Plot: What’s it about?
King Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) is a young and inexperienced ruler, so when he is advised by the bishops to take aim on claims in France, he assumes the divine powers have approved. While these claims aren’t as strong as the bishops have made them appear, Henry charges his men into battle against the French and heads them right into a full scale invasion. While it seems as though his quest is a successful one at first, Henry soon discovers his men have poor to no morale and even he himself is having some problems. Whether he doubts his own skills as a leader or just feels conflicted, Henry knows something is amiss within himself and he wishes to correct the wrong. His men are weary and tired of fighting all the battles, but Henry has decided to attempt to rally them and perhaps even inspire them then lead them into one final battle. While the smaller battles have been important it seems as though all paths lead to Agincourt, where this war be fought until the bitter end. Henry will have to spur something within his men and himself in order to come out on top, but even then it won’t be an easy task.
This is of course based on William Shakespeare’s classic and much loved work, but who better to take on Shakespeare than Kenneth Branagh, really? I am sure some folks steer clear of anything with Shakespeare’s name on it (unless he is in love or the film stars Claire Danes), but this film is one even non literary fans can enjoy. This is along the lines of a Braveheart type movie, where you have a leader who can inspire all he speaks to and battles right alongside his men. So if you like the whole splurge of recent period pieces where one main character leads some smaller roles into battle and we see some emotional content mixed in, this is one you should check out for sure. The acting is simply top notch and the production design is just as impressive. The costumes are especially well done and won the film an Oscar for Best Costume Design, which was very much deserved. The battle sequences are well executed and maintain a very realistic tone at all times, although there isn’t buckets of blood flowing in every scene. I recommend this release as a rental to those interested in the genre or those who want to see a powerful film, but fans will want to scoop this up right away for their private collections.
This film was directed by Kenneth Branagh, who made his feature film directorial debut with this movie. As if directing wasn’t enough for Branagh, he also served as the lead actor and penned the screenplay for the movie. He might have had a lot on his table in this undertaking, but Branagh comes through on all counts and delivers one incredible movie. This is not only one of the best Shakespeare adaptations, I also feel it is among the elite in terms of overall film and I know many agree with me on that point. Branagh has directed and starred in many films since this one, but I feel this is without a doubt his most powerful movie. If you want to see more of Branagh as a director I recommend Dead Again, Much Ado About Nothing, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and In The Bleak Midwinter. As an actor Branagh (Wild Wild West, Othello) is also very skilled and he tackles this role with no serious problems. If you have doubts, just watch the scenes in which he delivers speeches to his men and you will become a believer. The impressive supporting cast in this film includes Ian Holm (The Sweet Hereafter, eXistenZ), Judi Dench (Tomorrow Never Dies, Shakespeare In Love), Derek Jacobi (Gladiator), Paul Scofield (Quiz Show, The Crucible), and Christian Bale (American Psycho, Newsies).
Video: How does it look?
Henry V is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is proof that MGM can issue great looking discs, though they usually choose to reissue laserdisc transfers. This is easily the best this film has ever looked and this release sports a flawless compression record as well as a terrific source print. The colors are usually bright and natural, but when flesh tones emerge the hues sometimes distort. This isn’t a serious problem, but if you look closely you’ll note some inconsistent tones which could be distracting. The contrast is right on however, with well crafted shadows and no visible detail loss. This transfer has some flaws, but still looks terrific when compared to previous versions. MGM…what do I have to do to get you guys to commit to anamorphic transfers all the time like this?
Audio: How does it sound?
This release uses a 2.0 surround track which handles all the audio well, but the battle scenes scream for a full on 5.1 remix. When the audio takes a more subtle approach the surrounds still work a lot, creating a nice environment to view the film within. Of course those surrounds will be more evident when the action rages, but it all sounds very good no matter what the situation is. This film sports an excellent musical score and this mix provides a rich texture for it, which pleases me to no end. The dialogue is crisp and clean, but it does become buried at times by the more powerful other elements.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You’ll find some production notes on the insert booklet and the theatrical trailer has been included on the disc. This one would have made a sweet special edition, but I guess we’ll have to settle for this version right now.
