Henry V
starring: Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Fabian Cartwright, Patrick Doyle, Ian Holm
directed by: Kenneth Branagh
directed by: Kenneth Branagh
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Product Description:
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) Oscar®-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 way 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.Special Features:Collectible BookletOriginal Theatrical TrailerSystem Requirements:Running Time 128 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 027616850126
Amazon.com essential video:
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
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) Oscar®-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 way 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.Special Features:Collectible BookletOriginal Theatrical TrailerSystem Requirements:Running Time 128 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 027616850126
Amazon.com essential video:
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
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- 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 follow exactly what is going on in the dialogue you can still understand the bigger issues being discussed in the story. Overall, ... Read More
Rating: 
- 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 turning on the CC and/or buying the Cliff notes.
It's well worth the effort.
Rating: - 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.
Some say the Olivier version was better, I was OK but too cliched I felt, and perhaps a little to romanticised. Heaven knows what they were thinking with those costumes!
This version is more realistic. Grittier, more down to earth, portraying the medieval world as it was. Harsh, unforgiving and often cruel and brutal, but not without emotion. Branagh could have made ... Read More
Rating: - 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.
Rating: - Shakespeare at its Finest
It is trivial to recount the plot or describe a particular performance or scene, for there are already a multitude of reviews that do that precise service. however, this film may be given more justice by discussing the emotions it stirs in its viewers. I was first exposed to brannagh through his brilliant and uncut theatrical interpretation of hamlet. my enthusiasm led me to look for more of his work which obviously led me to henry v. as much as i believe hamlet to be one of the greatest plays/movies, ... Read More
- Excellent performances all aroundI'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 follow exactly what is going on in the dialogue you can still understand the bigger issues being discussed in the story. Overall, ... Read More
- 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 turning on the CC and/or buying the Cliff notes.
It's well worth the effort.
- 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.
Some say the Olivier version was better, I was OK but too cliched I felt, and perhaps a little to romanticised. Heaven knows what they were thinking with those costumes!
This version is more realistic. Grittier, more down to earth, portraying the medieval world as it was. Harsh, unforgiving and often cruel and brutal, but not without emotion. Branagh could have made ... Read More
- Great filmKenneth 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.
- Shakespeare at its FinestIt is trivial to recount the plot or describe a particular performance or scene, for there are already a multitude of reviews that do that precise service. however, this film may be given more justice by discussing the emotions it stirs in its viewers. I was first exposed to brannagh through his brilliant and uncut theatrical interpretation of hamlet. my enthusiasm led me to look for more of his work which obviously led me to henry v. as much as i believe hamlet to be one of the greatest plays/movies, ... Read More
