Hornblower - Retribution

For television films the production values are very good, though as Titanic, Waterworld and The Perfect Storm demonstrated, filming an aquatic adventure is a very expensive business, and it is clear that the Hornblower dramas simply make the best of comparatively small budgets. No more faithful to Forester's books than the 1951 Gregory Peck classic Captain Horatio Hornblower, the real inspiration seems to have come from the success of Sharpe, starring Sean Bean, which likewise featured a British hero in the Napoleonic Wars. Nevertheless, while rather more easy going than the real British navy of the time, the Hornblower saga delivers an entertaining adventure, greatly enhanced by the presence of such guest stars as Denis Lawson, Cheri Lunghi, Ronald Pickup and Anthony Sher.--Gary S Dalkin

The second half of the story, "Retribution," spends more time in the courtroom as the court-martial proceeds with testimony by the participants setting up the flashbacks. Hornblower's ship the Reknown has to deal with not only the Spanish fort, but also a small fleet of ships and rebellious ex-slaves. As the story continues at each crucial moment, it is our hero that saves the day. But in the courtroom, where one of the judges clearly has it out for Hornblower, his naval career if not his life will come down to one crucial question: who pushed Captain Sawyer? When First Officer Buckland (Nicholas Jones) charges Hornblower with having done the deed, our hero's best friend, Archie Kennedy (Jamie Bamber) gets off his death bed to tell the truth. Or does he?

Unlike the first movies, which were based on C.S. Forester's novel "Midshipman Hornblower," this effort creates an original story. Stories about cruel British sea captains are certainly done to death, but fortunately that is only the backbone of this story. What we really have are a series of adventures as Hornblower works his little miracles. The character's strength has always been his innate sense of honor and that comes through in both the script and the acting. Horatio Hornblower might be a creation of romantic fiction, but that does not make him one less whit compelling. Gruffudd has clearly grown with the role of Horatio Hornblower, building on the character's evolution in the first Emmy winning mini-series. Lindsay's return as the parental figure in our hero's life is a welcome sigh, as his mates Styles (Sean Gilder) and Matthews (Paul Copley). But the stand out performance is Warner, who has played more than his fair share of unstable characters, but who now has brought a remarkable restraint to his portrayal of Sawyer. He does not come close to going over the top. The commitment of Gruffudd and the other involved in these projects to continue filming further exploits is certainly welcomed news.


Action packed period drama ... a must see !   March 31, 2002
acvgibson@.msn.com (England)
10 out of 17 found this review helpful

This two part drama following the adventures of Horatio Hornblower in the British Navy is really superb! There is action, suspense and adventure all rolled into a good story with excellent characters and a good plot. Forget dusty old period dramas this is a costume drama for the 21st century. Just watch it for Ioan Gruffudd alone if nothing else !