Boring, long, and too preachy.

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

This is one of 14 "Sharpe" movie series. They are all very good. They are never dull. Mixes enough historical data to create interest. Costumes and equipment authentic. His struggle to overcome his lowly birth and better himself through military service achievement is heart rending. Gen Sir Wellesly who commissioned him from a Sgt. believes in him and backs him subtly. His faithful friend Sgt.Harper shares many adventure and helps Lt.Sharpe through many escapades. Assumpta Serena as his love interest, Teresa, and later wife is very well played. Sharpe has to constantly overcome hardship, discriminations and problems his peers do not. He is constantly being ragged on by his superiors and fellow officers who are much less brave. Sharpe has integrity and grit which is a big help to him. But he always wins the girl and overcomes by sheer determination and street smarts. One of the best TV series ever.

Though it's nothing like what Bernard Cornwell wrote, in terms of Sharpe's backstory, "Sharpe's Rifles" is an excellent explanation of how a common soldier becomes an officer and learns to deal with his men. It also explains how Sharpe got the Chosen Men and gradually made friends with Harper, who was set on fragging him early on. Teresa's on board too, and the beginning of the romance that would end several episodes later with her murder is tender and nicely played.The story itself is rather weak: raising the 1000-year-old true flag of Spain to rouse the populace against the Bonaparte regime. That ostensible plot is completely overwhelmed by Sharpe and his new command, but it doesn't matter. It's not the real point of this show; what's important is the forming of the Chosen Men with Sharpe in charge.It's not the strongest "Sharpe" around, but it's very interesting if you like knowing the history of the characters you're watching. I enjoyed it.

Comparing to Hornblower, Sharpe is a disappointment. Plot is too flawed, performance is too modern, direction is too weak. However, after reading former comments here I understand the plot of this series is dramatically altered from that of the original book. So maybe I'll still give a shot on the book someday.What amazed me is that, two years after last episode of Sharpe, there is Bravo Two Zero (1999), also directed by Tom Clegg and starring Sean Bean. And that one is PERFECT, just like Hornblower, my all-time favorite.I still remember one IMDb user's comment on Hornblower, which says, "When British decide to do something well, they do it extremely well." I think everybody agree with it after watching Hornblower. But after watching Sharpe and Bravo Two Zero, I'd say, "When British decide to do something well, they ehh... hopefully do it extremely well."

**SPOILER**As a fan of the books, I'd never actually seen the tv films until very recently. I wasn't disappointed. Sean Bean excels as the maverick Richard Sharpe, and there are some sterling supporting performances - my favourite being Hogan. In the light of LOTR and others, the battles probably don't seem as spectacular as they once may have done, but this doesn't detract from the action at all. The adaptation has been sensitively done, although Wellesley's promotion of Sharpe is a little spurious. Teresa is feisty and sexy, Harper is just as he should be, and Hagman is exactly as I imagined him to be in the book.My only criticism is that whoever was responsible for the scoring of this film deserves to be garrotted with the strings from their electric guitar. Historical dramas should not date, but that music certainly does. Nonetheless, tons of fun!