Henry V

We just watched this movie last night. Not only does it have the renowned Kenneth Branagh, but also Emma Thompson, Dame Judi Dench, and Ian Holm. We love watching movies with people we know, so this was almost guaranteed to be good. But it was Shakespeare, too, so I have to say that I loved it. ;)

This was a slow starting movie, but it quickly grew very interesting. The story is emotional, but not tragic, and has a little humor too. The religious imagery is simple but powerful, and refreshing in a film, where so often God is completely edited out. The song "Non nobis, Domine" was especially beautiful and reverant, and has the honor and prestige of being my new earworm. :)

This also has the strangest role I have seen Judi Dench in. After Aunt Augusta and Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I did not particularly like seeing her as the hostess of an inn. Of course, she was excellent, but made my nose crinkle anyway. Emma Thompson had the small part of Katharine of France, and I loved her French accent. The scene where she is wooed by Harry is adorably funny. I loved the use of the narrator, the cleverest I've seen so far.

There was only a teeny bit of editing needed, violence and a couple words, so I would recommend it highly. Also, the soundtrack is gorgeous, no surprise coming from Sense and Sensibility and Much Ado About Nothing's Patrick Doyle.

As a note, Shakespeare was not quite historically accurate. Despite the lovely sound of the casualty lists (to Anglophiles) "English-25, French-10,000", it was actually English-500, French-5,000. Not bad, though. Not bad at all.