Shakespeare Series: Henry V - 1989

Staring: Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Brian Blessed, Paul Scofield, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane, Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Christian Bale
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh

This is it. One of, if not, the best Shakespeare adaptations ever made. Sure Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet is great (there’s no doubting that as I already stated) but compared to this it barely holds a candle to this.

Another Kenneth Branagh directed/staring film, instead of the way Hamlet is created as an entirely new world, he keeps this story almost as a historically accurate film (as far as a Shakespeare play can actually be historically accurate). You could almost imagine that the cameras were *at* the battle of Battle of Agincourt. The cast, like Hamlet, is not wasted.

This story might actually be unknown to many of you out there so you’re forgiven (I kid…). It’d be more interesting to just read it, see a production of it at a theater, or just see the darn movie. Just for those who might think it’s “boring” there’s a fantastic battle towards the end. And for some of you more jingoistic people – the French don’t do so good.

According to Wikipedia, the English soldier who begins singing Non Nobis Domine at the end of the Battle of Agincourt is the film's composer, Patrick Doyle. The music that Patrick Doyle created for this film was utterly amazing. It is unfortunate that this man is not as well known as many other composers. Many who remember trailers from 15-20 years ago might recognize that some portions of this score were used in many of them.

Henry V won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. The film was also nominated Branagh for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Director.

Verdict: *****/*****