Watch Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant For Free

Very well executed

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

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.

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.

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).

Although I am not anything like a history-buff, I must say that I loved watching Hornblower. Andrew Grieve did an amazing job. He turned, together with the writer, of course, C.S Forester's book into a completely understandable, exiting adventure. Ioan Gruffudd did a fantastic job playing Horatio Hornblower, but let's not forget the other cast members: Robert Lindsay, Sean Gilder, Colin MacLachlan and all the others were outstanding too. Together they made a wonderful story, which, although it happened about 300 years ago, is still incredibly up to date.