Video:

Presented in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen (even though it is confusingly billed as "16:9 Full Frame" on the back cover), Henry VIII looks sharp in this HBO Video release. All of the flaws (and there are some – especially where color is concerned) appears to be in the source print and not the digital transfer.

Audio:

The stereo audio track is the major difference between a publicly-funded production like this and a major Hollywood blockbuster. It is fairly flat and there are some occasions where the background music overshadows the dialogue.

Extras:

The lone extra is a 30-minute documentary, featuring interviews with the actors, director Pete Travis and some members of the production team. The interviews likely don't add up to 15 minutes on their own, with a lot of time spent (wasted, really) on clips from the film. With the full film right there available for viewing, the emphasis on shots from the film is frustrating.

Final Thoughts:

At more than three hours, watching Henry VIII sounds more like an assignment for a bad English class than entertainment. But the outstanding performances of Ray Winstone in the titular role, Helena Bonham Carter and the rest of the cast make this "costume drama" captivating.