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Title: On its way to becoming an institution in period drama.
Review: The Sharpe films bring Cornwell's work to life. Bean and O'Malley bring the characters perfectly to life. The great thing is that this is period costume drama that isn't exclusively for the girls; Sharpe marches with Wellington through Portugal and Spain (eventually to Waterloo) and there's plenty of mayhem for the lads. They're films you can watch on a cerebral level, learning about the historical events portrayed (with no more than a little dramatic license). On the other hand, the visceral engagement of the hard life of a nineteenth century soldier means that you can get the boys round with a few beers and cheer Sharpe, Harper and the riflemen of His Majesty's South Essex regiment on as they fell Frenchment left, right and centre. This is a world where the problems are all the sort that can be solved with raw courage and a volley of musket fire. Turn off your jaded modern sensibility and enjoy...
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