Horatio Hornblower: The New Adventures (2003)
Adventure | War

-- C.S. Forester's -- 2-Disc Boxed Set --

Emmy Award-Winning Series!

Against the epic backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower novels set a new standard for high seas adventure. A&E's lavish adaptations of these beloved tales have charmed millions of viewers with their swashbuckling action, broadside battles, and below-decks intrigue.

Two brand-new, original films, Loyalty and Duty comprise the third release in the critically acclaimed Hornblower saga, and introduce an alluring new love interest into the tale. Ion Gruffudd give a stellar performance in the title role that has won him legions of fans, and the top-notch supporting cast includes Robert Lindsay, Jamie Bamber, and Paul Copley.



User Comment: *** This comment may contain spoilers *** Megan • Loyalty

'Loyalty' is an excellent movie. The Hornblower saga has become renown among fans and non-fans alike, and 'Loyalty' only continues this tradition. The acting ensemble assembled for this cast includes some of the finest Britain has to offer--along with some no-names as well. Ioan Gruffudd's performance could be topped by no one in a round of some of the greatest acting that could be found on television. He truly comes into his own in this role, portraying Hornblower's move from boy to man with perfection. Perfectly complimented by Paul McGann as the gruff Lt. Bush, the two make a unique duo of friends--so marked by their professional relationship as well. The dynamic between these two, as well as Hornblower with all his officers and men aboard the Hotspur, is incredibly acted and remarkably convincing.

'Loyalty''s land action is exceptional as well. Julia Sawalha is perfectly cast as Maria--poor, dumpy, and completely pathetic. Hornblower is left completely unaware of his effect on her, and she plays it off beautifully. More well-played characters come from Greg Wise as the illustrious French Major Cotard and a virtually unknown Jonathan Forbes as the intelligent Midshipman Wellard. Christian Coulson does a fabulous job creating the weak Jack Hammond, and his performance and cowardice (yet, being redeemed in the end) hit home with the viewer. Robert Lindsay is nothing short of great in his role as Admiral Pellew, as always.

The special effects and action sequences of 'Loyalty' are top-notch as well. The entire cast plays it off as very convincing, and the battles are dramatic and completely realistic.

'Loyalty' does seem to sacrifice a small fraction of believability to further the story. The plot is little weak at certain points, and large revelation at the end may leave the viewer going "...Huh?". However, I think that these are only minor points in what is, over all, a very well-produced new Hornblower movie. It will please long-time fans, as well as rope in new ones. Loyalty is nice in its ability to stand alone as a Hornblower movie, but yet entices new viewers to backtrack and watch the beginning of the series as well.

The ending of Loyalty will leaving you giggling again with Gruffudd's brilliant acting; more importantly, it leaves you wanting more...luckily, the series continues with 'Duty', the second part of Hornblower's story as captain of the Hotspur.

Summary: another fine addition to the Hornblower saga!

User Comment: Philby-3 Sydney, Australia • Duty From Midshipman to Post-Captain, the fictional career in the Royal Navy of one Horatio Hornblower has been well documented by Andrew Grieve over the past few years. `Duty' is the latest in the series with our hero getting married to his landlady's daughter (Julia Sawalah) and then sailing off across the channel for some close and personal stuff with the French.

There's nothing to the story and yet somehow you are dragged in. Maybe it's Ioan Gruffud's saturnine charm as Hornie (or `Horrie' as his wife calls him). He's actually a bit of a prig but unlike most of his species acts fast and gets away with things a more hesitant man would never achieve. His facility for putting his own neck on the line strangely endears him to his crew (if my boss was that reckless I think I'd ask for a transfer to something less hazardous, like fireships). His attitude towards his new wife is peculiar; he has married her out of a sense of duty, he doesn't dislike her but he is aware she's not Admiral's wife material. Still when a character's mother-in-law is played by Barbara Flynn, a man has to take his chances.

Realism is not a big feature of this show (the French unconcernedly moving their troops around with a British ship in the bay) despite the use of what looks like a full-sized replica of the sloop `Hotspur'. In an earlier episode a few hundred British troops manage to get ashore in full view of the French on the beach without being noticed. It's also not too likely that a steward as good as Doughty would have been put on a capital charge for accidentally striking a junior officer, nor that a younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte would wind up aboard one of His Majesty's ships (though come to think of it one did become King of Naples). But all that doesn't matter. C S Forester could tell a good yarn and the series makers have ultilised his formula to good effect. The whole thing is overflowing with chauvinism and xenophobia (even the Americans can't be trusted) and yet we cheer every time Hornie puts his sword through some unlucky foreigner.

There's plenty of good period detail without too much pedantry and Matthews the Bosun (Peter Copley and Styles (the lower deck trouble magnet played by Sean Gilder) are always entertaining. It's simple, but not mindless stuff and its US popularity is intriguing. I can't see it having much appeal to the French, though.

Summary: Duty does as duty says

--- JOYA - (PPQ) ---

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