Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two Movies; One Story, April 21, 2001
The adventure continues with two movies -- "Mutiny" and "Retribution." In "Mutiny", 3rd Lt. Hornblower is in jail and being visited by Commodore Pellew (his former captain). Hornblower is accused of mutiny! The remainder of the movie takes place in the past with Horatio, 4th Lt. Kennedy, Styles, and Matthews now on board the HMS Renown (a 78-gun warship, much larger than his previous ship). Through the course of the episode, it becomes apparent that the ship's captain is losing his mental abilities causing the senior officers much concern. By the end of the episode, a very reluctant ship's doctor is forced to declare the captain unfit for command while the Renown comes under heavy fire from a Spanish fort."Retribution" starts with Commodore Pellew revealed to be one of three officers hearing the court martial proceedings. The episode is a series of flashbacks as various characters are question by the board. All of these flashbacks take place immediately after the incidents in "Mutiny." The senior officers of the Renown decided that if they are going to face a court martial anyway when the get back to port, they might as well do some good by taking the Spanish fort. This they do thanks to Hornblower's cleverness. But soon the English are forced to abandon the fort when they discover the Spanish have been under siege for months by an army of revolting slaves. The episode gets deeper with 1st Lt. Buckland, now in command of Renown, showing that he's not a very good commander. Hornblower has the respect of most of the men and Buckland becomes slightly jealous of this fact. By the time the Renown gets back to port, Hornblower has even managed to win the respect of a low-level officer (midshipman?) named Hobbs who'd been fiercely loyal to Captain Sawyer and who'd hated Hornblower for his part in removing the captain from command. Ultimately both of these movies are about loyalty -- loyalty to one's captain, loyalty to one's shipmates, loyalty to one's country, and finally the loyalty that the crew have/come to have for 3rd Lt. Hornblower. Be warned, this is a tear-jerker!
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hornblower On Trial, April 16, 2001
This was one fantastic movie. Ioan Gruffund, Jamie Bamber, David Warner, Paul Copley, and all the other members of the cast did a superb job. No longer a boy, Horatio has grown into a man while maintaining an honorable character. This movie begins with Horatio, who is in prison with the charges of mutiny on his head, being paid a visit by the obviously ditraught Commodore Pellew who cannot believe that Horatio, of all people, would be in prison for mutiny. Horatio assures him that it was for the good of the service that he and those who were in agreement with him should take over the ship. He then launches his tale starting six months prior to his imprisonment. Horatio, along with Archie, Styles, and Matthews,is stationed on a British War Frigot known as the Renown that is captained by the aged war hero Captain Sawyer, who is out of his mind. Horatio and his friends for a long time must put up with their captains crulety and his strange antics, until when he endangers the ship and its entire crew, the men have him chained up and locked in his cabin. Fearing court marshall should they not do something quickly, the men attempt to take a Spanish fort. The second half of the movie is about their on land adventures and how Horatio must prove his innocence in court. This fantastic movie is filled with adventure and loyalty and honor just as much as the original four movies. Along the way, Horatio will lose friends and gain them as he fights for survival during the Napoleonic Wars.
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hornblower returns in this two-part film. Outstanding!, April 30, 2001
Picking up a few years after the first four films, we now join Horatio Hornblower as a lieutenant on HMS Renown, under the command of the legendary Captain Sawyer. The captain, however, is slipping into madness, fearing that his officers are planning to mutiny, and undertaking rash actions that could start to threaten the safety of the ship and everyone aboard. The first film, "Mutiny" details Hornblower and the other officers ordeal as they are faced with the difficult and increasingly inevitable choice to relieve Sawyer of command. The second film, "Retribution", has the officers on trail for their decison, with the rest of the action told in flashbacks. Based on events in the novel "Lieutenant Hornblower", by C.S. Forrester, these two movies make for a very satisfying experience.Reuniting most of the cast from the first four films (based on Forrester's "Mr. Midshipman Hornblower" - not requiered viewing to enjoy these two, but HIGHLY reccomended!). Ioan Gruffud is still perfectly cast as Hornblower, and Robert Lidsay is still fantastic as Commodore Pellew. David Warner, however, steals every scene with his textured portrayal of Captain Sawyer, a once-great hero who feels his sanity slipping away from him. He manages to evoke some sympathy despite his cruel actions. And speaking of action, these films feature ship battles, sword fights, and a seige on a Spainsh fort, all done in spectacular cinematic fashion. These films are a must-see for fans of swashbucklers, and devotees of Forrester's novels (or those of Patrick O'Brien, Alexander Kent, etc.). Sci-fi fans should also note that Hornblower was the inspiration behind Captain Kirk and David Weber's Honor Harrington, and may enjoy this "source material". I can't wait for a third set of films!!
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