Henry V (Cliffs Notes Version) | 
| Director: Kenneth Branagh
Actors: Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Simon Shepherd, James Larkin, Brian Blessed
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.47
You Save: $7.51 (50%)
New (34) Used (9) from $6.99
Rating:  165 reviews
Sales Rank: 43888
Format: Color, Dvd, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 137 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: MGMDM108195D
UPC: 027616081957
EAN: 0027616081957
ASIN: B000PMFS3C
Theatrical Release Date: November 8, 1989
Release Date: July 24, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 08/05/2008 Run time: 138 minutes Rating: Pg13
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: Read 160 more reviews...
 If you don't get Shakespeare, get this. June 24, 2009
PamB2k3 (Elkridge, MD)
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 in high school.
For everyone that doesn't "get" Shakespeare, get this.
 Excellent performances all around June 14, 2009
James D. Crabtree (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba)
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, very good and eminently enjoyable.
A triumph! June 11, 2009
Mz Susan (Tampa Florida)
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! June 4, 2009
elfgiva (UK)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 being vastly outnumbered.
This version is more realistic than the Olivier version. Grittier, more down to earth, portraying a world that was harsh, unforgiving and often cruel and brutal, but not without emotion.
Many of the roles are filled with first class actors, Iam Holm, Emma Thompson, a young Christian Bale and of course Brian Blessed, looking rather fearsome in plate armour, and weilding a large mace . Excellent performances throughout. Truly an epic.
By only gripe is that there were no English subtitles, which can make the dialogue a little hard to follow, but don't let that put you off.
Great film March 22, 2009
Caroline (South Carolina)
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.
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