VHS : Sharpe's Waterloo [1997]

Rating: - Never mind the snob, It�s a Great Night In!!
I am the proud owner of all the Sharpe's Videos and Books. Bernard Cornwell is a good literary storyteller. However, he is no deep philosophical prophet, I believe his mission is to provide the reader with a sense of time and atmosphere missing in many of his contemporary colleagues. This he does with aplomb! The screen adaptation should and must be looked upon with the same clarity of objectivity. It succeeds in my opinion in portraying the feelings and hopes or in fact hopelessness of a diverse yet bonded group of non-professional soldiers before during and after one of the greatest battles in British Military History. This said, it is, as all Mr Cornwell,s books are a superbly enthralling adventure, successfully personalising a period to which few have either interest or knowledge. If society is to move forward, then it's history must be the starting point. If my pre-deseeding reviewer, wishes to confine the majority of his countrymen to dry and uninspiring accounts, then he shows an arrogance usually reserved to the unworthy. I believe that one's history should be celebrated.

This said, I think that Sharpe's Waterloo does not quite possess the excitement or humor exhibited in Sharpe's Enemy (My Favorite, so I may be Biased) but IT IS a good and rounded experience that will leave you dreaming of a time both more violent yet gentle.

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Rating: - Another Classic Sharpe
With reference to the earlier review, yes this isnt the best of the adaptatations but it is still well worth a watch. Before the previous reviewer questions my credentials I have read all the Cornwell books and even though they stand alone as fine pieces of literature the cast of the TV series add to what are already interesting characters. Read it AND watch it.

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Rating: - The book really *is* better than the film!
Cornwell's novel was superb. The TV adaptation was tawdry, and rivals the ludicrous job they made of "Sharpe's Gold".

As Sharpe and his men advance through history, the problems faced by the production company multiplied with every promotion Sharpe wins for his bravery in the field. In the books, Cornwell paints a magnificent canvas, cheekily placing our hero in the midst of the greatest battles of the Peninsular war. Even in this, the greatest 'Blutfest' of the Napoleonic wars, Cornwell is sure-footed and we're left half-believing that Sharpe might, just might, have fitted in as described.

But the small-screen serving we're given is little short of pathetic. Forget the storyline: what we've been waiting for is the battle, and this is so far short of the mark that it becomes embarrassing. A few galloping horses and a couple of musket volleys are supposed to stand for one of the most closely-fought mass encounters in history. Worse still, the terrain bears not the slightest resemblance to the real battlefield. Trust me, there just aren't that many trees at Waterloo!

The cast behave as if they don't believe it either. They have a corporate "How are we going to pull this one off?" look about them, and when Hagman and Harris reach their sticky end, I nearly laughed.

My advice would be to stick to the earlier episodes, where it was just about plausible that a lieutenant or captain would be leading a mere handful of men. "Rifles", "Eagle", "Company" and "Enemy" are real crackers. Sadly, "Waterloo" was not a fitting end.