Sharpe's Peril [Blu-ray]

Richard Sharpe and the redoubtable Patrick Harper are finally on their way home from India. Both look exhausted but are attending a ball given by the Governor of India who asks just one last favor. Would Sharpe be so kind as to deliver a valuable piece of property to one of the hill outposts? He can do this, the Governor goes on to say, without any, repeat any, peril. That should have been a flashing red light of a clue, but of course, Sharpe says I'd be delighted or something like that, and so the adventure begins.

The 'property' turns out to be the spoiled young fiancee of a French officer, who won her in a game of cards. She's already gotten off on the wrong foot with Sharpe, so to speak, after she smacked him a good one because he wouldn't dance with her. Sharpe and Harper do some grumbling, but dutifully set out with Marie and soon come across evidence of bandits. Not just any bandits, though. OMG, THESE bandits kill women and children and old people. Shame on them, especially since everyone has so repeatedly demonstrated a high regard for the sanctity of human life in the previous episodes of Sharpe and all. Shame, I say.

When our merry trio runs into a group of travellers headed to the same destination, they immediately hook up. After all, there is safety in numbers and Sharpe and Harper see a glimmer of hope as they think they'll dump Marie on the travellers. She won't have any of THAT, no sirree, so Sharpe and Harper must tag along to the outpost. Finding out about the other travellers and their issues, of which there are many, occupies everybody's time and energy until they reach the outpost. OH NOES!!!! Devastation everywhere!! There is much skullduggery and buckling of swashes; lots and lots and lots of blood, though the cavalry always seems to arrive in the nick of time.

There are plenty of Sharpe stereotypes in this entry: the very young officer who has something to prove, the old officer ditto, feisty heroine, several doomed heroes as well as some swell new villains. There's a portly English soldier deliciously named Wormwood who's up to no good, and a suave Russian officer named Dragonoff or something like that who's moonlighting as an opium dealer. In addition, Sharpe is revisited by his past. A couple of characters have surprising last names and remember General Simmerson? He has a great role.

Without spoilers, this Sharpe ends very satisfactorily, even if some of the events are major eye-rollers. For example, the French fiancee is kidnapped by her betrothed, who is on the lam from both the East India Company and the Army. They stop so she can TAKE A BATH???? 'Cause we all know how important personal hygiene was in 1818.

If you haven't seen any of the Sharpes, DON'T START WITH THIS ONE! For non fans this would be about a two and a half star movie. I'm rating it four because I am a fan and am willing to overlook a lot for the pleasure of spending two hours in Sharpe's world. Really, in spite of the above snarkiness, this film wasn't at all a bad entry in the series.

For fans of historical military drama serials, Bernard Cornwell's enduring character, Richard Sharpe, is at or near the top of the list. The original series chronicled the rise through the ranks of an enlisted man who, after saving Lord Wellington, was promoted to officer (unheard of in the British army.) He served Wellington admirably during the peninsular wars in Portugal and Spain, and culminating in the famous Battle of Waterloo.The BBC television series, starring the durable Sean Bean, does an admirable and faithful job of adapting the various Cornwell novels, particularly considering some of the budget limitations inherent in television series. As book adaptions, they are not unlike the excellent Granada Television production of the Sherlock Holmes stories starring the late jeremy Brett.

In the latest two additions to the chronicles (including the preceding Sharpe's Challenge,) Sharpe, accompanied by his faithful partner sergeant Harper (played solisly by Daragh O'Malley) has resurfaced in India. What sets both episodes apart from the original series, is that they were shot in 16X9 format with HD cameras. Although the DVD for both Sharpe's Challenge and Sharpe's Peril are, of course, presented in standard definition, the widescreen format increases the technical quality immensely, particular on the modern digital widescreen televisions.

The episode for Sharpe's Peril offers nothing new, preferring to stick with the reliable Sharpe "format." While hardly a film masterpiece, it is a definite step up from most seies television, offering good, solid, entertainment for fans of military history and/or Sean Bean.

Any fan of the series will enjoy this 16th outing for Sharpe and Harper. On par with 2006's "Sharpe's Challenge". The larger budget really shows in the scale of the scenes over the tv series.
Not sure why anyone would buy it from Amazon US though. They want $29.99+$2.98 shipping for a Pal format Region 2 DVD. That is twice the price from Amazon UK - $12.94+$5.00 after converting from pounds sterling. It is the same DVD!!! I love British Drama and Mystery and have ordered lots from Amazon UK - never took more than 7 days to arrive. Why would anyone pay over $15.00 more just to have it arrive 1-2 days sooner. Amazon still gets your money - just not twice as much!

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 24 reviews  4.2 out of 5 stars