SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

ThrillMessage There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

Bea Swanson This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Leofwine_draca It's been a long time since Sean Bean donned Richard Sharpe's uniform to star in an ITV adaptation of the Bernard Cornwell novels, but SHARPE'S CHALLENGE seems to rectify that. This extra-long episode is based on Sharpe's early adventures in India, although they're set AFTER Waterloo here to explain Bean's aged appearance. The novels are only loosely adapted, it has to be said; bits and pieces are present, but as a whole this is a new adventure. It's a good one, too, which sees not only Bean and O'Malley returning (their tag-team as great as ever) but also the original Sharpe director, Tom Clegg. Shot on location in India with the biggest budget of any Sharpe adaptation, this is for the most part great stuff, let down by only a few slow spots, some hokey moments, and some overacting (the guy playing Bickerstaff, a stand-in for Hakeswill, is absolutely dire).Bean makes for a dashing, interesting hero and O'Malley is the perfect comic foil. Toby Stephens, whom many know as the baddie of DIE ANOTHER DAY, is a charismatic baddie; Dodd was, I thought, one of Cornwell's best villains and he does the role justice. I also enjoyed the amount of genuine Indian talent in this production: Lakshmi is good as a scheming villainess, but it's Aly Khan who steals his scenes as a brave and just fighter. Astonishingly, Michael Cochrane returns in the role of Henry Simmerson, ten years since he last played the character. Lucy Brown makes for a very attractive love interest too. The action is well-staged and the explosive climax doesn't disappoint for a change. I enjoyed the emphasis on the violence and there are definitely some moments not for the squeamish (the various tortures meted out by the Indian strongmen, for the most part). The acting is generally of a high standard and Clegg's direction is top notch, making fine use of fantastic, authentic locations. So I'd call SHARPE'S CHALLENGE the best Sharpe adaptation yet, and I look forward to the next.

grailmaiden95816 I've seen all 14 previous episodes of the Richard Sharpe series. I'm a very devoted fan and was incredibly surprised to learn that new episode would be aired on BBC America August, 2006. The last time the episodes aired was way back in 1997. Hooray for Sean Bean's devotion to this TV program. He first portrayed Richard Sharpe in 1992, unknown in Hollywood, and only a star in England. Now he's an international Hollywood blockbuster star since LOTR, but still agreed to return to TV for Sharpe, took a huge pay cut to do TV because he loves the part of Sharpe.The production values, sets, costumes are outstanding. The biggest budget production in the entire 14 episode series. Toby Stephens is deliciously evil as the villain, Lucy Brown gives a touching, luminous performance. Padma Lakshi cannot act her way out of a paper bag and the other Indian actress who played the princess should have been cast in the courtesan role. I loved it, although there were a few flaws.The battle scenes are much more complex and with an enormous cast of extras compared to the previous 14 episodes. It is an international cast of very fine supporting actors. However, the actor who portrays Sgt. Bickerstaff is very "hammy" and over the top. However, the few flaws I mentioned don't hamper a very fine production, which is a classic!

LCShackley What could be better than spending another 2+ hours in the company of two of TV's greatest heroes, Sharpe & Harper? Sean Bean and Daragh O'Malley look a little the worse for wear, but their chemistry is still working and there is plenty of swashbuckling afoot in this Indian adventure. The scenery is magnificent (I'm SO glad they didn't try to film it, let's say, in the UKRAINE!) and the cast is first rate. This new SHARPE has all the ingredients that made its predecessors so enjoyable to watch. And since they've obviously thrown more money at this one it looks better. (For instance, a lot more extras are used in battle scenes than we're used to seeing in earlier installments.) At the risk of being called a "purist" or an "obsessive" (words already bandied about in this forum), I have to say I'm disappointed that we're probably never going to get to see Cornwell's three Sharpe Indian novels presented as they were written. Of course, I realize there were many changes made in the earlier episodes, but here are a couple of reasons why: 1. The three Indian books give us a good look at the very young Sharpe and the formation of his character. But that would require another (younger) actor, which the producers realize would diminish their audience.2. We miss the wonderful situations involving the young(er) Hakeswill, played so marvelously by Pete Postlethwaite in earlier episodes. The Indian books let us revel in Sharpe's personal battle with this demented enemy. The producers had to come up with about four villains in SHARPE'S CHALLENGE to make up for him.Bernard Cornwell, realizing he was sitting on a gold mine, has milked Sharpe's adventures, adding battles before, after, and in between those of the original set of books. And long may he milk! However, this means that we will miss authentic dramatizations of these later additions to the Sharpe canon (cannon, geddit?).

standleylesley The welcome return of Sean Bean and Darragh O'Malley to the screen in Sharpe was so overdue. I love historical drama and the feature length really did the period justice. Fantastic production. All the actors were excellent. Completely in role. Excellent casting. I felt irritated I wasn't aware of the 'Making of Sharpe's Challenge' so didn't record it. Now I've missed it. I wish some historical dramas were preceded with an actual documentary about the events including famous works of art. There's a famous oil painting of the forlorn hope attacking a fort similar to this isn't there? I'd have liked to have looked out for the depictions in the film. Thanks to Sean Bean, Darragh O'Malley for their work. Don't give up on us. Also Shaggrat 'don't you know we're at Warrr? where have i heard that before!!!! Boromir?