DVD Reviews

Sharpe’s Challenge - Blu-Ray Review

By June L. Apr 24, 2010, 14:52 GMT

Two years after the Duke of Wellington crushes Napoleon at Waterloo, there is news from India of a local Maharaja, who is threatening British interests there. Wellington sends Sharpe to investigate on what turns out to be his most dangerous mission to date. When a general\'s beautiful daughter is kidnapped by an Indian warlord, the tension mounts, leaving Sharpe no option but to pursue the enemy right into his deadly ...more

Since 1992, actor Sean Bean has portrayed Richard Sharpe - a “working class” British soldier in the Napoleonic Wars who saves the Duke of Wellington and for his troubles is made an officer.  The last Sharpe drama was in 1996, before Sharpe’s Challenge was filmed in 2006.  Like fine wine, Sharpe just gets better with age.

The adventures of Richard Sharpe are based on a series of novels by Bernard Cornwell, and this latest installment covers those stories that take place in India.  The three India novels are Sharpe’s Tiger, Sharpe’s Triumph, and Sharpe’s Fortress - which have been adapted by Russell Lewis into the screenplay. 

Sharpe’s Challenge begins with a scene in India around 1803 when Sharpe leads a group of men to an East India Company encampment.  Almost as soon as he arrives, a second group appears led by William Dodd (Toby Stephens) and instead of being reinforcements, they assassinate the entire garrison. 

Fourteen years later, Sharpe who is retired and living in France is called to England by the Duke of Wellington.  One of the information agents is missing in India, and Wellington asks Sharpe to go find him.  He declines until he finds out that the missing agent is his old friend Harper (Daragh O’Malley).

Once in India, Sharpe meets with a regiment that is escorting the general’s daughter to her father’s encampment.  The group is ambushed and the daughter is taken captive by the now General Dodd - who is working for the local Indian warlord in ridding his province of the British.  Sharpe is reunited with Harper who has been undercover, and with the aid of the British regiment and the local Indian cavalry division, they plan a rescue mission.

It is hard not to tell every detail of the story, as Sharpe’s adventures tend to be complex and full of action and highly entertaining.  There are gruesome scenes, with battles and blood, and military discipline of the age is horrific. 

Dodd is simply loathsome and cruel as the villain.  Toby Stephens does an excellent job of portraying the insanity that obviously drives the character to such brutality in his life.  The clash between Indians and the British for control of the land is examined as well, with sympathy for both sides as well as disgust at the methods each use to achieve their goals. 

There are touching scenes of friendship, honor and loyalty, and though ladies fall for Sharpe, he is set on finding his friend and going back to his farm in France.

In Blu ray, this stunning production is taken to a higher level.  Filmed on location in India, the scenery is amazing, costuming and details to the sets are spectacular. 

The bonus feature film “Behind the Scenes on Sharpe’s Challenge” is as interesting as the production itself.  Actors and crew are dedicated to providing an experience as close to reality as possible, and they are joined by an enthusiastic crowd of extras.  One extra is featured throughout as he plays his part and gives the viewer his perceptions of the activities. 

The Blu-ray gives dimension and clarity to the film not seen before.  All in all excellent action/adventure, and if you don’t know Sharpe, this is a perfect place to begin.

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