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| Henry V / Hamlet / Macbeth [1989] | ![Henry V / Hamlet / Macbeth [1989]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514R9DVNYGL._SL160_.jpg)
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| Director: Kenneth Branagh
Actors: Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Simon Shepherd, James Larkin, Brian Blessed
Studio: 4 Front Video
Category: Video
Buy New: £39.95
Buy New/Used from £14.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  (15 reviews)
Sales Rank: 17800
Format: Box Set, Pal
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Media: VHS Tape
Running Time: 394 minutes
Number Of Items: 3
EAN: 3259190284319
ASIN: B00006LSE1
Release Date: September 16, 2002
Theatrical Release Date: November 8, 1989
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Very few first-time film directors would have been capable of making such a triumphant adaptation of IHenry V/I; but a still-youthful Kenneth Branagh's years of stage experience paid off handsomely and his 1989 version qualifies as a genuine 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 anti-war story in contrast to Olivier's patriotic spectacle. Branagh gives us harsh close-ups of muddied, bloody men, and of himself as Henry, his hardened mouth and wilful eyes revealing much about the personal cost of war. Not that the director-star doesn't provide lighter moments: his scenes introducing the French Princess Katherine (Emma Thompson) trying to learn English quickly from her maid are delightful. p What may be the crowning glory of Branagh's adaptation comes when the dazed leader wanders across the battlefield, not even sure who has won. As King Hal carries a dead boy (a young Christian Bale) over the hacked bodies of both the English and French, a panorama of blood and mud and death greet the viewer as Branagh opens up the scene and Patrick Doyle's rousing hymn "Non nobis, Domine" provides marvellous counterpoint (like the director, the composer was another filmic first-timer). A more potent expression of the price of victory could scarcely be imagined. --IRochelle O'Gorman, Amazon.com/I
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Long live the King!! December 8, 2008
This was an excellent adaptation, of what is, in my opinion, one of the Shakespeare's best plays. Full of famous names, they bring this wonderful masterpiece to life. br /br /Kenneth Branagh plays the Title role of Henry V, and really does justice to the historical figure, as well as shakespeare's idealised man. King Henry tries to be a just and fair King, who has won the admiration of most of his subjects, despite a chequered past. br /Yet he can, at the same time be hard with those who cross him, or are a threat. He is a well developed human character that you can idebtify with. br /br /Brian Blessed plays his large Uncle the Duke of Exeter, who helps goad him on to make war, but really does seem to care for him. Looking very fearsome in full plate armour and weilding an large mace, here Blessed takes on serous role, yet we still see the occcasional grin. br /br /The Agincourt scene is very moving, and is an accurate portrayal of medieval warfare, that was bloody, dirty and often brutal, yet it in no way condemns eithier side. br /br /I have watched this film more times than i can count, yet i still say wonderful.
Branagh at his best... October 2, 2008
Shakespeare's Henry V is lavish, poetic and dramatic. The plot is simple: Young Henry V lays claim to the French throne and invades France to claim it. The rag tag English army make their way through France conquering city after city. On their way to Calais, they are met by superior, better equipped and better trained French army at Agincourt.br / br /The English, aware of their inferior numbers and training, begin to despair. Henry V, the leader that he is, inspires his men in the famous words: br /br /If we are marked to die br /We are enough to do our country loss br /And if [we are] to live the few men the greater share of honour br /God's will I pray thee wish not one man more br /He who outlives this day will stand a-tiptoe when this day is named br /This story shall a good man teach his son br /And this day shall ne'er go by but we in it shall be remembered br /We few, we happy few, we band of brothers br /For he today who sheds his blood me will be my brother br /Be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his conditionbr / br /I was so moved by sublimeness of the words that I must have replayed the famous speech at least 10 times. What poetry, what drama! Who else but Shakespeare can conjure more emotive, powerful words for the great occasion? br /br /Henry V and his army win a audacious victory against the French and Henry is given the hand of the French princess, Catherine. Henry, the maladroit soldier, tried to woo Catherine. Who else can get away with the following words during courtship,br / br /You have witchcraft in your lips, Kate br /There is more eloquence in a sugar touch of them br /Than in the tongues of the French counsel br /br /Henry V is not about history. No, it is a replay of the Shakespeare's magnificent work starring some of Britain's finest screen talent such as Judi Dench and Paul Scofield.br / br /If you want to kick back on a Friday night and be mesmerised by a master contortionist of the English language, then this Henry V is for you. I saw it on the train between Amsterdam and Paris and did not even notice the countryside fly past. I wanted so badly to remind my fellow French passengers of Agincourt but I suspect that Le Francaise would have laughed in my face. Henry V deserves 4 stars. br /
The Psychological Cost of War January 1, 2008
Branagh's first screen version of a play by Shakespeare is still, in my opinion his best. It has often gained adverse criticism as being too like the RSC production in which he had recently starred and a pale imitation of Olivier's film. Neither comment is really fair though I wish Branagh had not followed Olivier's lead and been bold enough to include Henry's command during a tricky moment during the battle of Agincourt to "kill all the prisoners." Branagh does, however, grapple with the play's implied and most important question: is Henry V a good king or merely a successful one? The film can also be seen as a dialogue with the forties version. Whereas Olivier's interpretation of the night before Agincourt, has visual echoes of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemene, when Branagh's Henry puts on Erpinham's cloak, he looks rather like the Grim Reaper. There is also an homage to the extended shot of the French knights galloping towards the English lines in glorious sunshine. In Branagh's version the end of the battle shows the exhausted soldiers walking off the field amid mud and carnage, looking absolutlely drained of energy; is it significant that Olivier's long shot is filmed from left to right and Branagh's is the other way round? Branagh also emphasises the psychological cost of war, no more so than when Henry orders the execution of Bardolp, an old drinking companion, his crime being that of looting from a church. Branagh should also be given credit for filming Shakespeare at a time when it was deeply unfashionable; no popular version of any of his plays had been made for about fifteen years. After it the floodgates opened and all through the nineties at least two films based on the bard were released every year. None was more challenging than this one.
