Customer Reviews

Sharpe's Enemy

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

 

 

Let me just get to the point... Sharpe's Enemy is my favorite Sharpe movie in the series (and I have seen all of them).Quite frankly, I have no idea why the reviewer a couple reviews below could rate this series 1 star and say it has not a single good actor in it... Sean Bean is superb in the role of Richard Sharpe (and this holds true for all episodes). Pete Postlethwaite is my favorite villan as the monsterous Obediah Hakeswill and Daragh O'Malley is as steady as ever as Sharpe's dependable sergent. In short, Sharpe's Enemy has one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled!More importantly, the story, based on the superb Bernard Cornwell novel, is gripping and action packed. Quite frankly, TV does not get better than this... I have watched this TV movie tens of times and I still am thrilled every time.I highly recommend Sharpe's Enemy and the rest of the Sharpe's series. Also recommended if you like these kinds of movies is the Horatio Hornblower series. Very similar kinds of storylines (with equally good group acting), but at sea...

I hate to use a title like this, but Richard Sharpe rules. Yet again he has to prove that he is just as capable an officer as the bought officers. Again he rises to the challenge. This is probably the best of the 4 DVD's that are released so far. There certainly was more action in this one (not that other's are lacking in the action department). The DVD is really good. The picture quality is good for being from a TV show and the sound is really good too. Again, I'll say that it would have been better had it been done in Dolby 5.1, but oh well. I'll take a good story and acting over effects any day.

Bernard Cornwell's stories of Richard Sharpe do a fantastic job of bringing Napoleonic warfare to the screen. As a special unattached officer serving Wellington, this is one of Sharpe's most exciting adventures. He has to effect the rescue of two hostages, the wives of both an English and French officer, defeat a desperate band of deserters led by his nemesis, Hakeswill, then fight off a French reconaissance force. He does it in the usual style -- a little bluff, a little swashbuckling, and some brilliant tactics. One of the most enjoyable scenes is the one in which a French general explains to the wife of one of his officers how Napoleonic combined arms tactics work using peas on a plate -- then Sharpe promptly undoes his tactics. This is one of the most compelling and exciting films of the entire series.

Everyone who has seen the previous installment in the Sharpe series, "Sharpe's Company," knows that the title character of "Sharpe's Enemy" has to be Obadiah Hakeswill (Pete Postlethwaite). How Hakeswill managed to be alive at the end of that one was rather disconcerting to fans of the series because this man was just begging to be killed by Sharpe (Sean Bean) or Sgt. Harper (Daragh O'Malley), or anybody else in the British Army, its Spanish allies, or the French. The good news is that Hakeswill meets his fate in this 1994 movie, but he has more damage to do before the end and he will not even come close to suffering as much as he deserves to given all his dirty deeds.

The setting is still 1813 Portugal with the Duke of Wellington (Hugh Fraser) resting his army before again moving against Napoleon in Spain. But in the no man's land of northern Portugal an army of deserters from both sides is roving and raging. The leader of this ragged army is a former cook for the French (Tony Haygarth), but Hakeswill is his right-hand thug. One of their ways of making money is to hold women hostage for ransom and towards this end they have captured Lady Farthingdale (Elizabeth Hurley) and Sarah Dubreton (Helena Mithcell). The former is married to Sir Augustus Farthingdale (Jeremy Child), another one of those pompous British officers and the latter to a French Colonel (François Guétary), who is a man of honor. Our hero has to deal with both of them in this episode.

Having made it to captain in the last movie Sharpe is now trying to become a major and Farthingdale, who disapproves of raising an officer from the enlisted ranks, is forced to rely on Sharpe and his Chosen Men to rescue his wife. That is because Hakeswill, planning his revenge while going for the gold, has demanded that Sharpe bring the ransom. This is the beginning of the cat and mouse came that Hakeswill intends on playing with Sharpe.

My only problem with "Sharpe's Enemy" is that the last person I expect to do something stupid, Sharpe's wife, Teresa (Assumpta Serna), does something very stupid. That and the fact that Hakeswill gets off easy as far as I am concerned. I can appreciate Sharpe not wanting to crawl down into the gutter to deal with his enemy, but still, the payback should have been a much more fulfilling.

Otherwise we have the key elements that we are coming to appreciate in this series, which is how Sharpe has to deal with the contempt of his immediate superior while trying to pull off an impossible mission. The bond between Sharpe and his men is fully developed at this point and their disdain for the twits who try to get them to change their ways is palatable. One of the nice twists this time around is the detatchment of rocket troops, who have trouble hitting the broad side of a barn let alone anything else and whose officer (Nicholas Rowe) is clearly trying to earn Sharpe's respect. The rocketry is pretty much a joke at this point, but there are a few people who see the potential of the weapons and the story's climax comes up with a nice use of the tactic. Bernard Cornwell's novels might not be as stepped in the military science of the army as Patrick O'Brian's novels were with regards to the British navy, but these movies certainly have an aura of authenticity.

