Customer Reviews

Sharpe's Complete Collection

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Most Americans had never heard of Sharpe's Rifles before its debut on BBC America. Fortunately I have internet friends in the U.K. and asked them what they knew about the series. Several were huge fans and already had the collection. Several had recorded the series as it was shown. I decided to go ahead and purchase the boxed set and was very pleased when it arrived. The ammunition box case is a nice touch, the letter opener is balanced like a throwing knife and is really sharp :). The map of Napoleonic Europe during the Sharpe stories was very nice since most Americans know more about our Civil War than the Napoleonic period in Europe. The stories also prompted us to buy a few of the books by Bernard Cornwell. The DVDs also contain scenes from the series that were cut out on BBC America, probably for commercial space. That's the other great thing - no commercials!

This is a great mini-series. Sound and color could better. Does not appear to be "restored" or "remastered". Colors can appear less crisp or sharp on HDTV's or big screen TV's. DOES NOT include "Sharpe's Challenge" as this has not aired yet on TV (Will air on BBC America on 23 & 24 April 2006). Otherwise this is a good set. Letter opener is solid and works well. Wooden box is more or less junk and I dumped mine.

This was an excellent British-made series, well written and well acted, with excellent photography and a sense of time and place. However, it is hardly worth the $300-plus. A more realistic price for the set may help sales and, as another reviewer stated, individual DVDs are available at almost have the price (less than $11.00 each).

It is difficult to add to what has already been stated, but for anyone who enjoys history, especially as it is portrayed by the Brits, this is an exceptional series.

The Boxed set arrived this morning, I ripped the package open like a kid on Christmas day...I was 1st impressed by the well made cedar box, on opening the next suprise was the solid pewter letter opener with a Napoleonic eagle which is well worth having, the DVD's are all uniform, there is an annoying precursor in the beginning of each disc (totally unnecessary and a waste of viewing time as you cant skip it) 4:3 rather than my prefered 16:9, the sound is 5.1 but has a direct from T.V feel....But the stories and the acting more than compensate for the average video transfer.
if you have never seen the Sharpe series or want to relive the Napoleonic era from a battle hardened soilders perspective this is for you. Sharpe never had the biggest budget but all that is excused with this well crafted production....I recommend this set

Discovering this long-running series, which first aired on British television, has been one of my great joys, and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who loves a rousing adventure saga!

The story of Richard Sharpe (the remarkable Sean Bean), rising from the enlisted ranks to Lt. Colonel through a combination of courage under fire and luck, each episode offers action, comedy, romance, and a healthy dose of irreverence, as the more-than-capable Sharpe is often assigned under less-than-competent officers, under the eye of his mentor, Lord Wellington (Hugh Fraser, in most of the films). Accompanied by loyal Irish Sergeant Patrick Harper (Daragh O'Malley, soft-spoken and absolutely fabulous), and his 'Chosen Men' (including John Tams, Jason Salkey, and Lyndon Davies), Sharpe is given one 'impossible' mission after another, testing his resourcefulness, honor, and, often, his patience, as well!

A terrific collection of first-rate actors appear in the series, as Sharpe's allies, enemies, and distractions, including Philip Whitchurch as scarred, one-eyed Capt. Frederickson (who, despite being disgusting, grows into a quite endearing fellow), Michael Cochrane, Pete Postlethwaite and Féodor Atkine (three of the nastiest villains you'd ever care to meet) and a young Paul Betthany (as the infuriatingly reckless and incompetent young Prince William of Orange, in "Sharpe's Waterloo"). American audiences will recognize youthful, dark-haired Daniel Craig (the latest "James Bond"), as a malevolent fellow officer, Alexis Denisof ("Angel") as the nobleman who 'steals' Sharpe's wife and money, and Alice Krige (the Borg Queen from "Star Trek: First Contact") as a money-hungry Marquesa. While buxom beauties are always a part of the stories, three remarkable women figure prominently in Sharpe's saga; Assumpta Serna, portraying the doomed Spanish resistance leader who has his child; Abigail Cruttenden, as his less-than-faithful bride; and Cécile Paoli, as a French officer's widow with whom he would eventually find happiness.

