Customer Reviews

Wrong War [VHS]

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2 star:		(1)
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Ioan Gruffud (Horatio Hornblower) is at his best yet, as his personal qualities and fortitude are tested at limits never before endured. Hornblower is dragged away from his beloved England and the 'Indefatigible', to serve under a French Nobleman determined to reclaim his village and repay the peasant Revolutionaries.

My heart rebelled along with Horatio's, as he distastefully obeyed the Frenchman's orders. But his sense of duty to the weak and defenseless French citizens forces him to risk his own life to save them from the Aristocrat's brutality.

Under fire from Revolutionaries, Hornblower coolly controls his men, encourages the fearful Archie Kennardy, and hides his growing attachment to a Frenchgirl from them at the same time. His allegience torn in many directions, Horatio keeps his head, empowering his Englishmen and the French peasants with an ability I can only envy.

But as in real life, not all of his plans succeed, and the story's heartwrenching climax is what made it most powerful of all. But once again, Horatio meets his heartbreak with true self-control and an iron courage, which he imparted to me, as he once again stands on the deck of the 'Indefatigible', and prepares to face the rest of his life with a positive attitude.

'The Wrong War' is a movie that will appeal to a wide range of viewers. It satisfies the action buffs with its accurate portrayal of war, and the history fanatics with its authentic setting and cultural attitudes. The romantic at heart will soar and dip with Horatio, as he gallantly comes to a young lady's aid, and deals with a sudden loss that many viewers will never have to come to grips with.

This war of principles, attitudes, and the heart will never fail to win a place in any viewer's compilation of favourite movies.

If ever a video tugged at my heartstrings it was 'The Wrong War'. Horatio (Ioan Grufford) shines his brightest as he is all things to all people. His own principles in his pocket, he valiently fights for the French Aristocracy, while trying to save the lives of the French peasants.

The authentic setting,and clothes and cast's superb acting carry the poignant and believeable plotline from start to finish. Along with Horatio, I cringed before the power tyranical aristocrats held over helpless peasants. I identified with Archie as he crouched petrified, waiting for sudden attack, and praised Horatio for his dauntless courage morale boosting gift under literal fire.

But the most tragic part of this movie was Horatio's romance. He was every lady's hero as he risked his life to save a young Frenchwoman and the children in her care. His self control was beautiful, and I ached along with him as he courageously did all he could to introduce his love to freedom.

Horatio's personal qualities enhance this movie as they do every earlier one, but this is the first one in which he faces personal loss. Unflinchingly he survives, and turns back to England and its wars with a courage and presence of mind that I could only admire. Horatio Hornblower was ready to face the rest of his life with a face of flint, hiding his broken heart until it would heal with time.

One of the most heartwrenching movies in this series. Grufford's interpretation of iron willed Horatio's attitude of dealing with pain and getting on with life was beautifully refreshing and inspiring.

A very visually rewarding production, but...I'm sorry, Gruffud is not Hornblower and the TV version of the story is not Forester. Ioan Griffud is way too handsome and too apt to show his emotions to be the Hornblower we know from the stories. As for the TV production, it has been padded out to an hour and forty minutes by the addition of numberless commercial-TV/Hollywood cliches. I also found it tiresome to be belabored about the head and shoulders with endless conversations and confrontations presented for the sole purpose of conveying the idea that aristocracy is evil and egalitarian democracy is good. That was not Forester's point at all, I think, which was, if I recall correctly, a bit chauvinistic (i.e., British discipline over French slovenliness, with the revolutionaries and artistocrats equally reprehensible and chaotic). Perhaps I'm being too critical. but I had hoped for more.

I have seen this movie when it aired on A&E and I found it perfect. Ioan Gruffudd is perfect for the role of Horatio Hornblower. He is able to take on the charact as if it was him. I think everyone should see this movie.