In the end "Sharpe's Enemy" comes down, as it should, to Sharpe and Hakeswill. Postlethwaite is not as over the top as he was in the previous chapter, and not just because he has lost his hat. After all, he no longer has to pretend to be a proper English solider any more and can now go for his target more directly. Maybe there is no way that Hakeswill could have received his just desserts, but I should would have liked to have seen Sharpe try.

Just when you thought I was through talking about the British Napoleonic series Sharpe, I present the fourth episode for review. 1994's Sharpe's Enemy continues the superior levels established in the previous telefilms. Revenge, damsels in distress, war politics, and rapacious villainy- Enemy has it all.

When the beautiful young Lady Farthingdale (Elizabeth Hurley, Bedazzled) is abducted by the vile deserter Obadiah Hakeswill (Pete Postlethwaite), her crusty Colonel husband reluctantly sends Major Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean) to the rescue. Sergeant Harper (Daragh O'Malley) and Sharpe's wife, guerilla leader Teresa Moreno (Assumpta Serna) have misgivings about the rescue and the nearby French. Sharpe gains a new ally in rifleman Captain `Sweet William' Frederickson (Phillip Whitchurch), but French spy Major Ducos (Feodor Atkine) makes life difficult for Sharpe.

We may think of it as stunt casting now, but I don't think Elizabeth Hurley was as big then as she is now. Naturally, she's only here for her buxom self, but it's easy to jump on board with the young wife lusting after Sharpe. Pete Postlethwaite is again delightfully creepy as Hakeswill. He's slick and twisted, and as much as the gals may think Sharpe dreamy, Hakeswill is probably a more realistic notion of how crusty soldiers really behaved. Assumpta Serna is again wonderful as Teresa Moreno-she is the most developed, confident, and likeable of all the women in the series. And of course, Daragh O'Malley is the ever faithful Harper.
Perhaps the storylines in Sharpe's Enemy work well because they hail from Bernard Cornwell's novel, but the plot begins after the events of Sharpe's Company. You don't have to watch one to understand the other, but Enemy weaves a complete tale when most sequels stretch material too thin. In the scope of the war with Napoleon, Sharpe's Enemy is small-focusing rather on personal and private battles. Sharpe again has to sit back while foolish and rich gentleman move above him. He must indulge them while dealing with Hakeswill. Sharpe, unfortunately, pays the ultimate price. Major Ducos enters the picture as the vile ear of Napoleon-a not so subtle reminder that this is really supposed to be the English versus the French.

After the excellent action of Sharpe's Company, there's not a lot of big battles in Enemy. Small skirmishes with deserters make it tough to tell who's fighting who. Sharpe's Enemy, however, showcases another kind of action utilized in the series. He's quite notorious in the books, but up until now, onscreen Sharpe has been a one woman man. It's food for thought to see him with another woman at this point in the story. Infidelity is a funny thing, but it's not meant to be taken so seriously here. Bean fans will probably find Sharpe sexy, and the guys will love Hurley and Serna. Something for everyone.

Yet again the DVD transfer seems a bit off, and as involved as the story is in Sharpe's Enemy, the film ends a tad abruptly. Unless you read the books, you don't find out what happens to Lady Farthingdale, and Sharpe's daughter is never mentioned again. These quibbles aren't rectified, per se, but at least there's more fun to be had in Sharpe's Honour.

Sharpe's Enemy may be a bit too saucy for younger folks, but the depth and the questions raised may bring one to read the books. There's enough action, beefcake, cheesecake, and vengeance for any audience to enjoy Sharpe's Enemy.

In spite of a lifelong fascination with history, I have never had much interest in the Napoleanic era, or the Napoleanic Wars--until I started watching this series. Now we own the entire set, and are acquiring the books on which it is based as rapidly as we can. That alone should indicate how high my opinion of these films is.

If you've read the books, you will find that the timeline has been altered for the movies--but I doubt you will be disappointed. In my opinion, this entire series is one of the best adaptations of book to movie that has ever been done. Both mediums remain emminently enjoyable, and I cannot say that "the books are better than the movies" or "the movie is better than the books." They are entirely complimentary

If you liked Horatio Hornblower and Master and Commander, you will almost certainly enjoy these. Highly recommended!

The British TV adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's colossal Richard Sharpe series of novels spins its fourth installment with "Sharpe's Enemy." In many ways, "Sharpe's Enemy" is the strongest of the four films so far - and not just because the filmmakers have excised the anachronistic electric guitar that plagued the first couple of movies.

In the novels, Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean) begins his military career in India under the tyrannical thumb of Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill (Pete Postlethwait). Hakeswill has an insane hatred of Sharpe and frames him, resulting in Sharpe being flogged. Despite Sharpe's undying hatred and frequent attempts to kill him, Hakeswill manages to survive - which sustains Hakeswill's belief that he is immortal. Insane and a murdering rapist, but immortal.

The movies don't tell the story of the Indian campaign, but instead commence with the Peninsular War. But when Hakeswill arries on the scene in "Sharpe's Company," it's clear that Sharpe and Hakeswill have issues from the old days. Hakeswill tries to exact revenge on Sharpe, but is found out and ultimately flees the British army.