Above everything else, the series succeeds because of Sean Bean, who truly brings Richard Sharpe to life. Brave, quick-witted, and ruggedly handsome, Bean's 'Sharpe' literally 'leaps off the screen', with his dazzling portrayal.

This is a first-rate collection that should NOT be missed!

While I am a big Sharpe fan, and an even bigger Sean Bean fan, I was initally against buying this set, as it is quite pricey. My husband convinced me that it would be a worthy indulgence for my birthday present. As usual, he was right. I was thrilled when I opened it. It is a really beautiful set. I respectfully disagree with the "featured reviewer" that the crate is junk (maybe we got different products?). The crate is a fine display piece, and looks quite nice on our book shelf. The enclosed map is very nice, I plan to frame it and add it to our maps wall. And I got a big kick out of the Sharpe letter opener. Get it? Sharpe-sharp. Man, I'm a sucker for bad puns. But it made me laugh.

As for the series itself, there is no doubting the quality, and do not underestimate the volume of enjoyment you will get from it (if indeed such a thing can be measured in liters, or kiloliters:). Sean Bean is a hottie and delivers a perfect performance over and over. "Chosen men? Well, I didn't choose ye!" I'd choose them any day.

I was first introduced to the Sharpe's series via BBC America while house sitting this past summer. OK, originally I wanted to see it because Sean Bean was in it and I am a history buff. After the first episode that I saw which was Sharpe's Gold I bought the complete set. Then I invited my 15 year old neice over to watch it on the big screen. Well, we watched from the beginning only 1 or 2 episodes a night for the rest of the summer just in time to see the August showing of Sharpe's Challenge on BBC America. Now I've purchased it as well. Her reaction was surprisingly enthusiastic. I would have expected that from her mom, but I really was pleasently surprised that she loved it as much as I did. So I would like to say that even teens would like this. (Not only did she like the series but it turned her on to history a bit more). Have fun with this!

This excellent 14 episode Sharpe television series is based on Bernard Cornwell's novels about the Napoleonic Wars 1810-15. The series follows the fortunes and daring military escapades of Richard Sharpe as he rises through the ranks from Sergeant to Lieutenant Colonel by the time of the defeat of Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington and General Blucher at the brutal and historic Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

It is dominated by Sean Bean's central performance as the heroic troubled outsider who turns out to be a resourceful and loyal leader. There is a strong supporting cast, particularly Daragh O'Malley as Harper Abigail Cruttenden as Jane; Sharpe is often visually striking and the action tense and gripping. Bean's Sheffield accent is just right for the part he plays and contrasts strongly with that of the other landed gentry officers.

This exciting and intriguing series is an good portrayal of the English class system and was just made for history buffs.

Hats off to the Brits! I stumbled onto Cornwell's audiobook "Sharpe's Escape" in the bargain bin at my local bookstore. Amazingly enthralling story! I had to have more. After buying the complete set in PAL format I had to watch the entire series on my computer. Every episode made me a bigger Sean Bean fan. Sharpe and Harper are the two coolest buddies since Kirk and Spock...and this adds immensely to the charm and captivation to the soldiers and the era in which they fought. It's led me to research as much as I could about the battles fought and the men who made their mark on history (Wellington and Napoleon). If I hadn't read the reviews here I'd have not been aware of the "budget crunch" that others mentioned. Watching the episodes on my large computer screen did NOT indicate any blurriness or other problems with video fidelity. Buy this series, I loved it. So sorry it all had to come to an end. I can't wait to see "Sharpe's Challenge" on BBC America in September 2006. I'll watch the Horatio Hornblower series next. I hear it's rather good too.

The Sharpe series first captured my imagination in 93 (I was 12) and kept me enthralled year after year until Sharpe's Waterloo capped off the series seven years ago. This box set is a classic piece, well worth having despite the poor quality. I know many people are spoiled by the wonderful sets and effects of Hornblower but none of that would have been possible without Sharpe. No one thought Sharpe would make it but Sharpe's Company (the 1st episode in the second season) brought in 12 million viewers--huge numbers for England. The effects are sometimes a little cheap and you don't really get a feel of huge numbers of soldiers fighting but the acting and the story are top-class and I can't wait to see Sharpe's Challenge, which I'm sure will be more Hornblower-style given that they have a bigger budget these days