What may be the crowning glory of Branagh's adaptation comes when the dazed leader wanders across the battlefield, not even sure who has won. As King Hal carries a dead boy (a young Christian Bale) over the hacked bodies of both the English and Fr...
Fabuloulsy rousing, 2010-02-04
This is the kind of Shakespeare production where even the most cold hearted towards Shakespeare will find their hearts enflamed - this is really stirring stuff - Branagh shines as Henry V, both as King and as lover to his then wife, Emma Thompson.

Branagh takes the title role, and he’s Wallander’s leading asset. His performance here is grumpy, downbeat and deliberately stuck, and he skillfully underplays his role. It’s a terrific performance from a very strong actor. Around him, mysterious and shocking crimes are taking place, and it’s his job to get to the bottom of them. He’s aided by a good, if unspectacular, supporting cast, although nods must go to Sarah Smart and Tom Hiddleston.

Filmed on location in Sweden, yet still more British in feel than you’d perhaps expect, Wallander nonetheless is intelligent, and at best gripping drama. It’s well made, too, with some stylish directional choices that may isolate some viewers, but do enhance the production. There’s clearly been a lot of thought and planning involved here, and it does pay dividends.

That said, Wallander is likely to be a divisive progra...
Quality production, 2010-03-11
After watching series 2 on the BBC this winter, I had an urge to watch series 1 and was not disappointed. It is a beautifully stylized production, showing off the Swedish landscape. Kenneth Branagh slips into the role of scruffy, disjointed detective perfectly. The character development in series 2 follows on from the first, and it's a pleasure to enagage with the plot and read the juxtapositions as they cross Wallander's mind.

Thoroughly recommended, especially if you are new to the series.