I think that the reason that I liked the movie so much is because I really am pretty ignorant on Shakespeare and I really didn't know that much about this king, although I do love history.
I think I came away from watching this film knowing a little more about Shakespeare's works, and a little more about this fascinating period in English history. In 1415, Henry embarked on war with France in the ongoing Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) between the two nations. His military successes culminated in his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt (1415) and saw him come close to conquering France. Taking advantage of political divisions within France, he conquered large portions of the kingdom, resulting in Normandy's occupation by the English for the first time since 1345–1360. After months of negotiation with Charles VI of France, the Treaty of Troyes (1420) recognised Henry V as regent and heir apparent to the French throne, and he was subsequently married to Charles's daughter, Catherine of Valois.
All characters existed in real life, except John Falstaff. In Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, William Shakespeare based Falstaff loosely on the historical Sir John Oldcastle, a companion of Prince Henry. He renamed the character because of Oldcastle's powerful family. Falstaff is a companion of Prince Hal in these two plays, but doesn't appear in Henry V. The movie brings Prince Hal's friend into this period too, and made him less comic and more heroic than Shakespeare did.
The film had a good cast Ben Mendelsohn as Henry IV, Timothy Chalamet as Henry V, Joel Edgerton as Falstaff and Robert Pattinson as the Dauphin.
The movie moved a little slow, but I liked it that way. It gave me a chance to figure out what was going on. So many historical movies rush through the plot to get to the action scenes, but this one took its time and let you keep pace with what was going on.
A very good film that I am really surprised did not do better.
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