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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: BFS Entertainment
Salesrank: 30056
Released: July 25, 2000 |
| Our Price: $11.51 |
| Used Price: $9.75 |
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MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Portugal 1813. Wellington sends sharpe on a mission to free isabella from the gang of deserters who have taken her hostage. Dvd features not listed. Studio: Bfs Ent & Multimedia Limi Release Date: 07/25/2000 Starring: Sean Bean Run time: 100 minutes Rating: Nr
Sharpe's Enemy Reviews:
Great villians in superior episode 
2008-12-16 - Just when you thought I was through talking about the British Napoleonic series Sharpe, I present the fourth episode for review. 1994's Sharpe's Enemy continues the superior levels established in the previous telefilms. Revenge, damsels in distress, war politics, and rapacious villainy- Enemy has it all.
When the beautiful young Lady Farthingdale (Elizabeth Hurley, Bedazzled) is abducted by the vile deserter Obadiah Hakeswill (Pete Postlethwaite), her crusty Colonel husband reluctantly sends Major Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean) to the rescue. Sergeant Harper (Daragh O'Malley) and Sharpe's wife, guerilla leader Teresa Moreno (Assumpta Serna) have misgivings about the rescue and the nearby French. Sharpe gains a new ally in rifleman Captain `Sweet William' Frederickson (Phillip Whitchurch), but French spy Major Ducos (Feodor Atkine) makes life difficult for Sharpe.
We may think of it as stunt casting now, but I don't think Elizabeth Hurley was as big then as she is now. Naturally, she's only here for her buxom self, but it's easy to jump on board with the young wife lusting after Sharpe. Pete Postlethwaite is again delightfully creepy as Hakeswill. He's slick and twisted, and as much as the gals may think Sharpe dreamy, Hakeswill is probably a more realistic notion of how crusty soldiers really behaved. Assumpta Serna is again wonderful as Teresa Moreno-she is the most developed, confident, and likeable of all the women in the series. And of course, Daragh O'Malley is the ever faithful Harper.
Perhaps the storylines in Sharpe's Enemy work well because they hail from Bernard Cornwell's novel, but the plot begins after the events of Sharpe's Company. You don't have to watch one to understand the other, but Enemy weaves a complete tale when most sequels stretch material too thin. In the scope of the war with Napoleon, Sharpe's Enemy is small-focusing rather on personal and private battles. Sharpe again has to sit back while foolish and rich gentleman move above him. He must indulge them while dealing with Hakeswill. Sharpe, unfortunately, pays the ultimate price. Major Ducos enters the picture as the vile ear of Napoleon-a not so subtle reminder that this is really supposed to be the English versus the French.
After the excellent action of Sharpe's Company, there's not a lot of big battles in Enemy. Small skirmishes with deserters make it tough to tell who's fighting who. Sharpe's Enemy, however, showcases another kind of action utilized in the series. He's quite notorious in the books, but up until now, onscreen Sharpe has been a one woman man. It's food for thought to see him with another woman at this point in the story. Infidelity is a funny thing, but it's not meant to be taken so seriously here. Bean fans will probably find Sharpe sexy, and the guys will love Hurley and Serna. Something for everyone.
Yet again the DVD transfer seems a bit off, and as involved as the story is in Sharpe's Enemy, the film ends a tad abruptly. Unless you read the books, you don't find out what happens to Lady Farthingdale, and Sharpe's daughter is never mentioned again. These quibbles aren't rectified, per se, but at least there's more fun to be had in Sharpe's Honour.
Sharpe's Enemy may be a bit too saucy for younger folks, but the depth and the questions raised may bring one to read the books. There's enough action, beefcake, cheesecake, and vengeance for any audience to enjoy Sharpe's Enemy.
Excellent entertainment!
2007-03-08 - In spite of a lifelong fascination with history, I have never had much interest in the Napoleanic era, or the Napoleanic Wars--until I started watching this series. Now we own the entire set, and are acquiring the books on which it is based as rapidly as we can. That alone should indicate how high my opinion of these films is.
If you've read the books, you will find that the timeline has been altered for the movies--but I doubt you will be disappointed. In my opinion, this entire series is one of the best adaptations of book to movie that has ever been done. Both mediums remain emminently enjoyable, and I cannot say that "the books are better than the movies" or "the movie is better than the books." They are entirely complimentary
If you liked Horatio Hornblower and Master and Commander, you will almost certainly enjoy these. Highly recommended!
Sharpe and Hakeswill finally come to terms in "Sharpe's Enemy" 
2007-02-16 - The British TV adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's colossal Richard Sharpe series of novels spins its fourth installment with "Sharpe's Enemy." In many ways, "Sharpe's Enemy" is the strongest of the four films so far - and not just because the filmmakers have excised the anachronistic electric guitar that plagued the first couple of movies.
In the novels, Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean) begins his military career in India under the tyrannical thumb of Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill (Pete Postlethwait). Hakeswill has an insane hatred of Sharpe and frames him, resulting in Sharpe being flogged. Despite Sharpe's undying hatred and frequent attempts to kill him, Hakeswill manages to survive - which sustains Hakeswill's belief that he is immortal. Insane and a murdering rapist, but immortal.
The movies don't tell the story of the Indian campaign, but instead commence with the Peninsular War. But when Hakeswill arries on the scene in "Sharpe's Company," it's clear that Sharpe and Hakeswill have issues from the old days. Hakeswill tries to exact revenge on Sharpe, but is found out and ultimately flees the British army.
As "Sharpe's Enemy" begins, we see Hakeswill leading a gang of French and British deserters in the mountains of Spain, murdering, pillaging, and raping their way through the land. They strike gold when they kidnap Lady Fatheringill (Elizabeth Hurley, with her ample "charms" on constant display), wife of a stuck-up British colonel. Not only does Hakeswill ransom her, he insists that Sharpe bring the ransom into Hakeswill's lair.
What ensues is a vicious dog-fight between the British and the deserters, with Hakeswill and Sharpe leading their respective groups. There are some truly savage fights, for neither of these guys believes that fighting "dirty" is an insult. Complicating matters is the fact that a French regiment lurks just waiting to pounce on some prime military real estate.
Possibly the strongest of the four films so far (although "Sharpe's Company" was also pretty darn good), "Sharpe's Enemy" again clearly has a bigger budget than the first two episodes. Look for plenty of humor and some new colorful characters introduced to the mix. Bean and Postlethwait are again excellent, as are the supporting actors. Hurley is pretty darn good in her role as well, for she is not exactly what she seems. Check it out, but by all means watch the other episodes first.
Give this one a miss! 
2006-08-20 - I like Sean Bean and I liked the other Sharpe's adventures I've seen, but this one was utterly cringe-worthy. Clunky dialogue, dodgy plot, and to top it all off it has spoiled my opinion of Sharpe as having any honour at all! This episode is laddish without being fun and I regret my purchase.
A very heroic adventure
2006-08-05 - The _Sharpe_ stories take place in a time and location that many American won't know well, during England's epic battles against Napolean (mostly those in Spain), but it's very easy to recognize many of the classic elements of stories we often love. The hero, Richard Sharpe, is a tough, honest, self-made man who gains the respect of honorable, even endearing soldiers and the love of many a lady. In this particular episode, Sharpe yet again outfights and outsmarts both the French and the evil, arrogent English of his own army - particularly a sargent from hell - out to destroy our hero. It is also one of the more romantic, and tragic, episodes. While it is important to see these movies in order to follow all the plot lines, this one can stand as an example of the _Sharpe_ stories at their best.
