Product Details

• Actors: Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Denis Lawson, Ian McNeice, Andrew Tiernan
• Directors: Andrew Grieve
• Writers: C.S. Forester, Mike Cullen
• Producers: Andrew Benson, Delia Fine, Pavel Douvidzon, Peter Richardson, Stepan Pojenian
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Studio: A & E Entertainment
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (161 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00003OST1
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,739 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Horatio Hornblower Vol. 2 - The Fire Ships" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

118 of 120 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honor and Duty, Heroes - Not Antiheroes - Make This Special, February 10, 2000

By 

Blackhawk (Huntsville, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horatio Hornblower Boxed Set (DVD)

The four movies in this set (The Duel, The Fireship, The Duchess and the Devil, and The Wrong War) are adapted from C.S. Forester's "Mr. Midshipman Hornblower." The movies' writers have done an excellent job of transferring the novel to the screen. Although they have made changes that may offend some Hornblower purists, I found the changes worked well in this medium. There is plenty of action with sea and land battles, as well as individual acts of heroism. But the characters are also developed in the writing and in the superb performances by a very talented cast.

The DVDs are well done. The video looks very good, considering that this was originally made for television. The picture is sharp and the colors are true. The sound is good, though it won't strain your system. The disks are surprisingly well stocked with supplemental material. The first two movies provide a bio of Forester and a glossary of nautical terms in text. The third disk contains the "making of" documentary that was shown on A&E and the History Channel when the series was originally aired. And the last disk contains a documentary about the Royal Navy, contrasting Nelson's era with the present. This show is hosted by (Prince) Edward Windsor and originally appeared as one of the Great Ships episodes on the History Channel.

Any fan of the Hornblower novels should see this series. Any fan of historical movies should see this series. Any one who enjoys a good movie that tells a story full of heroism and honor should see this series! I can't recommend it enough.

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best DVD drama boxsets available, June 17, 2000

By 

Colin Neal (Reading, Berkshire. England United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Horatio Hornblower Boxed Set (DVD)

The Hornblower series, a joint venture between ITV's Meridian and A&E consists of 4x 90 minute TV Movies following the life and times of Midshipman Hornblower.

The DVDs are top quality, with a clear full screen image and great sound effects in Dolby Surround. The extras on the DVD are also excellent with a decent 'making of' documentary.

It's the variety in the movies that makes the box set so amicable. The Duel is a good introduction to the characters and Hornblower's rise through the ranks, the fire ships is a tense sea battle (with a great scene with the ships in the fog).

Ioan Gruffudd is brilliant and destined to be a new James Bond I'm sure. With Robert Lindsey as a very Captain Picard Captain too! It's really really good, buy it!

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Confusing description of this item, September 29, 2004

By 

Paul - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Horatio Hornblower Boxed Set (DVD)

I wanted to get the whole series of these because they are great films, but the descriptions of the episodes on this boxed set are misleading. "("The Even Chance"); ("The Examination for Lieutenant"); ("The Duchess and the Devil"); and ("The Frogs and the Lobsters")" are actually called "The Duel," "The Fire Ships," "The Duchess and the Devil," and "The Wrong War" and are also part of the 6 movies Complete set.