Henry V
 | Starring: Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Fabian Cartwright, Patrick Doyle, Ian Holm MGM (Video & DVD), 1989, DVD Customer Rating: 171 reviews Recommend |
|---|
He ruled a massive empire...and fought a mighty war! Kenneth Branagh, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson and Judi Dench star in this heroic, action-packed epic based on the timeless play by William Shakespeare. "Magnificent, passionate and steeped in powerful emotion" (The Washington Post), Henry V is a "stunning," (Leonard Maltin) OscarÂ(r)-nominated* adventure that takes its place amongst the greatest war films of all time.Having recently been crowned King of England, Henry (Branagh) commands a massive invasion to assert what he believes is his legal right to the throne of France. But a mighty army stands in his wayÂ...and the young monarch must rely on untested reserves of courage and cunning as he personally leads his outnumbered forces into a desperate battle for the honor and glory of the British Empire. *1989: Director, Actor (Branagh), Costume Design (winner)
Very few films come close to the brilliance Kenneth Branagh achieved with his first foray into screenwriting and direction. Henry V qualifies as a masterpiece, the kind of film that comes along once in a decade. He eschews the theatricality of Laurence Olivier's stirring, fondly remembered 1945 adaptation to establish his own rules. Branagh plays it down and dirty, seeing the bard's play through revisionist eyes, framing it as an antiwar story. Branagh gives us harsh close-ups of muddied, bloody men, and close-ups of himself as Henry, his hardened mouth and willful eyes revealing much about this land war. Not that the director-star doesn't provide lighter moments. His scenes introducing the French Princess Katherine (Emma Thompson) are toothsome. Bubbly, funny, enhanced by lovely lighting and Thompson's pale beauty, these glimpses of a princess trying to learn English quickly from her maid are delightful.
What may be the crowning glory of Branagh's adaptation comes when the dazed, shaky leader wanders through battlefields, not even sure who has won. As King Hal carries a dead boy (Empire of the Sun's Christian Bale) over the hacked-up bodies of both the English and French, you realize it is the first time Branagh has opened up the scenes: a panorama of blood and mud and death. It is as strong a statement against warmongering as could ever be made. — Rochelle O'Gorman
Title: Henry V
Sales Rank: 2835 in DVD
Actor: Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Fabian Cartwright, Patrick Doyle, Ian Holm
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD), 2000-07-18, Theatrical Release: 1989-11-08
Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 137 minutes
Item Dimensions: 0.23 pounds
Package Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches, 0.2 pounds
- Fabulously rousing
- This is the kind of Shakespeare production where even the most cold hearted towards Shakespeare will find their hearts enflamed - this is really stirring stuff - Branagh shines as Henry V, both as King and as lover to his then wife, Emma Thompson. More reviews
- A great production of Shakespeare's Henry V
- Kenneth Branagh is one of the premier actors of our time, well-known for his excellent work with William Shakespeare's plays. In this 1989 big-budget production of Henry V, Branagh directs and plays the title role. He does an excellent job of bringing to life Shakespeare's take of Henry, as a one-time party boy who now has the moral certainty to dare the great power… More reviews
- Strong and Gritty
- My favorite Shakespear play is done great great justice by Kenneth Branagh. This film version has just the right mix of pagentry, mud and blood.
If ever you needed proof that Shakespear (or whoever wrote this play) was a soldier; you have only to watch this movie. More reviews
- Henry V
- Excellent DVD! If you ever wanted to know where the expression "band of brothers" comes from this is it! Great acting.… More reviews
- Great adaptation, except for what's missing (which is a lot!)
- This movie elicits an almost schizophrenic reaction on my part. On the one hand, I can't disagree with the rave 5-star reviews most have posted here about Kenneth Branagh's powerful and imaginative interpretation of this Shakespeare classic. (There seem to be some serious problems with the current DVD rendition, but I'll leave that aspect to other reviewers.)
But… More reviews
