HORATIO HORNBLOWER:

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: violence, sexual content, nudity

Rated:

Even before starting in on this review, allow me to state I'm not a die-hard fan of Horatio Hornblower. They're all interesting stories appealing to the masculine audience of A&E because of their naval setting, lack of romance, and explosions. While I respect them as period dramas and love the caliber of acting, I wouldn't recommend them to everyone. The first four films set up a foundation needed to have some insight into the friendships in The Adventure Continued, but most audiences could pick up characters and loyalties without a great deal of effort. This is probably the best of the series despite its sometimes slow-moving plot primarily because it deals with such an interesting topic: mutiny aboard His Majesty's ship Renown. And who else is being accused of this payable by death crime than our own Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd)?

The film opens in the wretched jail cell of a Jamaican military prison, where Hornblower is being held on counts of mutiny against the captain of the 74-gunship Renown. His former ranking officer and presiding navel judge over the case, Sir Edward Pellew (Robert Lindsay), is determined to get to the bottom of this slanderous accusation and demands the full story. We're taken six months back in time. The ship lies under the hands of a new captain, a man well-revered for his naval history by the name of Captain Sawyer (David Warner). The crew is much impressed with his history but find him a harsh, often cruel superior officer. Hornblower believes him to be unstable based on his erratic behavior, sudden outbursts of violent temper, and accusations of mutiny among the crew. 

The second-in-command, Lt. Buckland (Nicholas Jones) shares his sentiments but has no desire to express them, knowing it would be considered treason. Disobedience toward a higher ranking officer is insubordination, a crime payable by death according to the military rules set in place by King George II. Only Archie (Jamie Bamber) and eventually 2nd Lt. Bush (Paul McGann) are willing to support Hornblower if they should choose to rise up and insist the captain be contained. The man is volatile and has chosen several younger ranking officers to bear the brunt of his foul temper. He has one of the boys whipped for speaking out of turn, allows double rations of rum to an already unstable crew, and turns a blind eye when violence erupts below decks. The ship's doctor has him on a heavy dosage of laudanum, which makes him subdued but also dangerous.

Plotting to take over the ship for the sake of the lives of every man on board, the four superior officers find their job easily completed when the captain suffers a near-fatal fall into the hold. Those closest to him suspect he was pushed. The doctor encourages them to remember he removed the captain from rank only under duress. When they return to Kingston, a tribunal will await them with "mutiny!" on their lips. In the meantime their original mission to rid the British government of problematic Spanish settlers on one of the lower islands remains unfinished. If they're to win any chance of redemption, the mission must be completed. Thus unfolds an adventurous tale of daring-do in which our heroes are tested. Intermingled with the dramatic battles at sea, investigations into the captain's poor health, and quarrels among deserters is the courtroom drama, which comes to a shocking climax.

True to form, Hornblower is full of explosions, daring rescues, fistfights, and rivalries. It expands the storyline of characters we're already familiar with as well as introducing us to new faces. Some of these individuals redeem themselves, others prove their cowardice. Throughout the story is woven a shockingly profound look at the lust for power. Hornblower is an innocent, well-meaning officer caught up in the midst of a political battle. He has no higher aspirations than to protect the lives of his friends, and willingly accepts a suicide mission knowing the captain's intention is to be rid of him. His friends stand by his side, one of them giving the ultimate sacrifice. Though holding Sawyer in contempt for his foul actions, they also pity his sad state of mind and refrain from taking violent action (a bullet would have done him just as much damage).

For the most part this two-DVD addition to the series is worth viewing although does hold some minor flaws. There's a lot of mild profanity (bloody, d*mn, etc) sprinkled throughout the dialogue, most of it easy on the ears. Explosions and gunfights leave men scattered dead across the decks and shoreline. We witness the conclusion of one grisly amputation, when the doctor throws a limb into a basket. Lots of blood is seen on wounded men, spattering the faces of those nearest them every time an explosion goes off, and staining the surgeon's vest. A man falls from a great height to his death, spattering the nearest officer with blood. Several men are shot in close rage; some of them die as a result, others merely wounded. Crewman outnumber a man and beat him nearly senseless. Four main characters either die or are mortally wounded. 

Violence I can handle without a great deal of complaint, but unfortunately brief sexual content and backside nudity is also thrown into the mix. We briefly observe Horatio's backside as he has the crew hose him off with seawater after one of his escapades. When glancing out across a shore of battered bodies (the result of a slave uprising) the camera pans momentarily across another naked bum. After they've taken the Spanish prisoner and locked the women in the hold below, the Spanish captain's wife (whose dresses are always immodestly low around the neckline) notices the interest of the guard. She flirts with him, persuades him to unlock the gate and let her out, and then knifes him in the neck during their sexual fling. The scene is probably thirty seconds long but is suggestive (he's between her legs) and shows most of her bare leg and part of her side. (The knife is pulled from her garter.) Totally unnecessary and derailing to an otherwise good storyline. The same thing could have been achieved without being explicit.

For fans of the original series, this film is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. You'll laugh at some of the antics and in-house gags (the line, "I call it bloody dangerous!" is destined to become a classic), hold true admiration for the men involved (the strength of their friendship and sacrifice), learn a great deal about gunships during the early Regency period, and have your heart broken by a selfless, courageous act in the closing scenes (pack the tissues). Altogether worth a viewing if you keep the remote handy and are prepared for some battle violence.