Director Andrew Grieve
Starring Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, David Warner
Rated M
Score Hornblower: Mutiny 5/6 & Hornblower: Retribution 5.5/6

Hornblower and his comrades come under the command of a revered but obviously mentally unstable captain and eventually must mutiny. In Hornblower Retribution Hornblower and the other officers of the Renown must return to Jamaica to face a court-martial and possible execution for their actions in relieving their unstable captain.

Mutiny and Retribution are probably the significant movies in the Hornblower franchise because the events of Retribution directly follow that of Mutiny but the events of both movies deal with the court martial of Horatio Hornblower, so it seemed appropriate to have a double review.

The actions of the officers of the Renown in Mutiny where justified and the events of Retribution show just how further things can spin out of control once things have already gone over the edge.
In my past Hornblower reviews I have said that I have found it difficult to hate the villains. This is not the case with Mutiny and Retribution. David Warner who portrayed Captain James Sawyer a national hero who clearly has a very pronounced vindictive streak (to the point of bullying Midshipman Wellard) and yet in the same breath you can’t help but pity the captain because he is clearly a man who should have retired. Then there is Gilly Gilchrist (not the Australian cricketer) who portrayed Randal and Philip Glenister who portrayed Gunner Hobbs. Both Randall and Hobbs come across as being wormy dicks. Though it should be noted that Hobbs’ motivation is explained unlike Randal’s. On a side note Glenister also appeared in Sharpe’s Justice as Matt Truman. There is also some beautiful shots of ships sailing at sunset. Also, it should be noted that Retribution has a bitter-sweet ending.

On another side note Paul McGann who portrayed 2nd Lieutenant William Bush was the man who was originally cast as Richard Sharpe.