Gruffudd continues to give a tremendous performance as the titular hero and if nothing else the coming of age story is engaging. Likewise, the script continues to feel like the novels while expanding the segments in delightful ways. But I still find the production values to be detrimental in that they feel cheap. This film is better than The Duel (Even Chance) because the direction is more sure handed. The film feels like a second go at the cinematic language of this type of story by a director who learned from making the first film.
Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship
(1998 TV Movie)
A little bit more polished in direction than The Duel (Even Chance)
22 February 2021