FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Catangro After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Prismark10 After a strong first episode, 'The Examination for Lieutenant' is rather flat as Hornblower studies for his exam and then finds that the Indefatigable has a serious supply problem.The crew are put on half rations which causes problems for some crew members, one of whom has to be punished.After going with a group of men to find some supplies including cattle, Hornblower finds he and his men might be at risk from the plague and need to be in quarantine.Hornblowers examination is cut short as he and Captain 'Dreadnought' Foster dash to climb aboard a burning ship to alter its course and stop hit hitting the Indefatigable.You still see Hornblower reacting to events, showing bravery and thinking through each problem that he encounters. It is worth just to see Captain Pellew's face when he sees Hornblower steering the stricken ship. However it lacked the excitement of the first film and felt overlong.

slaybelle_15 Slight, slight spoiler ahead.To some people I'm sure The Fire Ships is the best Hornblower movie. I think it was very good but lacked something. Archie. Yes I have soft spot for Blond sidekick. I want more Archie if I want anything from Hornblower. And this movie had no Archie.That isn't saying that this movie was bad overall. The diplomat is funny. Denis Lawson is okay. Horatio wears some very attractive clothes (namely the straw hat and the long pants.) The plot is action packed (but who actually thought that Horatio wouldn't solve all his problems.) If you watched the first one watch this one. Mourn the lack of Archie and then watch the third one. You'll be happy.

altea Having seen the first in the series of 4 movies, I was quite eager to see the next installment of the saga! Well, I have to admit that I was disappointed after seeing it! Disappointed not in the overall production value of the movie, because that was as terrific as the first movie, but in the story department! The story was very flat with almost no tension! In the first movie you had conflicts on several levels like the way of life on the ship, the arguments between the crew, the looming of war...and finally the hate until death between Hornblower and a crew member! In this movie you had almost the exact story items i.c. Hornblower rescues, Hornblower being lucky, Hornblower being alone with a little crew on a boat/ship...even the end of the movie where the captain thanks Hornblower is the same! Conclusion: beautiful movie with a flat story! Hopefully the next movie will have a different structure!

salty-9 Since the series of Hornblower began, I have waited quite anxiously for the next episode. The cast is excellent, the plot well thought out, and the battle scenes terrific. Ioan Grufford is excellent as the young Horatio Hornblower, and it's good to see a Derby actor such as Robert Lindsay back in a major role. Definitely worth watching this episode as it is one of the best for drama and action.