 Not as good as Oliviers version! January 27, 2007
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I bought this version with a completely open mind having previously seen the Olivier version.It has a brilliant cast of seasoned Shakespearian actors and whilst Branaghs direction is good it seems to have no "pace" unlike the other. The 1944 version also has a proliferation of superb actors but what clinched it for me was the reality of the battle scenes.
 Oh, for a muse of fire... January 9, 2006
24 out of 26 found this review helpful
For a first effort at feature-film direction, now-veteran director/writer/actor Kenneth Branagh provided an astonishing introduction to his many talents in filmmaking with his 1989 production, 'Henry V'. There is a gritty realism brought to the screen in this production that combines in dynamic and interesting ways with the Shakespearean dialogue and situations. The battle scenes are some of the best in cinema for depicting the kind of royal and knightly battles. A special commendation goes to cinematographer Kenneth MacMillan, art directors Martin Childs, Norman Dorme, John King, and costume designer Phyllis Dalton for combining elements of stage and screen together to complement the story perfectly without overpowering it. Indeed, the picture won the Oscar for Best Costumes; Branagh was nominated for Best Leading Actor and Best Director. The film and crew were nominated for and won many other awards as well.pOne of the problems of Shakespeare on the silver screen is that the situations, settings, and acting often ends up somewhat contrived. That rarely happens here, because of this remarkable team.pThe principle writing credit of course goes to William Shakespeare, but as is always the case, the play is recast to make the film medium more natural for the story. Kenneth Branagh is the one credited here, and has shown himself several times after this film as a master of adapting Shakespeare faithfully to the screen. pThe play itself is one of Shakespeare's history plays -- remember the broad three categories of Shakespeare: history, drama (some say tragedy), and comedy. Like most of the history plays, there is creative license taken with the actual history, as it is invariably adapted to make the present regime look good, credible and more legitimate. This explains why Richard III in Shakespeare is far more villainous than in actual life; in Henry V, the country had a great and (for the period) uncontroversial hero - the last king of England to be acknowledged the dominant power in Britain and in France, succeeding in unwinnable situations, and, as befits a good historical hero, dies young before he has the chance to destroy his image. The play has always been popular in times of national crisis - see Olivier's production of Henry V during World War II depicting the king as a national saviour against continental foes.pThe action of the play and film turns on the legitimacy of Henry's rule in France (an issue still for Elizabethan audiences, as Elizabeth was crowned with supposed rights to France). The French are depicted as haughty and disdainful of the young king (interesting how some things don't change), and the battle lines are drawn. The film here sets the stage for a far more ambiguous justification for war than is often depicted in the play, leaving the viewer wondering if, for all the glory of the battles, was there a real point, or was it legalistic/diplomatic trickery?pThere is also the interesting scene with the conspirators against the king, unmasked as the forces are about to depart for France. Cambridge, Scrope and Grey are exposed, but the dialogue and acting hints as a more intimate relationship with Henry V - possibly this references obliquely the rumours of homosexuality, or at least bisexuality, in the historical Henry. pThe players are excellent here, from Branagh himself as Henry V, and Brian Blessed his strong right arm Exeter. Paul Scofield (Thomas More in 'A Man for All Seasons') plays the ancient French king, Charles VI, and his son the Dauphin is played by Michael Maloney. This is, on the whole, a rather 'young' film, as Branagh himself was not yet 30 at the time of production, and most of his aides and friends in the play are similarly young, save for a few senior advisors. Emma Thompson, a staple in Branagh's films, plays the only significant female role, the princess Katherine, to whom Henry will be wed. Her part is almost entirely in French. Her maid, Alice, is played by Geraldine McEwan (perhaps best known from 'Mapp Lucia'). pThe famous speeches here are preserved; Branagh does a fantastic job with his spirit-raising monologue for the troops prior to the battle of Agincourt, on Crispin Crispian day. The speech on horseback in the early seige of Harfleur, 'once more into the breech!' is also remarkable. The lines delivered by all the actors are done with care and precision - Exeter's report to Henry at the opening ('tennis balls', said with great sneer) and to the French party ('scorn', said with so much scorn the word need not be spoken) are but a few examples of this. pThe film expands upon the play's use of Falstaff's companions as a comic relief, by incorporating what would be flash-back scenes from events in the Henry IV play cycle, premonitions of events currently in the play. Robbie Coltrane turns in a good performance as Falstaff; look for Judi Dench in a minor role as the Mistress, and a very young Christian Bale as the boy. pThe music for the film is triumphant, foreboding and dark. This is a wonderful score produced by Patrick Doyle, known for work on other Branagh films such as 'Dead Again' and 'Much Ado about Nothing', as well as other films such as 'Indochine' and literature-based films like 'Gosford Park' and 'Great Expectations'. pDerek Jacobi, veteran Shakespearean, portrays 'Chorus', the narrator of the action, one who casts the right spirit from beginning to end, and appears throughout. There are few Shakespearean asides done by the actors here (a few under-the-breath comments that might qualify), but Jacobi's role is always directly to camera, directly to us as the spectators. The ending portrayed by Chorus is both victorious and tragic, much as the cycle of history must be. pThis is a glorious film.
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