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Henry V (1989) Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Emma Thompson Shakespeare? Runaway, runaway.... But wait! This is good, so good you’ll insist it's not really Shakespeare. Couldn't be—because you can actually understand it! Forsooth! The words you hear are pure Shakespeare. That's the genius of the Bard—and of Kenneth Branagh, the brash 27-year-old Irishman who appalled the film world by taking on a remake of the legendary 1944 Laurence Olivier classic. How dare he? But like young Henry, he did dare. And he succeeded beyond anyone's expectation. Henry V tells the story of a young, untested king, who invades France because he believes (or wants to believe, or is led to believe) that the French crown is rightfully his. With a straggling band of warriors and armed with the infamous longbow, he defeats the legions of France at Agincourt. In the end, he wins the heart of the princess. Romantic, based on history, and beefed up by the Bard, Henry is a must see. Favorite scenes: a disguised Henry, wandering through the camp at night; the rousing St. Crispin's Day speech (the original "band of brothers"); and the delightful courtship scene with Emma Thompson (then Branagh's wife). That last is worth the price of admission. |
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