Director Andrew Grieve
Starring Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Dorian Healy
Rated PG
Score 4/6

Horatio Hornblower begins his naval career, but a deadly feud with a despicable mate is causing complications.

The eight films cover the events of just three of the ten novels by C. S. Forester Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, Lieutenant Hornblower, and Hornblower and the Hotspur. The series ran from 7 October 1998 until 6 January 2003.

Hornblower The Even Chance had its title changed for the U.S market to The Duel. There are a couple of other films in the series that had their titles changed for the U.S market. Comparing the opening to the 1951 movie and The Even Chance there is a noticeable difference between the two movies with The Even Chance being a lot greyer. Though that can easily be dismissed by the fact the first scene of The Even Chance is in the middle of a storm in a harbour. Also given what we known of Hornblower’s career from Captain Horatio Hornblower before he rose to a level of fame Hornblower achieved a degree of infamy on his first day as a Midshipman.
I wouldn’t say that overly familiar with Robert Lindsay’s work. I enjoyed Lindsay’s performance as Captain Sir Edward Pellew he brought a quality to Pellew that made him a man I wouldn’t want to disappoint. I also enjoyed Dorian Healy’s performance as the psychotic bully Midshipman Simpson.
I also enjoyed the scenes in the open boat. Without giving to much away to those of you who might not be that familiar with the series, there was a moment with a compass where Ioan Gruffudd’s performance had what could be considered a Bond-esque quality.