Undescribable Perfection

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

SPOILERS As the Hornblower series continued with it's second episode, it continued to keep the audience attracted and kept our focus. With a plot dealing more with the negative moments of a time aboard ship, the story is not as fast and tense as the opening part, but it remains well made and entertaining none the less.As an acting Lieutenant about Captain Pellew's (Robert Lindsay) Indefatigable, Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) is working on his exam to become full lieutenant. Unable to find any time to himself on a confined ship however, he also has to face up to rationing and a personal hero in the form of Captain 'Dreadnought' Foster (Denis Lawson).Reintroduced to Hornblower, we are reminded once more of Ioan Gruffudd's superb acting skills. Stressed and unable to focus, Gruffudd's Hornblower is brilliantly shown to be advancing in age and experience throughout.Aided by recurring regulars Lindsay, Paul Copley and Sean Gilder, Gruffudd is aided this time by a well played performance by Denis Lawson as the arrogant and 'gung-ho' Foster. It's no wonder with casting and performances like this that the series has become such a success.Compared with it's previous episode however, this second outing for Gruffudd's Hornblower suffers from the simple fact that the plot is not quite as lively. Whilst brilliantly portraying scurvy and the problems with a ship short on food and with an unhappy crew, it does lack a lot of the excitement possessed by the first encounter. This is not a bad thing since variety and the covering of a wider world is always good, but with the exception of an explosive conclusion, it does feel lacking at times.All in all, it's difficult to fault any episode of this majestic series. Interesting and addictive from the word go, this series has given joy to countless numbers. In this second episode, we are again given brilliant acting and gritty realism. It's distinctively slower than it's predecessor though. Still, even a slow Hornblower episode is a million times better than most television dramas. Watch and love.

I do not agree with Altea. The plot of the second episode of "Hornblower" is just as good as that of the first, and is quite far from being flat. Perhaps there is a little too much emphasis on the courage, luck, cleverness etc. of young Hornblower, turning him into a "mr. perfect", but that is understandable, and I think that he is still a very human character, certainly more human than the annoying never-do-wrongs from Hollywood movies. I still think this is one of the best shows I've seen, and I can't wait to see the next episode (hoping that my parents won't forget to tape it for me).

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!

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.