This episode and the previous one show perfectly the deviation of movie making in the last decade. Scenario writers and directors think the more realistic are the scenes of violence, whether rapes, surgical interventions, bloody scenes, the more efficient the subject will be treated. In sex it is the same. Moreover the principle that everything can be said or shown has become a motto of the artistic and media world under the pretext of liberty of expression.The 14 previous episodes of Sharpe although set in the terrible period of the Napoleonic wars with all their dramatic and terrible excesses had succeeded to prevent the gore tendency of today's movie making.Those 2 last episodes are the most disgusting of them all and not to say in the impossibility of certain situations between the main characters. In the last scene between Sharpe and Dodd who would believe a single minute that someone catching in the act of theft such a monster as Dodd, would begin by a chat instead rushing at him sword in hand and kill him! As we say in French "ridicule doesn't kill"!

In my private library Bernard Cornwell's novels are the most read. And the Sharpe novels do show some wear and tear. As it is with the movies. As soon as my partners hears the song "Over the Hills..." she knows it is time to visit her friend. I am so glad they succeeded in merging the first three books into one movies and make it believable that everything takes place after Waterloo. There is of course one setback: I do so miss Obediah Hakeswill. But Sergeant Bickerstaff is a worthy replacement. And that while Bickerstaff is such a nice guy in the novel. But Dodd is there as evil as he is in Sharpe's Fortress. A great movie and a worthy successor to series. Am I the only one who misses the rest of the gang? Micheal Mears (Rifleman Cooper), John Tams (Daniel Hagman)and Jason Salkey (Rifleman Harris. A pity but not all of us have the luck of the Irish.

I loved Sharpe's Challenge. As usual Sean Bean made every moment of it worth it. I did however notice some things missing. Sharpie's flogging scars had disappeared and the gunshot wound scar on his chest on the left was gone as well as the scar on his right cheek. Hmm... Other than that little trivial thing this Sharpie is worth the watch and I do watch it over and over and over again. Sean just makes every movie he is in worth watching. His acting ability is so fantastic. I gave him a 10 for this Sharpie film. Older Sharpe is better. If you haven't seen it yet. Please do you will love it. There is a lot of action in it for the guys and a lot of Sean Bean for the ladies. It is also good to see Daragh O'Malley again as Harper. The combination of Bean and O'Malley makes for some comedy in spots.

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!