Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Sharpe's Rifles
Movie Review: Lt. Richard Sharpe goes on his first mission for Major Hogan
Summary: 5 Stars
I suppose the idea that Richard Sharpe is sort of Horatio Hornblower on land is apt enough, mainly because both characters have the advantage of stellar British television productions whereas Lucky Jack Aubrey has only the one cinematic adventure to date. But clearly the Napoleonic Wars are the British Empire's answer to the American Civil War without the problematic element of fighting against brother against brother. Napoleon is a secular anti-Christ trying to force the ideals of the French Revolution down the throats of Europe, so no shades of blue and gray here, this is all black and white.
The set up is fairly simple and compelling. One day Sir Arthur Wellesley (David Troughton), early in the career that would see him become the Duke of Wellington, is out for a ride on his horse when French dragoons come after him. Wellesley escapes death through the heroic efforts of Sergeant Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean), who is promoted to lieutenant on the spot by the grateful commander of British forces in Spain. Of course, promoting from the ranks makes Sharpe neither fish nor fowl, with the gentlemen in the officer's office refusing to consider him an equal and the enlisted personal dismissing the idea that he is a "real" officer.
Just to make things interesting Major Hogan (Brian Cox), Wellesley's master spy, sends the new lieutenant off on a secret mission. The story is that the men have not been paid in two weeks, going on three, so the mission is to find a missing banker who has funds (although why the men in the field need money strikes me as odd: after all, we are talking pounds and shillings not Euros). But Sharpe is off to a bad start as he buts heads with sharpshooter Patrick Harper (Daragh O'Malley), the leader of the men, who challenges the new lieutenant's control of his men. Then a wounded Major Blas Vivar (Simon Andreau) has to confide in Sharpe the real nature of the mission.
Based on Bernard Cornwell's first novel in the Sharpe series, "Sharpe's Rifles" has the virtue of strong multiple conflicts. Sharpe has to accomplish his mission and try to earn the respect of his men while that mission becomes more and more complicated. As you would expect, this is a first rate historical drama that has an above average sense of authenticity. Bean's Sharpe is too busy trying to command respect Then we have Teresa (Assumpta Serna), a Spanish lady who has good reason to seek revenge upon the French and another reason for recommending this movie is that the relationship between Teresa and Sharpe is actually an adult one.
The same thing can be said for the relationship between Sharpe and Harper, which is developed properly without any of the cheap shortcuts that can be taken to move things along. The primary quality that Bean brings to the character of Sharpe is the sense of being a real man in real situations, without being overtly heroic. This is a man with a mission and there are other missions to come, not to mention all those books.
Summary of Sharpe's Rifles
SHARPE'S RIFLES - DVD MovieSimilar DVD Movies
Sharpe's EnemyRelease date: 2000-07-25; DVD
Best price: $10.24
Price in other shops:
Sharpe's Rifles (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series #1)by Bernard Cornwell
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2001-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
Sharpe's CompanyBFS ENT and Multimedia Limi; Release date: 2000-07-25; DVD
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops:
Over The Hills & Far Away: The Music of SharpeRelease date: 1996-05-06; Music CD
Best price: $5.96
Price in other shops:
Sharpe's EagleRelease date: 2000-07-25; DVD
Best price: $10.50
Price in other shops:
Sharpe's Revenge Collection SetBFS ENT and Multimedia Limi; Release date: 2005-11-01; DVD
Best price: $38.96
Price in other shops:
Sharpe's Sword Collection SetBFS ENT and Multimedia Limi; Release date: 2005-11-01; DVD
Best price: $35.03
Price in other shops:
Sharpe's ChallengeWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-09-05; DVD
Best price: $12.49
Price in other shops:
Sharpe's PerilWarner Brothers; Release date: 2010-04-06; DVD
Best price: $12.49
Price in other shops:
Horatio Hornblower Collector's EditionA&E; Release date: 2011-04-05; DVD
Best price: $23.27
Price in other shops: