I bought this set of 8 DVD's and I just love them. The stories centre on a 17 year old new naval recruit named Horatio Hornblower, and the films explore his coming -of-age during the Napoleonic Wars. The acting, production and stories are excellent, and Ioan Gruffudd (pronounced Yo-wan Griffith) in the title role is outstanding: a great actor while being outstandingly beautiful :)

Throughout the 8 DVD's Horatio grows up, develops his leadership skills and gains the deep respect of his crew. His adventures are varied, but it is the relationships between the characters that are truly wonderful. These movies do differ from the Hornblower novels by C.S Forester, so don't get all hung up that the movies veer too far from the novels. Just enjoy them for being stand-alone pieces of great viewing.

The postage from fishpond.com.au on this item to me was very fast, and it was cheaper than buying the DVD box set from eBay (and the postage was free with Fishpond).

So if you want a richly detailed series of movies, great stories and character relationships, lots of swashbuckling and some gorgeous eye candy in the form of Ioan Gruffudd, then settle down on your couch and get ready to enjoy these movies.

Great series,this is the second time I have watched it ,I just like trying to put myself in the shoes of people in that era and think how one would cope ,and we think lifes hard !!
back to the basics ,its a bit cheesy in some respects ,but its a good look at life in that era ,a great adventure and it just makes you think what an amazing adenture it would have been ,trouble is ,in those days ,if you made it to middle age you where very lucky ,
Buy it and enjoy !!

The Hornblower series is one of the best I've seen. Superb acting. Great sets and production. Plots filled with tension. I highly recommend this series. I also recommend the books by CS Forester on which this series is loosley based.

HORNBLOWER is a must see for anybody who enjoys costume dramas and History. It is absolutely brilliant

A very enjoyable set, excellent edition, entertaining series well boxed.

fantastic collection of thoroughly enjoyable dramas.

Very pleased with purchase. Am enjoying it very much.

Ioan Gruffud's first major role and what a tour de force it is. This is a superb series of tales of the men and windjammers of the Royal Navy on the high seas during and after the war with the French (and Spanish). Great cast, great scripts and high production values make for must-see intelligent viewing. This really does justice to C S Forester's Hornblower novels. Highly recommended. Pity there's not more.

Awesome complete series. Good drama for whole family.
Would highly recommend it.

Loving it - haven't finished watching it all yet but really enjoying it - can't beat these series - like Sharpe only on the sea!