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Henry V (1989)

tomatometer

100

Average Rating: 8.3/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 33 | Rotten: 0

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

100

Average Rating: 7.8/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 0

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

audience

87

liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 11,364

My Rating

Movie Info

Kenneth Branagh makes his feature-film directorial debut with this adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry V. After the Chorus (Derek Jacobi) introduces the play, young king of England Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) begins an angry dialogue with King Charles of France (Paul Scofield). The king's son, Dauphin (Michael Maloney), insults Henry and the argument escalates into war. In flashback, Henry is seen as a young man drinking in a tavern with Falstaff (Robbie Coltrane), Bardolph (Richard Briers),

PG-13, 2 hr. 18 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance

Jul 18, 2000

MGM Home Entertainment

Cast

All Critics (33) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (0) | DVD (10)

A stirring, gritty and enjoyable pic which offers a plethora of fine performances from some of the U.K.'s brightest talents.

July 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The cast -- including Derek Jacobi as the modern-dress chorus, Paul Scofield, Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, and Robbie Coltrane in an effective cameo as Falstaff -- is uniformly fine without any grandstanding.

July 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
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Mr. Branagh's Henry has psychological heft and intellectual weight.

May 21, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

More questioning, more agonized, finally more humble.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Everything about this remarkable production is exhilaratingly unexpected.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

What works best in the film is the over-all vision.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Toward "turning many years into an hourglass," Branagh the screenwriter condenses "King Henry the Fifth," while adding in elements from the first and second parts of "King Henry the Fourth." The effect is seamless.

January 29, 2012 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | Comment
ColeSmithey.com

Like Sir Larry's, this remains Branagh's best movie and although less spirited and more actorish than its predecessor, it has a modern feel and a grittier tone to it, notably in the battle scenes.

July 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

It might never be as famous as Olivier's, but it should carry considerable clout for years to come.

July 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

Good.

June 14, 2008 Comments (2)
ColeSmithey.com

Branagh succeeds in his blunt, robust portrayal of the Soldier-King, hauling the film along in the wake of his own gung-ho performance.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Shakespeare with guts, passion and spectacle

November 12, 2004 Comment
Kalamazoo Gazette

A strong, fiery film so good that Branagh has virtually drawn out a fifteen-year film career from the unrepeated success of this debut.

August 17, 2003 Comment
Nick's Flick Picks

Straightforward, energetic and updated Bard.

July 30, 2003 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A triumphant affirmation of Shakespeare's timeless appeal.

March 28, 2003 Comment
Flipside Movie Emporium

Many fine feature film versions of Shakespeare exist. Few can match this one for raw power.

October 8, 2002 Comment
Needcoffee.com
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Henry V

Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Shakespeare's play was his directorial debut and at the time many balked at the very idea that this young whipper snapper could dare to get in the ring with Laurence Olivier and his then definitive version. This film is a completely different proposition however, choosing to use the

March 7, 2007
garyX
xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

No one on the contemporary movie scene -- or ever on the screen -- does Shakespeare better than Branagh. As both actor and director, he is simply the best. He can manage all his actors in such a way that you will understand the plays clearly, both in terms of dialog delivery and action. I don't know if this is the

November 29, 2008
binky013

Super Reviewer

    1. Henry V: And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by from this day until the ending of the world but we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother, Be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition, and gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves acursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whilst any speaks, that fought with us upon St. Crispin's day!
    – Submitted by Roberto P (7 months ago)
    1. Henry V: I pray thee take my former answer back. Bid them achieve me than sell my bones!"
    – Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)
    1. Henry V: And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by from this day until the ending of the world but we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he today who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother, Be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition, and gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves acursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whilst any speaks, that fought with us upon St. Crispin's day!
    – Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Henry V (1989) (DE)
  • Henry V (1989) (UK)
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