Branagh presents a dynamic young king prodded and duped into fighting a bloody, vicious war whose victory is undone within a generation. This Henry V contains no fields of honor and thundering hoards of glistening knights. It is full of dirt, mud, and gloom. Despite a decisive victory with small losses, Branagh's Henry is a king who has seen the horror of war, and is happy to compromise his demands to avoid a return to battle. England is a nation led by a duped leader into an unnecessary and horrible war to uphold a dubious territorial claim.
War here is futile, nasty, without any redeeming value.
Branagh furthers his achievement, though, by presenting the seductive side of war. Henry is a tremendous leader of men, able to stir and cajole them to unbelievable efforts. Precious few, I think. Yet, while that battle was forced, it was fought in a war that would benefit only the few, if anyone at all. Glory is a very different film.