Whoa what a play! I loved Henry, and his depth of character. What a king!
Thoughts about the film
So I read half the play, then started watching the film adaptation, then read the rest of the play and watched the film at the same time, act by act. I had a few thoughts about the film...
Advantages: actors not pausing at the end of a line makes it easier to understand; humor, drama highlighted when actors laugh, react accordingly; flashbacks show how Henry's past interaction with Bardoff and the other gentleman who died, which gives greater depth of emotionDisadvantages: the film omits some of the details--the forgiveness of the traitors, the invitation for the ambassadors from France to be Frank because they are with a Christian King--some of my favorite parts from the play that speak for the character of Henry.
Favorite Quotes
-Both Henry's speeches: "We few. We happy few..."
-When Henry hung Bardoff even though it was hard for him because he didn't want people to take advantage of the people. A moral dilemma we face--I faced such a dilemma in one of my classes just last semester--a classmate asked me to cover up for them. I could relate with Henry.
-"We are in God's hand brother. Not in theirs."
-When Henry speaks of the burden of a king it reminds me of King Mosiah from the Book of Mormon when he talks about the burden which a righteous king faces.
I think the last point you made was really interesting. It is hard to act for a lot of people when you are just a man. Maybe Henry would have had an easier time and more sure confidence of doing the right thing if he had read the Book of Mormon :)
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