As "Sharpe's Enemy" begins, we see Hakeswill leading a gang of French and British deserters in the mountains of Spain, murdering, pillaging, and raping their way through the land. They strike gold when they kidnap Lady Fatheringill (Elizabeth Hurley, with her ample "charms" on constant display), wife of a stuck-up British colonel. Not only does Hakeswill ransom her, he insists that Sharpe bring the ransom into Hakeswill's lair.

What ensues is a vicious dog-fight between the British and the deserters, with Hakeswill and Sharpe leading their respective groups. There are some truly savage fights, for neither of these guys believes that fighting "dirty" is an insult. Complicating matters is the fact that a French regiment lurks just waiting to pounce on some prime military real estate.

Possibly the strongest of the four films so far (although "Sharpe's Company" was also pretty darn good), "Sharpe's Enemy" again clearly has a bigger budget than the first two episodes. Look for plenty of humor and some new colorful characters introduced to the mix. Bean and Postlethwait are again excellent, as are the supporting actors. Hurley is pretty darn good in her role as well, for she is not exactly what she seems. Check it out, but by all means watch the other episodes first.

The _Sharpe_ stories take place in a time and location that many American won't know well, during England's epic battles against Napolean (mostly those in Spain), but it's very easy to recognize many of the classic elements of stories we often love. The hero, Richard Sharpe, is a tough, honest, self-made man who gains the respect of honorable, even endearing soldiers and the love of many a lady. In this particular episode, Sharpe yet again outfights and outsmarts both the French and the evil, arrogent English of his own army - particularly a sargent from hell - out to destroy our hero. It is also one of the more romantic, and tragic, episodes. While it is important to see these movies in order to follow all the plot lines, this one can stand as an example of the _Sharpe_ stories at their best.

If you've never seen any of the Sharpe films, you may want to view the previous chapters to avoid confusion. Sharpe runs into old enemies and new in this one. Obadiah Hakeswell,a name from Sharpe's past, (as portrayed by Pete Postlethwaite)almost steals the limelight from Sean Bean.(See SHARPE'S COMPANY for their first "reunion") Hakeswell kills Theresa, Sharpe's wife, near the end of the film, in a short but brutal scene. I for one would have liked to have seen Theresa give Hakeswell a royal arse kicking first, then have Obediah's treachery bring about her demise. (Maybe have Theresa poised for the kill, only to have Hakeswell blindside her) The plot is a tad silly at times, but it IS based on historical fact. Some of the characters come across a little hokey, but are patterned on real persona. And of course there is the menacing Major Duco, (admirably played by Feodore Atkins) who somehow is always foiled by Sharpe. If you like a little "skin" mixed with your swashbuckling, we have Elizabeth Hurley, (who plays a whore to a British Colonel) before she became Austin Power's love interest.

This bout with the adventurer, "pirate", "rogue but my rogue", never say die rifleman stir in me mixed feelings of praise. It features lots of the typical- Sharpe fighting, laughs, scares, plus introduction of some great new characters and unfortunately, tragedy. Sharpe both rises and falls in this one.

And there's Pete Postlethwaite returning as the ever increasingly villainous sargent now turn deserter. He must have totally enjoyed playing the over the top, "no one can kill me" baddy.

Storyline: Sharpe must somehow rescue an aristocratic woman, Elizabeth Hurley, from the band of miscreants whose goal is to squeeze out as much gold as they can from rich husbands including a honorable french officer.

One might, also, call this show the "shag, dittle and hump" episode, to use their own terminology because they lay seige to villages stealing, killing and taking the woman for ransom and pleasure. They don't show to any degree the "dittling"; however, Ms. Hurley does drop her top for dramatic effect, partially, on demand while Sharpe is forced to watch, and Postlethwaite glares over her shoulder.

They introduce some fine, new characters: I love Philip Whitechurch as the ever able but dirty, toothless, bald, perpetually smiling, Captain Frederickson, and of course, the evil French spy Major Ducos. We also see for this episode, quite humerously, Nicholas Rowe('Young Sherlock Holmes') as the Rocket Man. He cracked me up when his rockets go astray with the simple utterance of "Oh, dear!"

Now, here's what I didn't like so much*SPOILER ALERT**. The continuing story of Sharpe's love of Teresa- the Spanish rebel warrior comes to an tragic end. Played by Assumpta Serna, a wonderful and accomplished international actor, she gives a dramatic but short death scene, and I wondered if it really was time to knock her off. Also, beforehand, Sharpe has a quick fling with Hurley's character who's really a ex-prostitute. That kind of diminished the sense of true, undying love between the characters. Come on Sharpey, couldn't you resist Elizabeth Hurley's advances- you do it in a later show when you're with the beautiful Lucille while in love with a good for nothing, cheating wife! Oh well, maybe it shows his manly weaknesses and lack of maturity. *END ALERT*

I give it 5 stars because it's Sharpe at his convoluted, vicious, a bit campy, violent best with tons of action, twists, evil villains, humor, romance, decent filming, and good actors.