Sharpe's Revenge Collection Set (2006)

"A thoroughly entertaining tale." - TV Guide

Acclaimed actor Sean Bean (The Island, The Lord of the Rings) stars in this action-packed series set in the midst of the desperate missions and battles of the Napoleonic Wars. Adapted from Bernard Cornwell's bestselling novels, Bean portrays maverick British officer Richard Sharpe who rises through the ranks of Wellington's army by his own daring deeds and ambition. Fast-moving, hard-hitting adventure, Sharpe brings to the screen all the danger, romance and sheer spectacle of one of the bloodiest periods in English warfare.

Includes: Sharpe's Mission / Sharpe's Revenge / Sharpe's Justice / Sharpe's Waterloo / Sharpe the Legend approx. 8 hrs. col.

A little weak in the casting

The only disappointment I had was with the actress who plays Lucille. She looked too coy to me. I would have thought someone more like Theresa would have been more in line with the character. In the books Lucille is a much stronger woman. However, as in the books, Sharpe is always a dim bulb when it comes to women. Too bad Theresa couldn't come back somehow. September 6, 2008

Richard Sharpe.

Although Sharpe is like an early day six million dollar man with more lead in his body than is in an armament this is a don't miss series. We originally watched each episode on BBC America and would recommend the entire series so much so that we bought the dvd's and have watched each episode over and will do so again. There are some truly memorable individuals, but the one that stands out for me is the grizzly old sargeant that is played to perfection in the early episodes by Pete Postlethwaite. I would highly recommend this series to anyone with an interest in early military battles and also to anyone who just enjoys some good drama. Hats off to British Television once again for a first class series. January 4, 2007

Razer Sharpe!

Sean Bean does it again. Playing Richard Sharpe of his majesty's 95th rifles. Sharpe comes forth again in this rich story of love, betrayal and swashbucking action. I enjoyed the earlier Sharpe series that was shown on PBS and again on the history channel. Unfortunately not all were ever shown on American TV.
This one does not disappoint his fans. A must have!!! September 1, 2005

Bet you thought the end of the war would be a good thing

Okay, it took me a while to recognize that the character of Rossendale was being played by Alexis Denisof a.k.a. Wesley Wyndham-Pryce from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel." But the twists of "Sharpe's Revenge," the twelfth of the fourteen adventures of Bernard Cornwell's maverick British officer from the Napoleonic War, were such that I was surprised that Rossendale turns out to be more than a minor character. We have been waiting for the war to be over, but it turns out the defeat of Napoleon is not the best of all possible worlds for our hero.

In April 1814 Wellington's forces are attacking Toulouse, the final French stronghold still loyal to Napoleon, and when it falls Napoleon falls from power and King Phillipe is restored. Of course during the final battle another incompetent but well connected officer, Wigram (Tom Hodgkins) is ordered to lead the assault, botches it, and it is up to Major Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean) to save the day. But then several important things happen that ruin the end of the war for our hero. First, Wigram uses the subject of Sharpe's wife to insult him and set up a duel in defiance of the Duke of Wellington's orders. Sharpe knows he will be sent home, but that is what he wants since Jane Sharpe (Abigail Cruttenden) has extracted a promise that the battle would be his last. However, urged on by Lady Molly Spindacre (Connie Hyde), who has her own agenda when she discovers Jane has a signed power of attorney giving her control of Sharpe's 10,000 pounds, Sharpe's wife leaves for home when she hears of the duel.

Meanwhile, Major Ducos (Féodor Atkine) is not only still not dead, despite another opportunity for Sharpe to put Napoleon's master spy out of business, but plotting his final revenge on our hero. After the duel, in which Sharpe finds a great way of teaching Wigram a lesson, he finds himself arrested. Not for the duel, but for stealing Napoleon's treasure. Although defended in court by Frederickson (Philip Whitchurch), who learned his law in a most unusual but totally appropriate way, Ducov has contrived enough evidence to make his convinction and execution almost certain. So Frederickson and Harper (Daragh O'Malley) break Sharpe out and set off to uncover the truth and save Sharpe's reputation and neck.

The dynamic of "Sharpe's Revenge" is different from most of the episodes in the series and not just because the big battle scene comes at the beginning (they still have one at the end). The most obvious is that Frederickson plays the role Harper usually has when Sharpe is in trouble, but we also have a rather unexpected ally in the French General Calvet (John Benfield), who has been opposing Sharpe on the field of battle for the last several films. While Sharpe is having problems in France, Jane is back home being swept off her feet by Rossendale and to our surprise she is willing to be seduced. Meanwhile, Sharpe is being nursed back to health by a young French widow (Cécile Paoli) and while she is interested, he will remain faithful to Jane, unaware she is not doing the same.

This is really the first half of a two-part story, continued in "Sharpe's Justice." That is because as long as he is on the Continent Sharpe can only get his revenge against half of his targets, with the rest awaiting him back home in England. "Sharpe's Revenge" has as much of a "to be continued" ending of any of these films and given how rare it is that Sharpe actually kills his enemies in this tales, I have no clue as to how the rest of this one will play out.

October 4, 2004

Not bad, but it was bizarre in places

Pierre Ducos, like Count Dracula seems to be indestructable. He keeps comming back for more and Sharpe doesn't hesitate to dish it out.
Based on real incidents, SHARPE'S REVENGE has a good plot, but towards the end it becomes a bit bizarre. Some of the acting is really too funny to be taken seriously. The character of Gaston, personal aide to General Calvert reminds me more of a clown, than a trusted servant. He has a few more lines than in other Sharpe films. At times his performance is more like slap stick.
Curiously, riflemen Hagman and Harris are missing from this film.
Of course the war is over and they have been discharged, but the characters should have been involved in the story, even if they were not in the book.
Fredrickson gets to do a bit of slapstick type comedy of his own, but the character is still interesting. In the book, Sharpe and Fredrickson end their friendship over Lucille and it would have made for a more lively ending for the film. Harper actually has little to say in this one, which is a shame. Jane is more "bitchy" in this episode, but nothing like in JUSTICE. In either case, the character is allowed to have more emotion than just worshipping Sharpe. Still, these films are enjoyable and far better than other series. January 20, 2002

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