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Sharpe's Rifles | Year: 1993 Classification: Drama Directed: - Tom Clegg Actors/Actresses: - Assumpta Serna - Sean Bean Sharpe's Rifles This is an awesome film based on the historical fiction novels by Bernard Cornwell. This is the first video in this series following the life and trials of Richard Sharpe, played by Sean Bean of "Patriot Games and James Bond-Goldeneye films" This starts out as Richard Sharpe a sargeant in the 95th rifles saves Lord Arthur Wellesley's (soon to be Lord Wellington) life which earns him a field commission and being promoted from the ranks to become a Lt. which begins his adventures in the service of the British Army during the Napoleonic wars. Definately A A Good Beginning Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books are an enjoyable romp through the history of the Napoleonic Wars in the early nineteenth century. So are these films, adapted from the books by the BBC. Sean Bean is Richard Sharpe, an officer "raised from the ranks" when he saves the life of Sir Arthur Wellesley, soon to be Lord Wellington (name sound familiar?). From there, I won't tell, because it's easy enough to get engrossed in these films. Sharpe's Rifles is the first in the series of 14, so there is understandably a lot of set-up to be done. However, it is done with alacrity and is all very fun to watch. (Especially Brian Cox's role as Major Hogan - sheer enjoyment!) And most of it is historically true to the period, even if all the events pictured didn't happen (at least in the way the films show). Great series of swashbuckling Napoleonic war hero The Sharpe series is an adaptation from Bernard Cornwell's epic series follwing a neer-do-well British rifleman who, in the first episode, has the misfortune of saving the Duke of Wellington from the snatches of French curraseurs at the begining of the Penninsular Campaign. This is not common fare on American screens (we tend to only remember Andrew Jackson knocking down rows of readcoats at the Battle of New Orleans.) Sharpe is made an officer, which is an immediate two strikes against him in an army which expected its upper ranks to be "gentlemen" and not orphans left by prostitutes. Along the way, he confounds French spies, British deserters, and incredibly stupid senior officers. Sean Bean is an ideal Sharpe and carries the series with his slit-faced scowl (he was the Irish bad-guy in "Patriot Games.") His Irish Sergeant ("ya ignorant paddy"), who tries to kill him in the first hour, becomes best of friends, and the pair are terrific. The series is episodic, and is somewhat a throwback to the old 1960s "Combat" series with Vic Morrow. (I swear, these guys even carry their Baker rifles like WW2 Thompsons). It suffers from a necessarily small scale and a dearth of the now obligatory special effects. Nonethless, you won't for now find a better treatment of this period. Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe" novels are an obligatory (and easy) read for grognards interested in a break from the Hornblower or Maturin-Aubrey books. Buy Sharpe's Rifles at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Sharpe's Rifles Search with the Priority Search Engine on Sharpe's Rifles This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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