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Product Description
Discover the incredible true story of Henry of Navarre, the celebrated warrior king who became one of history s great defenders of justice and religious freedom.
It is the mid 16th Century and France is awash with blood, as the protestant Huguenots fight for survival against dark forces led by the treacherous Catherine De Medici. When she orchestrates the ultimate betrayal at the infamous St. Bartholomew s Day Massacre, King Henry will fight his life s greatest battle to ensure her treachery does not go unanswered...
Experience an epic chronicle of one man's heroic struggle against overwhelming forces in this spectacular 5-star (Cambridge Film Festival) motion picture event."
Special Features:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 & 2.0 French with English Subtitles
- Making of Featurette
- Trailers
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), French ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Making Of, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: A portrait of Henry of Navarre (later the much-loved King Henry IV of France) whose life defining act was declaring religious freedom for all in 1598 after years of Catholic/Protestant strife. Summoned to Paris to marry Marguerite, daughter of the queen Catherine de Medici and sister to three French kings, Henry discovers the real reason for the marriage is not to unite the two warring sects, but to lure unsuspecting Protestants into the city where they are massacred. After a lifetime as a soldier, Henry finds himself ill-equipped for the fripperies of courtly life. He finds himself confronted with endless intrigues and betrayals before he eventually succeeds to the French throne. When in power, he attempts to forge a state founded on humanist principles. ...Henry of Navarre (2010) ( Henri 4 ) ( Henri IV )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
61 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although this film is not a bad costume drama, it does suffer in comparison with the superior "La Reine Margot" that another reviewer has already mentioned and which covers the same historical period. The film has been made in the same style as recent TV series like "The Tudors" and "Spartacus" with more action between the sheets than on the battlefield. Those more interested in shapely breasts than convincing battle scenes are well catered for. The threatened Ridley Scott style battle scenes do not quite manage to materialise. Wishful thinking perhaps on the part of the distributors! The politics and chicanery of the times are certainly well catered for with shennanigans that are hard to keep up with. What are a few poisonings and accidental cutting of throats whilst shaving in the grand scheme of things. Power and long life do not seem to make good bed companions in this film, which is probably a fair reflection of those turbulent times.
Despite the aforementioned digs, I quite enjoyed this film. It is certainly overlong at nearly two and a half hours and is the sort of film that may have been better in a TV series format. That said this French speaking movie is pretty well acted and seems to have pretty good attention to historical detail, although I admit I am no expert in that field. As soon as the Medici's come into the story you know there is going to be some nasty Machiavellian like manouevering, and so there is. I warmed to this film in the same way that I did to "The Tudors" and "Spartacus". It is a bit like secretly enjoying the "News of the World" whilst your respectable front is "The Telegraph". A sort of guilty pleasure! Of course the very shapely actresses may have some bearing on all this, or should I say baring. After watching this film it will come as no surprise to find out why we have so many Huguenot names in our British lineage. Compared with a lot of recent historical fare this is not a bad watch. I watched the blu-ray version which was excellent quality.
Despite the aforementioned digs, I quite enjoyed this film. It is certainly overlong at nearly two and a half hours and is the sort of film that may have been better in a TV series format. That said this French speaking movie is pretty well acted and seems to have pretty good attention to historical detail, although I admit I am no expert in that field. As soon as the Medici's come into the story you know there is going to be some nasty Machiavellian like manouevering, and so there is. I warmed to this film in the same way that I did to "The Tudors" and "Spartacus". It is a bit like secretly enjoying the "News of the World" whilst your respectable front is "The Telegraph". A sort of guilty pleasure! Of course the very shapely actresses may have some bearing on all this, or should I say baring. After watching this film it will come as no surprise to find out why we have so many Huguenot names in our British lineage. Compared with a lot of recent historical fare this is not a bad watch. I watched the blu-ray version which was excellent quality.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A German made film (originally released as a miniseries) about the life of the 16th century's Henri (or Henry) IV of France, one of the crucial kings in the French Wars of religion (by one count, Henry changed religions four times during his life between Catholicism and Protestantism). Solid and interesting, just a bit overlong at two hours and a half, it has both French actors and Germans actors dubbed in French (I didn't care much about this, though perhaps some French native speakers would). Medieval and early Modern history can be very complicated (the personal gets involved with the political, as the main political leaders tend to be relatives as well) but if you pay attention the various political plots are reasonably well explained in the film. On the minus side, the movie could have benefited from a more charismatic lead than Julien Boisselier as Henry. And Ulrich Noethen (who played Himmler in Downfall) outrageously overacts as Charles IX, one of Henry's predecessors. But the beautiful Chloe Stefani is lovely as Henry's mistress, Gabrielle d'Estrées (none more so when she appears nude, as she does frequently here). And Hannelore Hoger is suitably evil as queen Catharina de Medicis, a major plotter against Henry.
