Cheap Horatio Hornblower Boxed Set (DVD) (Horatio Hornblower, Ioan Gruffudd) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of Horatio Hornblower Boxed Set

Hornblower is beautifully presented picture of the era.
The glory, the hardships and the lore of the British Navy of the time are beautifully presented in all four episodes. As a historian, I especially appreciate the interest engendered in that period of history. The swashbuckling action is portrayed by excellent actors not only in the lead positions (Ioan Gruffudd and Robert Lindsey) but in the entire supporting cast. Ioan Gruffudd and Jamie Bamber show great promise as young actors. Very refreshing. The actual filming must have been a real challenge. The humor as in Hornblower's dealings with Mr. Tappling,the dinner scene at Gibralter, and getting on the horse in the last episode are fun. I hope that there will be a sequel to provide a view of Captain Hornblower at least. As one who was brought up on the Hornblower books as they came out, I thoroughly enjoyed the series. Thank you.

---

One of the best DVD drama boxsets available
The Hornblower series, a joint venture between ITV's Meridian and A&E consists of 4x 90 minute TV Movies following the life and times of Midshipman Hornblower.

The DVDs are top quality, with a clear full screen image and great sound effects in Dolby Surround. The extras on the DVD are also excellent with a decent 'making of' documentary.

It's the variety in the movies that makes the box set so amicable. The Duel is a good introduction to the characters and Hornblower's rise through the ranks, the fire ships is a tense sea battle (with a great scene with the ships in the fog).

Ioan Gruffudd is brilliant and destined to be a new James Bond I'm sure. With Robert Lindsey as a very Captain Picard Captain too! It's really really good, buy it!

---

the making of the hero
in this second episode Horatio has already realised that he likes life in the navy, so much so that he is happy to be able to take the examination for lieutenant. Unfortunately, whenever he decides to open a book and study, there is an urgent distraction in the form of an adventure, especially at a time when the Spanish decided that they were allied of the French and they began to attack the British ships (with the infamous "fire ships"). These adventures are, in fact, a way for Horatio Hornblower to see the hardships that officials have to endure: he has to be prepared to take quick, life-or-death decissions for himself and his men; he has to be very sure of his priorities to take these decissions; and his priorities are not exactly the same as those of some other very well-regarded officials, who are considered heros and who could become new and powerful enemies. Horatio learns more about what being an official involves through these actions than what he could learn in a thousand books but, will he pass the exmination and finally launch his navy official career?