Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- gritty
- tense
- heroic
- historical action marathon
- war film night
What critics said
Audience reception is strongly positive, with viewers praising the continuing historical adventure and Sean Bean's commanding performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The rescue mission unfolds during the 1813 Peninsular War in Portugal, with British troops facing French forces and deserters.
Major Richard Sharpe must deal with the return of his old enemy Obadiah Hakeswill while facing the newer threat of Major Duclos.
Sharpe is assigned troops to recover two women held by deserters for ransom, including the wife of a senior English officer.
Sharpe commands the 60th Rifles alongside a Rocket troop, making period artillery and battlefield tactics central to the mission.
Films like Sharpe's Enemy, and why
Sharpe's Rifles
napoleonic-era military adventure, British soldiers, tactical combat, and historical drama
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
period military action, battlefield strategy, class tensions, and grounded historical adventure
The Duellists
British military camaraderie, historical warfare, and command under pressure
The Last Valley
historical combat adventure centered on soldiers navigating hostile territory and divided loyalties
Movie Details
- Director
- Tom Clegg
- Release Date
- 1994-06-01
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (39)
Cast
- Sean Bean
- Daragh O'Malley
- Hugh Fraser
- Michael Byrne
- Pete Postlethwaite
- Assumpta Serna
- Jeremy Child
- Elizabeth Hurley
- Helena Michell
- Tony Haygarth
Common questions
- What is Sharpe's Enemy about?
- A battle-hardened British officer leads a dangerous hostage rescue through wartime Portugal while confronting both a hated old enemy and a formidable French commander.
- What is Sharpe's Enemy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sharpe's Enemy as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Sharpe's Enemy violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Sharpe's Enemy as brutal.
- What did critics think of Sharpe's Enemy?
- Audience reception is strongly positive, with viewers praising the continuing historical adventure and Sean Bean's commanding performance.
- Which films are like Sharpe's Enemy?
- Films with a similar feel include Sharpe's Rifles, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, The Duellists, and The Last Valley.
- How long is Sharpe's Enemy?
- Sharpe's Enemy runs 102 minutes.