The production values are reasonably good, though as in many other historical films, battles are not very credible when it seems to involve the fight of dozens of people, instead of thousands (films like these should consider using computer generated imagery more to give modern audiences the feel of a large battle).
The same subject matter was covered in La Reine Margot, a French film released in the 1990s, starring Isabelle Adjani as Marguerite de Valois (in Henri, Margot is played as a semi hysterical woman by Armelle Deutsch). I saw La Reine Margot at the time it was released, but I really don't remember a lot about it, except that it was a much stylized affair; Henri is a much more down to earth film.
The production values are reasonably good, though as in many other historical films, battles are not very credible when it seems to involve the fight of dozens of people, instead of thousands (films like these should consider using computer generated imagery more to give modern audiences the feel of a large battle).
The same subject matter was covered in La Reine Margot, a French film released in the 1990s, starring Isabelle Adjani as Marguerite de Valois (in Henri, Margot is played as a semi hysterical woman by Armelle Deutsch). I saw La Reine Margot at the time it was released, but I really don't remember a lot about it, except that it was a much stylized affair; Henri is a much more down to earth film.
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In late 16th-century France, Catholics and Protestant (Huguenots) were at war. Henry of Navarre is Protestant and all his wants is peace between both waring factions. When the king of France dies and leaves no heirs, the next in line to be king is Henry and finally he will be able to fulfil his dream of uniting France, but that is only the start of his problems as he has to defend his country against the invading Spanish forces and traitors within.
I have always liked Historical dramas and I really enjoyed this film from start to finish. As with some films that are based on true stories the can become a little boring and long winded but thankfully this doesn't.
The directing by Jo Baier is great and he keeps the film following at a nice pace and he creates two very well made battle sequences and few other action scenes to keep the viewer interested.
The acting is all very good and believable and I have to say the performance by Julien Boisselier as Henry is fantastic and the best in the entire film, but there is good support from Chloé Stefani as his devoted partner and Roger Casamajor as his loyal advisor.
The score by Hans Zimmer and Henry Jackman is a decent score but it won't linger in your memory like the scores for Gladiator, King Arthur etc.
Overall I'd say this is a perfect film for anyone who likes historical dramas and I had never even heard of Henry of Navarre before I watched this but now I want to know more.
I have always liked Historical dramas and I really enjoyed this film from start to finish. As with some films that are based on true stories the can become a little boring and long winded but thankfully this doesn't.
The directing by Jo Baier is great and he keeps the film following at a nice pace and he creates two very well made battle sequences and few other action scenes to keep the viewer interested.
The acting is all very good and believable and I have to say the performance by Julien Boisselier as Henry is fantastic and the best in the entire film, but there is good support from Chloé Stefani as his devoted partner and Roger Casamajor as his loyal advisor.
The score by Hans Zimmer and Henry Jackman is a decent score but it won't linger in your memory like the scores for Gladiator, King Arthur etc.
Overall I'd say this is a perfect film for anyone who likes historical dramas and I had never even heard of Henry of Navarre before I watched this but now I want to know more.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Reviewer
Excellent DVD with a gritty down to earth view of that period. Good acting and realistic settings. If it was professionally voice dubbed and re-released it would be a world wide... Read more
Published 10 days ago by reviewer
Henry of Navarre
This a well acted but fairly dark modern movie about the Huguenots in France in the 16th century. Perhaps I am old fashioned but I would prefer historic movies to be more enjoyable... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Duncan
Henry of Navarre
An interesting film, especially for those who know a little about French history & the conflict between the Huguenots & Catholics. Will definitely watch it again in future.
Published 3 months ago by Opera Steve
Very intelligent and thoughtful
I bought this as a Amazon recommendation otherwise I doubt I would ever have watched it and what a pleasant surprise it was. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bygstad1
the french boasting about their sexual prowess and the fact they don't...
Firstly, please Amazon can you put somewhere very clear for prospective buyers to see immediately if a film is 'English Subtitled'? Perhaps next to the title of the film? Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bubbles
More Bedroom than Battlefield Action, but still Ruddy Good!
This is a lavish tale of the life of Henry the Huguenot Prince of Navarre (Julien Boisselier), who goes on to become the King of France. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tommy D
HENRY - Not ooh la la
A DVD in French with sub titles, nothing on the sales pitch to indicate this. Also the DVD cover was in pristine Englais. Read more
Published 7 months ago by bernnyboy
Henry 4 of France
Having read French history including Catherine De Medici I was amazed at how historically accurate this film was. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. R. A. Stewart
Mediocre
Well crafted and goodlooking but lacking in focus. The longer the movie went on the more it felt like it just showed fragments of the Henrys life making me feel more and more... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Per Niklasson
OK in parts, sometimes bizarre
The start prmsied so much. Started with a lot of great period pitched battle type scenes. It did go into the complexity of the power struggle at the heart of many monarchies - it... Read more
Published 9 months ago by dermod98
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