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David McK (3222 KP) rated Sharpe's Battle (1995) in Movies
Sep 18, 2022 (Updated Sep 18, 2022)
Mid-90s TV Sean Bean starring TV movie, loosely based on the Bernard Cornwell novel of the same name.
I say loosely based, but as not as loosely as the previous (Sharpe's Gold): here, the rough outline is pretty much the same as in the novel - sure, there are liberties taken and subplots left out and/or changed, but this *is* recognizably the same story, complete with Brigadier Guy Loup, the spanish Real Compania Irelande (sp?) et al
I say loosely based, but as not as loosely as the previous (Sharpe's Gold): here, the rough outline is pretty much the same as in the novel - sure, there are liberties taken and subplots left out and/or changed, but this *is* recognizably the same story, complete with Brigadier Guy Loup, the spanish Real Compania Irelande (sp?) et al
Mothergamer (1517 KP) rated The Last Kingdom in TV
Mar 30, 2022
I love the books that the show is based on. If you have not read The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell, you should because they are excellent. The show does a great job bringing the books to life. There are some changes here and there, but they are small and work for the show. Alexander Draymon does an amazing job as Uhtred and the entire cast is fantastic. The series keeps the story flowing really well and is a great watch.
David McK (3222 KP) rated A Clash of Lions (100 Years War, book 2) in Books
Mar 31, 2024
The second of AJ MacKenzie three 100 Years War novels following the exploits of the Herald Simon Merrivale, which - this time - moves the setting from France across to the Scottish border.
I'm also finding this a little bit hard to rate: whilst the *story* was interesting, as was the history, I found the prose itself to be a little bit too dry; never really grabbing me and sucking me in the way a, say, Bernard Cornwell might.
I'll still read the next in the series, though.
I'm also finding this a little bit hard to rate: whilst the *story* was interesting, as was the history, I found the prose itself to be a little bit too dry; never really grabbing me and sucking me in the way a, say, Bernard Cornwell might.
I'll still read the next in the series, though.
David McK (3222 KP) rated The Last Kingdom - Season 5 in TV
Sep 3, 2023 (Updated Sep 3, 2023)
Based on a 13-run series of novels by UK author Bernard Cornwell (now living in America), The Last Kingdom - both books and series - is set in and around the time of Alfred the Great and his descendants, and follows the exploits of Saxon born but Danish raised Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
Each series of the TV show adopted roughly 2 of the novels so - if memory serves - that means that this series covers the events of 'Warriors of the Storm' and 'War of the Wolf'.
For some reason, however - and unlike the earlier Sharpe series (also based on novels by Cornwell) I struggled to get into this one, taking roughly a year and a bit to watch a 10 episode series.
I'm not sure why, but it just didn't help with me.
Mores the pity.
Each series of the TV show adopted roughly 2 of the novels so - if memory serves - that means that this series covers the events of 'Warriors of the Storm' and 'War of the Wolf'.
For some reason, however - and unlike the earlier Sharpe series (also based on novels by Cornwell) I struggled to get into this one, taking roughly a year and a bit to watch a 10 episode series.
I'm not sure why, but it just didn't help with me.
Mores the pity.
Diamond Hunter (Jack Lark #11)
6.0
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JACK SOLDIER, LEADER, IMPOSTER. The eleventh book in the gripping military adventure series for...
David McK (3222 KP) rated Sharpe's Enemy (1994) in Movies
Oct 17, 2021 (Updated Oct 17, 2021)
TV movie from 1994, based on the Bernard Cornwell novel of the same name.
This is the one that has Elizabeth Hurley in it (proving she can't act), and that has the second - and last - appearance of Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill, alongside the first appearance of the French spymaster Pierre Ducos.
it's also no as polished as the previous entry in the series, with the shocking moment towards the end failing to really hit home, and with the entire thing feeling, maybe, half an hour longer than it needed to be.
This is the one that has Elizabeth Hurley in it (proving she can't act), and that has the second - and last - appearance of Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill, alongside the first appearance of the French spymaster Pierre Ducos.
it's also no as polished as the previous entry in the series, with the shocking moment towards the end failing to really hit home, and with the entire thing feeling, maybe, half an hour longer than it needed to be.
David McK (3222 KP) rated Sharpe's Waterloo (1997) in Movies
Jan 8, 2023 (Updated Jan 8, 2023)
The final part in the original run of TV movies based on the Bernard Cornwell books of the same name (although there was another such book to go at the time - 'Sharpe's Devil'), in which the now-retired Sharpe - alongside Harper, Hagman and Harris - find themselves partaking in the final decisive battle of the Napoleonic Wars: that of Waterloo.
As befits such an epic battle, this is an epic retelling of the events of the same (although, as always, liberties are taken and the lack of budget sometimes shows!)
As befits such an epic battle, this is an epic retelling of the events of the same (although, as always, liberties are taken and the lack of budget sometimes shows!)
David McK (3222 KP) rated Sharpe's Regiment (1196) in Movies
Oct 23, 2022
While there is now something like 23, maybe 24, Sharpe novels by Bernard Cornwell when this was released there was only roughly half that.
This is the only novel (so far) to be set mainly in England, with Richard Sharpe and Patrick Harper travelling back to London to find the missing recruits from their second battalion - a storyline to which this adaptation sticks remarkably closely.
It's not perfect, of course, with subplots left out or condensed somewhat (and the lack of budget shows), but it is still a good enough watch!
This is the only novel (so far) to be set mainly in England, with Richard Sharpe and Patrick Harper travelling back to London to find the missing recruits from their second battalion - a storyline to which this adaptation sticks remarkably closely.
It's not perfect, of course, with subplots left out or condensed somewhat (and the lack of budget shows), but it is still a good enough watch!
I'm sure if you mentioned the name Bernard Cornwell to most readers, they would immediately think of historical-set 'boys-own' mainly and-based action-adventure novels, which I once read described by one critic as 'men behaving badly, but with incredible brio' (which I had to go and look up what that meant).
So, not a contemporary (at the time of Cornwell's writing) set mystery, then, with a heavy slant towards nautical matters.
Yet that is precisely what this is.
While I can't comment on the accuracy (or otherwise) of the naval segments - other than to say they seemed plausible to this land-lubber - I have to say, I also found this to be rather predictable fare, with it startlingly obvious - at least to me - just who stole the priceless Van Gogh (the McGuffin that provides the drive for the plot) further early on, not long after that character is introduced.
Sorry, Mr Cornwell: not your best effort.
So, not a contemporary (at the time of Cornwell's writing) set mystery, then, with a heavy slant towards nautical matters.
Yet that is precisely what this is.
While I can't comment on the accuracy (or otherwise) of the naval segments - other than to say they seemed plausible to this land-lubber - I have to say, I also found this to be rather predictable fare, with it startlingly obvious - at least to me - just who stole the priceless Van Gogh (the McGuffin that provides the drive for the plot) further early on, not long after that character is introduced.
Sorry, Mr Cornwell: not your best effort.
Sharpe's Company (1994)
7.0
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Movie
Spain 1812. After Ciudad Rodrigo, Teresa tells Sharpe that they have a baby daughter. In Badajoz,...