Howdy, Steve.
I have the Hornblower dvd collection (modern version)...love it, that is, the authenticity of it. I fully intend to read Forester's written version soon as I finish O'Brian. As a jungen I marveled at, Gregory Peck, in the role as HH...some great movies.
Forester has written HH as a stand alone and well done, O'Brian on the other hand, plays Aubrey and Maturin off each other. Aubrey is a swashbuckler at sea but a real dufus ashore, has sailor ways and falls into stupidity when women and finance are concerned; whereas, Maturin is a lubber at sea, but part of the British Intelligence/gifted physician/naturalist (egghead) very plausible cover stories.
Both authors are MUST reads.