Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1466 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-09-19
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Special Edition
• Original language: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Yiddish
• Number of discs: 15
• Running time: 999 minutes

DVD Description

This Sharpe box set contains all 14 of the full-length television films based on the novels by Bernard Cornwell. Originally broadcast between 1993 and 1997, the films follow the adventures of the titular soldier during the later years of the Napoleonic Wars, through Wellington's Peninsular campaign up to and including Waterloo. The programmes represent an outstanding achievement for the small screen, dominated by Sean Bean's central performance as the heroic, troubled outsider who turns out to be a resourceful and loyal leader. Bolstered by a strong supporting cast--particularly Daragh O'Malley as Harper and (in later episodes) Abigail Cruttenden as Jane--Sharpe is often visually striking, and the action is tense and gripping. Consistency is maintained by all episodes being directed by Tom Clegg.

The sound is full-bodied stereo while the very "sharp" picture has been transferred slightly letterboxed at 14:9. Though looking much better than the original TV transmissions the occasionally cropped framing makes it apparent the films were shot in 16:9 widescreen, so it is regrettable they have not been transferred to DVD in that format. Otherwise these are first-rate releases. --Gary S Dalkin

Synopsis

The Sharpe - The Complete Series 15 disc box set contains all 14 episodes of the adventures, based on the novels by Bernard Cornwell. The episodes, in chronological order are
Sharpe's Rifles
Sharpe's Eagle
Sharpe's Company
Sharpe's Enemy
Sharpe's Honour
Sharpe's Gold
Sharpe's Battle
Sharpe's Sword
Sharpe's Regiment
Sharpe's Siege
Sharpe's Mission
Sharpe's Revenge
Sharpe's Justice
Sharpe's Waterloo and
Sharpe the Legend

Customer Reviews

Wonderful series
Being a huge fan of the books, I was sceptical about the films. Sharpe in the books is massive, scar on the face and black hair, with Harper even bigger. However after half the first movie, these issues were soon forgotten. The first movies you can tell were lower budget and not quite up to the standard of the others, but with good acting they got away with it. After the first 2, you see the budget increasing, and with this and a marvellous Hakeswill I really felt a whole new dimension to the novels. Especially at the new price, I highly recommend this series!

Five stars? Come on now...
For those who haven't seen Sharpe, here is the general format: Sharpe gets one over some toffy, sideburned cliched red coat officer; a beautiful woman rides in, preferabley continental - Sharpe's honour dictates that he must protect her - for certainly she will at some point fall victim to an attempted rape; some whimsical irish singing is thrown in to humble us, must be accompanied by a fire and some alcohol (this is adult drama after all); Sharpe gets shot/beaten/a bit muddy but battles on through nonetheless because he's northern and tough; a no-grey-area villan - perhaps someone who talks to his mother through a hat - will pose a threat to our hero and, even better, the beautiful foreign girl; more singing; some combat - Sharpe's riffle men reign supreme, with a joke and smug experession everything's possible, they show the rest of the lads how it's done; Having overcome the hardships of war, Sharpe and his men find themselves on some gloaming landscape - end by trudging off into the sunset, putting the past behind them and looking onward to a new day, and innevitabley a new episode, unfortunatley.

It's entertaining, true, and Sean Bean provides and decent, and needless to say very sexy lead, but seriously, this is just populist tripe. It's all seedy characatures, violence and overblown heroics. Watch Hornblower, so much better.

I love Sharpe!!
My boyfriend has all the books and a couple of the DVDs. I thought it wouldn't be my thing at all cos not into history or war but after watching his DVD got totally hooked and bought the box set!! Think it is totally entertaining and wish there was more to watch. Great hangover watching.