Netflix releases *The King* - alas, poor Shakespeare

Rating: 5/10 (2 November 2019)

I'm all for re-staging Shakespeare, but the bard doesn't need much help.
Over four centuries ago, he was already dealing with 21st century issues: the crisis of leadership, separation of Church and state, the clash of cultures, class struggle, and the intersection of God, politics and history.
The big question about *The King*, is "why?". Timothée Chalamet, hobbled by a weak script, is swallowed up by his role. Prince Hal Shakespeare's ultimate King; Chalamet is barely a prom king. And the bard's iconic Falstaff, who scoffs at authority and believes honour is never worth death, is mysteriously transformed here into a military hero who leads a suicide mission.
*The King* was made for fans of "Game of Thrones", not for fans of Shakespeare. If you love the Henry plays, check out the BBC's 2012 production, "The Hollow Crown", a more faithful adaptation with Tom Hiddleston's superb performance as Prince Hal.