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| Celtic Radio Community > The Jester's Court > Richard Sharpe |
| Posted by: faolin 30-May-2004, 09:13 PM |
| Just curious, but I was wondering how many people watch the Sharpe series. I started a couple of months ago after coming across it on the History channel (Fridays at 9pm EST, at least in Toronto) while I was sick one night. They are set around the time of the Napoleonic wars, and Sean Bean (I swear that all my sister drools everytime he says a single word) stars as Richard Sharpe. Here's a short blurb I found about the films: Richard Sharpe is a maverick British officer who rises through the ranks in Wellingtons Army, initially after saving Wellingtons life. His subsequent promotions are due to his daring and courageous exploits.The Sharpe Series is set during the 19th Century Napoleonic Peninsular wars, in the midst of the desperate battles and missions of these conflicts. There are 14 in all and highly entertaining (though very underfunded), and I recommend them to you all |
| Posted by: Annabelle 30-May-2004, 10:21 PM |
| Is this Dulls brother? |
| Posted by: Eamon 31-May-2004, 12:12 AM |
| Sharpe is great. I love the fact that Cornwell is still turning out Sharpe novels, though he keeps screwing up my bookcase order. His last few books have been at the start of the series, so trying to read them in order can be a challenge. The movies are great, in a BBC sort of way ( and by that, I mean 'financially challenged') And you have to love the theme song...  "There's forty shillings on the drumTo those who volunteer to come, To 'list and fight the foe today Over the Hills and far away. (chorus) O'er the hills and o'er the main Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain. King George commands and we obey Over the hills and far away. " Eamon |
| Posted by: peckery 31-May-2004, 08:53 AM |
Sounds like Horneblower (sp?) with out the water.. I will look for it and TIVO  |
| Posted by: faolin 01-Jun-2004, 09:12 PM |
| Peckery, the sharpe series is definitely in that same kind of genre. I know when we first came across it, it was our positive experience with the A&E Hornblower series that caused us to watch the entire movie, and from that point on we were hooked! |
| Posted by: Raven 01-Jun-2004, 09:27 PM |
| thanks for the tip faolin!! I will be on the watch for this show also. |
| Posted by: Eamon 02-Jun-2004, 09:40 AM | ||
Not a bad analogy Peck! The budget is about the same...you can really tell with the "Large Scale Battles" the BBC tries to cover the battlefield in smoke so you don't notice the fact that there only 60 soldiers (or 2 or 3 ship models in the Hornblower series). Sharpe's right hand man is a surly Irishman (think of my Avatar from Braveheart, Stephen, with a rifle instead of a broadsword). You can get the DVD's over here, but finding them on Cable can be a bit difficult. Eamon |
| Posted by: faolin 02-Jun-2004, 05:52 PM |
You can buy the DVDs in North America, but be warned; the boxed set of all 14 costs upward of $350  . The individual episodes are also for sale, and they are about $25-30 (I would recommend Sharpes Company or Sharpes Eagle). Most rental stores don't carry them, and they tend to give you blank, "what planet do you come from" looks if you ask. If you are to excited to wait until they are on the TV, I would suggest alternative methods <read morpheus or Kazaa>. You definitely have to watch a couple of them to really get into it, so what ever you do don't give up after the first! |
| Posted by: Annabelle 02-Jun-2004, 09:30 PM |
| So this series is good? Never heard of it. I did buy the Hornblower series and have enjoyed watching it immensely. |
| Posted by: faolin 02-Jun-2004, 10:40 PM | ||
The series itself is a lot of fun, but what really makes it standout is Sean Bean. He did this while he was a relative unknown, so he is quite young and definitely in his prime. if you liked Hornblower, I think you will like this. Random Sharpe Fact: apparently after doing Sharpe, Sean Bean did a series of commercials which hinged on him saying something along the lines of "that's sharp" or "how sharp", referring of course to the character he played. This tradition is even carried on into the Lord of the Rings, when Sean Bean as Boromir cuts his hand on Narsil and mutters "still sharpe[e]" |