Sharpe's Challenge (2006)

Not since STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN has a veteran cast from a beloved TV series reunited to create a tale of adventure that not only equals, but in many ways surpasses the original television episodes that made them a legend. Having read most of the Sharpe novels before I ever saw the original TV show, I was expecting this feature length film to be somewhat hurried and lacking in depth. Even the best of the TV episodes skimmed over a lot. What astonished me was how everything looked richer, more exotic, more romantic, and more real all at the same time. And the characters were all much more interesting than the people you meet in a typical Sharpe novel. The Indian setting allows for a lot more intrigue and it's very impressive the way the thoughts and feelings of the Indian nobility and ruling class are represented honestly and without scorn. Sharpe's nemesis in the story is a renegade officer named Dodd, brilliantly played by a young Toby Stephens, before his breakout performance in BLACK SAILS. Dodd is so much more powerful in the movie than he is in the books. He actually interacts with Sharpe and sparks fly in a much more personal battle than anything you see in the books. The two of them are like the yin and yang, dark and light versions of the same character. I was so amazed by the spirited performance of luscious Lucy Brown as the general's daughter, Celia Burroughs. In spite or maybe even because of the fact that Ceilia is an ultra-typical damsel in distress, Lucy Brown plays her with an incredible mixture of innocence, sensuality, and moral courage. So often in the Sharpe novels the "love interest" is little more than unwanted baggage for Sharpe to cast off at the end of the adventure. But this time you really feel for Celia and wish that Sharpe would take her up on her (very ladylike) proposal of marriage. Of course if you know Sharpe, it's not a spoiler to guess that he's not the marrying kind!

When I first heard about this film I had just finished watching the somewhat disappointing region 1 DVD set published by BFSs. As a result my expectations were somewhat mixed. I had high expectations for the film itself, but figured on another poor PALCAM video translation to NTSC format. Fortunately this wasn't the case. :-) What's more is that the locations, actors, props, sets, and everything one could expect from a Sharpe production were staged and coordinated with great care. This was the kind of scale of production that is a TV producer's dream. The ability to shoot large scale action on location must have been a thrill. It took the expectant production values from the original Sharpe series, and kicked them up a notch higher.There's been some complaint by Sharpe fans about the apparent cobbling of the original stories by Bernard Cornwall into what one might call a "ex-post-facto" revisit to where Sharpe started. The only drawback that I can see is the fact that Sean Bean is a little old to be playing his younger self in the opening scenes. I don't want to be nitpikcy, but that's partially the fault of makeup and partially the fault of the cinematographer for not trying to make Bean look a little younger. Ironically enough Bean looks younger in the making of featurette included on this disk than he does in the actual production. Probably due to a softer lens and lower level of information gathered by video.The only thing missing from this latest installment of Shapre were some panoramic shots of the location. With all of the natural scenery available I'm surprised it wasn't taken more advantage of. Even so the film is rich with detail of all sorts. Definitely a high water mark in the Sharpe series.The acting is on par for this series. It's not Oscar material, but right for a Sharpe adventure. Bean gives Sharpe a little more world weary demeanor. Sharpe is a soldier who's fought, and is not looking forward to the possibility of more battle. He's also domesticated, which reinforces his reluctance for the challenge presented to him. Other cast members deliver respectable performances, though Simerson's character wasn't as cold hearted and self centered as I recall from the previous films.An unexpected plus was seeing corrected crisp footage from the previous films included in the making of featurette. Those clips showed that the original films, though shot on either 16mm or low grade 35mm film stock, provided more detail and richer colors than what is currently available from the North American BFS release. Kudos to the BBC for producing this film and providing this DVD.My only real complaint is that the film is short. Compared to the other Sharpe films it may actually be a bit longer, but it looks like there was a lot of footage cut from the film.Regardless, even though Sharpe is more mature and older, and acknowledges this as a character, he's still Sharpe, and keeps his zest for right and wrong when the moment of truth comes. Enjoy! :-)

It should be said that this will make for tougher viewing by those who have read Cornwell's books than those who have not. For those of you who haven't (and you're missing out) than you will see an excellent story with a higher budget than the original movies and fine acting by the entire cast, in particular Sean Bean, Daragh O'Malley, Michael Cochrane and Toby Stephens. For those of you who have read the books, here is the basic plot - I am doing my best to remain vague so as not to spoil the story: the plot opens with almost a word for word copy of the opening of Sharpe's Triumph (the second Sharpe book set in India). Suddenly the viewer (and Sharpe) are plunged forward thirteen years and Sharpe is sent by Wellington on a mission similar to that which he is sent to in Sharpe's Devil (the final book chronologically). Watching it a second time, readers will realise that while most of the action in India is true to the book, it picks events almost at random from Sharpe's Tiger, Sharpe's Triumph and Sharpe's Fortress (the three books set in India), while simultaneously moving them from the period of 1799-1803 to 1817. In order to compensate for heroes and villains parted (or never met) during previous movies, Hakeswill is replaced by Bickerstaff (brilliantly played by Peter-Hugo Daly), Morris is replaced by Simmerson (Michael Cochrane is splendid as the gutless git), Lawford, McCandless, and (if you're picky) Blas Vivar are all replaced by Harper, and the Sultan is replaced by his son. Despite the changes in setting, the events in the movie are still very close to the book - all credit to the authors, and the acting is so professional that the characters are entirely believable.

Reminiscent of the film "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", this feature takes aspects of several of the earlier Sharpe novels and combines them to create a new plot/storyline. Fine acting by both the main and supporting casts (Toby Stephens is perfect as Dodd), with sets and effects that show a more lavish budget than previously-issued Sharpe installments, this movie may puzzle and maybe irritate devoted readers of the Sharpe novels. At the same time, it addresses the earlier (chronologically in the series, if not in order of publishing) exploits of Private/Sergeant/Lieutenant Sharpe during the Indian campaigns.