Henry V
 | Directed by Kenneth Branagh Starring: Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Fabian Cartwright, Patrick Doyle, Ian Holm MGM (Video & DVD), 1989, DVD Customer Rating: 165 reviews Recommend |
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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: 2135 in DVD
Actor: Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Fabian Cartwright, Patrick Doyle, Ian Holm
Director: Kenneth Branagh
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 0.4 inches, 0.15 pounds
- If you don't get Shakespeare, get this.
- I saw this in its original, full-screen glory in theatrical release. Before I did, the distance of Shakespeare's language made his work strange to me at best. And I was a theatre major in college!
Branagh's direction and a simply amazing cast opened my eyes. I never looked at the Bard the same way again, and even went back to reread the plays I had studied… More reviews
- Excellent performances all around
- I'm not as familiar with Henry V as I ought to be (Richard III is more my taste) but The acting and scenery employed in this film makes the story of Henry's ill-conceived French campaign come to life, although it hardly seems to do the Battle of Agincourt justice. The actors employed for this movie truly do the words of Shakespeare justice and even if you can't always… More reviews
- A triumph!
- Not to just fall in line with every other reviewer, but this opus is excellent! I made my husband watch one day when I caught him in a moment of weakness, and much as he hated to admit it - he liked it too.
Granted, Shakespear's English is foreign to our modern ear and you have to really listen. If you have any problems with the dialog I would recommend… More reviews
- O for a muse of fire!
- I confess to being a big Branagh fan. This is the first film of his which I ever saw, and it is truly fantastic.
King Henry V, goaded by his nobles, launches an invasion of France, to take the crown he (mistakenly) thinks belongs to him. Despite treachery, disease his need to prove himself to his coutnrymen, King Henry eventually leads his men to victory at Agincourt, despite… More reviews
- Great film
- Kenneth Branaugh continues to be successful in his efforts to bring Shakespeare to the modern audience. Brilliant portrayals by everyone involved: Blessed, Branaugh, everyone. Emma Thompson makes even her bit part shine with her stellar performance. More reviews
