Hornblower: Retribution (2001)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

The trial begins proper. Will the lieutenants be found guilty of mutiny, and if so, which of them? And what were the circumstances surrounding Sawyer's(Warner, embodying the desperation, the strong if frail mind, and the madness) fall? We get the rest of what happened between the then and now. This cuts tautly, always leaving us in suspense, back and forth between that, and the investigation - where Pellew(Lindsay, balancing the pride of a father-figure with the strict discipline of a military officer) must be part of the tribunal that may end up calling for the execution of his protégé, Hornblower(Gruffudd, just a man of clever ruses, who sometimes lets his sympathies get the better of him).The pace and sheer amount of twists and developments is ruthless. So much happens in such little time, and the layers keep even the least patient viewer well occupied. A dinner between several men held in high regard is packed with weighted words, hidden meaning, each of them in a different place. Realism(with just a couple of forgivable, and badass, exceptions), filming(hardly ever betraying that this was not made for the silver screen), action, character study, etc. All this accomplished with the utmost expertise.Themes include that it is lonely at the top, loyalty, friendship and reputation. This is a heartbreaking entry, and not everyone will make it through, as new challenges are discovered, attempts are made to salvage what may be lost, and the fortitude of many will be tested. Acting is beyond reproach. Dialog quotable, tight and allowing for some humor to release the thick tension. This is an astounding second half to the story started in the episode immediately prior to it.There is some bloody, disturbing and violent content in this. I recommend this to any fan of adventure and drama. 9/10

SPOILERS Every production which consists of many chapters has a black spot. Whether it's television series with a week season, or a drama with a weak episode, all have them. In episodes five and six, this magnificent series has it's black-spot.As third lieutenant aboard the HMS Renown, Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) is working under the legendary Captain Sawyer (David Warner). After a few major errors in judgement by Sawyer however, Hornblower and the other lieutenants begin to suspect the captain might not be entirely well. To remove him however means mutiny, and the punishment for this crime is death.After the irritating adventures in a French village in the previous episode, it is at least refreshing to get back out to sea in this stretched out two part encounter.Based almost entirely on either the HMS Renown or in the Lieutenants' trials, this story is a remarkably simple one which feels over long. Perhaps too much of a squeeze to have been contained into one two hour period, three hours feels excessive. In effect, we are left with a no win situation.As the slowly deteriorating captain Sawyer, David Warner is suitably aggressive and insane. Sadly this pushes him from seeming like a serious actor into an over the top one. Normally an outstanding actor, Warner frustrates in these episodes.Whilst Warner might not convince, series regulars Ioan Gruffudd, Jamie Bamber, Paul Copley and Sean Gilder all perform unsurprisingly well. All these actors have taken their characters to heart and made them their own, and it is a shame that one of them won't feature in any more episodes.The problem with both "Mutiny" and "Retribution" however is not acting, but purely that the script feels drawn out and grates on the nerves. Written by T.R.Bowen and Ben Rostul these episodes are far the finest of the series and could do with a rewrite.Even the almighty Hornblower series has a few bad episodes. Often the finest thing on British television, the series is let down in particular by both "Mutiny" and "Retribution". Featuring an excessive performance by David Warner and an awkward story, these episodes should have been so much better.

The 'Mutiny' and 'Retribution' parts of the Hornblower series are the best till now. Even when the books do not develop characters much, and the previous parts give some lines, it is in these two parts that the series comes to an height. Good acting and beautiful photography, and a good story; it all makes this series worth watching, and especially these parts. Themes like good leadership, loyalty, honour, friendship are in potential not very easy to be communicated in these times, but in this case it is done in the right and proper way... never overdone, never unbalanced. In short, a good cast, nice story, good photography, good plot, very good acting: *****

I found that Retribution was the most interesting part of the Hornblower series. David Warner as the insane Captain Sawyer was fantastic, and the most interesting character in the movie. What I liked about this movie {and all the other Hornblower movies} is how the writers turned barely mention characters in the book, and made them into people who help to drive the story. James Bamber as Kennedy was well defined and was an excellent addition to the movie. This was most definitely the best Hornblower movie.