Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2991 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-11-10
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 238 minutes

DVD Description
Disc 1 includes the programme in two parts. Part one contains scenes 1-8 and Part two then shows scenes 9 onwards.
Disc 2 actually contains the 100 minute continuous movie version of the same programme plus a selection of special features.

Synopsis
The award-winning series Sharpe, starring Sean Bean, returns for another action-packed adventure. It's India, 1818 and Lt Col Richard Sharpe and Sergeant Major Patrick Harper are travelling across India, escorting the beautiful Marie-Angelique Bonnet to meet her fiancée. While in bandit-plagued badlands, they come across the very dregs of the Crown's troops; an ill disciplined, rag-tag unit led by boy soldier Beauclare. As Sharpe and company sit down to have dinner with their hosts, the camp comes under attack by the notorious bandit Chitu. As the dust settles, it becomes apparent there have been many casualties and Sharpe realises that he is the only person now capable of getting this wagon train to the safety of the next army garrison. Little does Sharpe know that the adventure has only just begun and that he has inadvertently stumbled across a massive opium trafficking ring...

Customer Reviews

Always a pleasure to see Sharpe in action once more
It's the franchise that just won't die! And I for one am glad of it, as even past his sell by date it's still great to have a new Sharpe adventure - it's just so much fun seeing Sean Bean on screen in his signature role, and frankly he is as good if not better in the role as the years go on.
This time, it is back to India, where Sharpe's Challenge left off. Sharpe is en route across India to get home, with Sergeant Major Patrick Harper in tow, but is waylaid into escorting a beautiful but petulant French lady to her fiancé. Of course, the journey goes badly, with dastardly deeds, marauding bandits, old enemies and double crossing companions along the way, leading to an action packed, though plot-wise hardly original couple of hours entertainment.
India means beautiful locations, exotic women and interesting battle scenes.. however, muddling the order of Bernard Cornwell's books around like this leaves for some unaccountably odd plot holes - why are the French so easily tolerated after the bitter war with France? Why is Colonel Simmerson here? What's more, as in Sharpe's Challenge, the Riflemen are sorely missed - having added much character, colour, and pathos to the original series.
Having said that, let's not be unkind - it's still rollicking good fun, and arguably better than Sharpe's Challenge was.
Ok, maybe that 4th star comes partly from the nostalgic glow of being glad to have Sharpe back... but despite its shortcomings, this is still well produced great entertainment and a welcome return for Sharpe on TV.
The DVD is presented in the original two episode format, as well as a trimmed down 100 minute movie version which works well enough, but why bother trimming it down that much? Also includes un-illuminating `making of' and stills.

Sharpe is back and as good as ever
Sharpe returns to action in India where Sharpe's Challenge left off.

From a cinematic point of view this is possibly the best Sharpe ever made, the action scenes are much more realistic and the video is shot in 16:9 on a 35 mm lens for the first time, so you get the feeling of it being more than a series and more of an epic movie.

The battles in this are on a much smaller scale to those of previous Sharpe's. However these skirmishes work to great effect, because there are many more throughout the film.

As an avid Sharpe fan I highly recommend this new instalment to the Sharpe series, and hope there is a few more to follow!

Time to hang up your sword
Bought this to complete the set, and living in Holland (and hence no ITV) was looking forward to Sharpes latest outing. As far as money a film qulaity are concerned, this is the best to date, however Sean Bean is begginning to show his age and well as his ever faithful companion. Unfortunately as well, this for me lacks a lot of what Sharpe is all about usually.... maybe because this was not based on a Cornwell novel it seemed to lack something. Thanks for everything Cornwell, Bean and all the cast and crew.... but maybe it's time for Sharpe to gracefully retire and hang up his sword once and for all. 4 stars as I am a fan....