Excellent adaptation.

An Exercise In Nonsense

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Pathetic attempt to match Olivier's 1944 masterpiece. Not quite as dreadful as Kenneth's later abysmal Hamlet, but sufficiently dire to be given a deliberate miss. From the moment you see a retarded teenager, just out of his egg, with lipstick and a comic modern haircut, shifting uneasily on his throne, you know you're in for a disaster. The enthusiasm for this appalling mess totally mystifies me. One truly good part was performed by the French herald, Montjoy, who actually dignified his role. The only other respectable part was played by Scofield, a genuine actor, as the French King. This could not be said of Branagh, who misdelivered and massacred every one of his speeches. Didn't he understand what he was shouting ? The flashbacks with Falstaff were simply grotesque. The pub regulars, Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, etc, resembled fugitives from a leper's colony. Brian Blessed came on as some sort of metal monster robot escaped out of Gotham City. Was he having Branagh on ? The remaining members of the tatterdemalion English contingent looked like a makeshift street-gang of undernourished jailbirds. Jacobi was adequate as the chorus, no more.The battle scenes were meaningless, ludicrous and interminable. Incredibly difficult to understand what was going on, but the English foot soldiers apparently charged headlong into the massed French cavalry. After that, the archers sent showers of arrows into the carnage. Fortunately, the arrows managed to pick out all the French, and spare the English. Remarkable; perhaps the shafts were fitted with special sensors. Although the comparative statistics of the slaughter were read out in the aftermath, there was no indication whatsoever of how these staggering figures had been achieved. The Olivier version indicated very clearly that it was the archers who had decisively won the day, long before there was any hand-to-hand fighting. And what about the ridiculous purse-stealing in the middle of the melée ? This wasn't Shakespeare. There's some sort of generation gap in connection with the praise heaped on Sir Kenneth Branagh. I just don't get it.

There may be one hundred or so men who are capable of bringing Shakespeare to the screen, but none so talented and capable as Kenneth Branaugh. Here is all the glory, power, drama, suspense, and intrigue the Bard intended in this rousing play. Jacobi is incredible as the Chorus, a device we would call narrator, and builds his role with eloquence and tempered techniques of voice seldom seen in film. Branaugh displays a rare and insightful look at the character of the now wizened king who was so foolish as a boy. The cast, in all, is superb in their understanding of their roles and carry them off with a passion that perhaps only an Englishman can understand. I have seen this film several times, having a copy along with other versions of Shakespearean plays, and by far this is the most exciting, the most accurate, and the most palatable film of its genre. Combine a timeless tale of war and conquest with a cast already world renown and you have this film, a modern testament to the power of Shakespeare. Rated PG-13 for a violent and bloody battle, this film is fit for the high school crowd and, in my humble opinion, should be shown to every English student about to study Shakespeare.

A Good "Televised" Play (i.e. a British film) For a master class on adapting Shakespeare to cinema you need to watch Akira Kurosawa's seminal "Throne of blood".This film is entertaining, but it's not cinema it's a very long TV drama (if you liked the BBC's Robin Hood series you'll love this).For anyone who's coming to Shakespeare for the first time I'd recommend Olivier's version. It's not a 'complete' version of the play, but it has the wit, subtlety and invention missing in Branagh. Olivier is much truer to the spirit of Shakespeare - it's playful and funny in parts (for example the lovely scene where Catherine is learning English). Most importantly Olivier brings out the beauty of Shakespears words (the spine tingling soliloquy in Henry's nighttime tour of the camp?).Branagh's version is neither a film or a play. It unfortunately the throttling of language for dramatic effect. Drowned in muzak and delivered with holly-pine-wood whispers or "You slag!" shouting. And kicks the crap out of the language with odd action film stresses and punctuations. Making the whole play difficult to listen to and understand.There's nothing playful or subtle about it - it's wall to wall drama - which inevitably gets a bit tedious after a while. The lines seem to be there more for pulling faces than for pleasure. A bit like being server a steak you really wanted to tuck into, but cant as someone's covered it in tomato sauce and half a pound of salt.Although there are some funny bits e.g.Derek Jacobi doing Marty DiBergi "introduction to Spinal Tap" at the start.It's also very 80's (e.g. Branagh's hair cut) - When he's asked if he's Cornishman I half expected him to answer, "No I am from Hampstead"Derek Jacobi (with thespian scarf) on the White Cliff of Dover doing Michael Palin's Ripping Yarns "You know, I think it was G.K. Chesterton, who once said..." (Tomkinson's schooldays)Required watching I imagine for all those poor high school students who are forced to learn Shakespeare...(I award it 1 only to try and introduce some sanity to the overall rating. As an adaptation of Shakespeare - 6.5/10. As a general film - 6/10. as a serious cinematic film - 1/10)

Great for someone that does or doesn't like the Bard. As it is a film with drama, angst, action, a little romance, a little humor. All in between. Kenneth Branagh was nearly 27 or 28-years old when this came out. As he was not known as he is now. Playing the lead role and directing, writing the film as well.Henry V is about never giving up, and to fight together as a band of brothers, as it is mentioned in the movie/novel.With a huge task of the small English Army, fighting against a huge and gigantic French one. But Henry is not afraid to take on a huge task and will not suffer defeat. As he rallies his men to do the same. Despite the odds are against them. Branagh is great in the lead role. But has help from an elite cast of classical British actors and actresses. That back him up. As also future stars and Oscar winners, along the way.Brian Blessed as Exeter, the strong man and faithful sidekick to Henry; Ian Holm as the Welsh Captain Fuellen, loyal and adds a bit of humor; Dame Judi Dench as the Mistress Quickly, whom shines in the few minutes she has in the movie. And who would go onto playing M as well as having an Oscar. But makes them worthwhile. A young teenage, Christian Bale, as Falstaff's boy and who's death strikes a nerve with Henry. You never knew, you would looking at the future American Psycho and Batman star. Paul Scofield as a weary French king. Geraldine McEwen, an aide who helps out the French princess with her English among, other things. A then unknown Emma Thompson, who plays the French princess who would be an Oscar winner and outshone her then husband Branagh's career.But it is Derek Jacobi, a mentor of Branagh's as well as the I Claudius star. As the Chorus who is in a black trenchcoat, with modern clothes and boots. And shows up like, nobody recognizes him. But his presence sets the tone. As well as a voice you can hear all the time, every time it seems.Even if you may not understand the language of thee, thous, etc. Still, this is one movie you can't miss. It is about standing up for what you believe in. Best Shakespeare film of all time IMHO! Nothing even comes so close to it.