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Henry V

PG-13 Released Nov 8, 1989 2h 17m History Drama List
98% Tomatometer 42 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In this gritty screen adaptation of Shakespeare's play about the heroic and ruthless king, Henry V of England (Kenneth Branagh) determines to lay claim to the kingdom of France. Henry's self-doubt and the diminished morale of his army stand in the way of a victory that would unite the two countries and provide Henry with a queen (Emma Thompson). However, his sheer determination and his impassioned speeches ready his men for the bloodiest of battles -- Agincourt.
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Henry V

Henry V

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Critics Consensus

Pehaps Kenneth Branagh's most fully realized Shakespeare adaptation, Henry V is an energetic, passionate, and wonderfully acted film.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael New Yorker The film’s point of view leaves you without elation, but the actors are so up that you feel their pride in working on true dramatic poetry. Sep 12, 2023 Full Review Peter Travers Rolling Stone Branagh has made a hotblooded, lively and moving Henry V that speaks pertinently to a new generation. Jun 12, 2020 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune There is a great deal of value in Branagh`s version, not least in his own lead performance as a soft, indefinite Henry who defines himself over the course of the play. Rated: 3/4 Nov 27, 2019 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Completely unnecessary. [Full review in Spanish] Dec 1, 2022 Full Review Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine Reigniting Shakespeare's poetry on screen, the movie is not only accessible to a general audience -- it has enough excitement, wit and suspense to hold its own in the Hollywood fray. Jun 12, 2020 Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times This is a solidly mounted production, with the contrasts between the finery of the court and the grime of the battlefield as striking as the excellent cast of noted thespians. Rated: 4/5 Nov 27, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Richard N St Crispins Day! The greatest speech by the most outstanding actor of the last 50 years. Next to Olivier, Branagh is KING! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/24 Full Review Blu B A Classic War Drama of a Shakespheare play. Everything is really well done with the standout being Kenneth who commands every scene he is in. Sometimes the flashbacks can be a little abrupt and this seems very faithful to the source material. Perhaps a little too faifthful at times. For me the dialouge is over my head but I could follow it very well because of the acting and production value really immersing me quite well. I will say despite how good this is it defintely is an acquired tase and isn't necessarily for everyone. Anyone who is a big fan of Shakespheare or Branagh will like this a lot. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/24 Full Review Robert H Incredibly moving. A masterpiece. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Mth F reminds me of the hit film henry v Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/10/22 Full Review Audience Member In the midst of the Hundred Years War, the young King Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) of England embarks on the conquest of France in 1415... Henry V received near-universal critical acclaim for Branagh's Oscar-nominated performance and direction, for the accessibility of its Shakespearean language, and for its score by Patrick Doyle. Rotten Tomatoes consensus reads: "Pehaps Kenneth Branagh's most fully realized Shakespeare adaptation, Henry V is an energetic, passionate, and wonderfully acted film." On Metacritic it has a score of 83 out of 100, based on 17 reviews, indicating "Universal acclaim". Henry V also ranks #1 on the Rotten Tomatoes list of Greatest Shakespeare Movies, beating Akira Kurosawa's Ran (1985) and Branagh's own version of Hamlet (1996), respectively ranking in second and third place. Roger Ebert, noted critic of the Chicago Sun-Times, gave the film three-and-a-half out of four stars, praising Branagh's performance and writing, "There is no more stirring summons to arms in all of literature than Henry's speech to his troops on St. Crispan's Day, ending with the lyrical 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.' To deliver this speech successfully is to pass the acid test for anyone daring to perform the role of Henry V in public, and as Kenneth Branagh, as Henry, stood up on the dawn of the Battle of Agincourt and delivered the famous words, I was emotionally stirred even though I had heard them many times before. That is one test of a great Shakespearian actor: to take the familiar and make it new." Variety magazine also gave the film a positive review, calling Henry V "A stirring, gritty and enjoyable pic which offers a plethora of fine performances from some of the U.K.'s brightest talents." Kenneth Branagh´s 1989 adaptation of Shakespeare´s play feels pompous, theatrical and stiff today. Branagh himself feels as well as pompous as possible as Henry V and he really does everything he can to look like the ultimate Shakespeare interpreter in this film. It becomes silly and overacted in my opinion plus the film simply doesn´t hold up today in terms of the direction, look, feel and vibe. The film did receive worldwide critical acclaim and has been widely considered one of the best Shakespeare film adaptations ever made. For her work on the film, Phyllis Dalton won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design and Kenneth Branagh, in his directorial debut, received Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Director. I am afraid I can´t agree to this acclaim. I personally think that Justin Kurzel`s "Macbeth" from 2015 with Michael Fassbender is one of the best Shakespeare film adaptations. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review hassan i Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V" is an ambitious, exuberant and sweeping historical epic that offers one of the most effective adaptations of Shakespeare's famous play. With his directorial debut, Branagh crafted a rousing adaptation of William Shakespeare's timeless play that has stood test of time as a classic. Despite being his first foray into the world of Shakespeare, Branagh showcased extraordinary strength in his directrial debut. Using captivating cinematography, Branagh draws viewers into the courageous majesty's journey to claim his throne in 15th Century. Branagh's decision to shoot the movie in real-life locales across England is risky, but it works immensely. Branagh demonstrates immense control of craftsmanship over production design, action sequences and music, using these elements to craft a definitive Shakespeare adaptation. Branagh's screenplay is also sensational, and expertly translates dramatic monologues from the famous play to screen. It's hard to not praise phenomenal performances. Kenneth Branagh delivers one of the best performances of his career as King Henry V. With stirring expressions, he captures the determination, nobility and lifelong resentments of a majestic king that strives to reclaim his throne amid war-torn England. Emma Thompson is equally excellent in the role of a newlywed woman with apprehensions about becoming a queen. In one of her first roles, Thompson showcases glimpses of the alluring actress she'd become later on in her career. The final, most notable standout is Paul Scofield. As the majestic Charles IV, he brings regal royalty to the movie. Although "Henry V" is undeniably a memorable adaptation, ultimately it isn't flawless. It's unevenly paced, and lacks momentum in sequences marked by the absence of Henry V. Moreover, it's undermined by unnecessary voiceover narration from a legendary actor telling rather than showing story. Nevertheless, fans of the iconic play will certainly enjoy "Henry V" and so will moviegoers seeking old-fashioned entertainment. In a century when modern audiences seem to have forgotten William Shakespeare, hopefully it will spark newfound interest in the mag-cbeth-nificent stories of English literature's most belov-hamlet-ed scribes even if his works are hidden othe-bel-low centuries. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis In this gritty screen adaptation of Shakespeare's play about the heroic and ruthless king, Henry V of England (Kenneth Branagh) determines to lay claim to the kingdom of France. Henry's self-doubt and the diminished morale of his army stand in the way of a victory that would unite the two countries and provide Henry with a queen (Emma Thompson). However, his sheer determination and his impassioned speeches ready his men for the bloodiest of battles -- Agincourt.
Director
Kenneth Branagh
Producer
Bruce Sharman
Screenwriter
Kenneth Branagh
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
Renaissance Films
Rating
PG-13 (A Bloody Battle)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 8, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$10.2M
Runtime
2h 17m
Sound Mix
Surround
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