The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

After finishing the book yesterday, I'm so disappointed with the film. I feel it was rushed and missed out lots of important parts of the book. Most people say films are nothing like the book and in this case I seriously have to agree

The screen writing for The Other Boleyn Girl was disappointing. It was historically inaccurate and quite different from the book by Philippa Gregory. However, there are some exemplary performances from Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana (although he looks nothing like red-haired Henry VIII), Jim Sturgess, Mark Rylance, Eddie Redmayne, Ana Torrent and Kristin Scott Thomas. An exception is Natalie Portman, who has excelled in other roles, but she was not really the right person to play Anne Boleyn.The cinematography is superb and the costumes are splendid.It would have been better if they'd left out the incest scene. Most historians agree that the accusation of incest against Anne Boleyn was false, it was nothing more than a convenient way for Henry VIII to get rid of her.

Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) is the older sister embodying the hopes of her family. Mary (Scarlett Johansson) is the other sister and her good heart is not seen as being useful. With no male heir, King Henry VIII (Eric Bana) is frustrated with his marriage to Catherine of Aragon after a stillborn male baby. The Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey) sees a way to introduce his niece as a mistress to the king. Sir Thomas Boleyn (Mark Rylance) and Norfolk's sister Lady Elizabeth Boleyn (Kristin Scott Thomas) offer the more outgoing unmarried Anne. Instead, the king is taken with the shy Mary who recently married William Carey (Benedict Cumberbatch) hoping for a quiet life. Mary is ordered to be the king's mistress and one of the queen's ladies-in-waiting. The family joins her in court as they gain in prestige. Anne secretly marries nobleman Henry Percy and tells her brother George (Jim Sturgess). George tells Mary who then tells her parents fearing a scandal over Percy who is engaged to another arranged by the king. Anne is exiled to the French court. She would return to take the king from Mary. She would give birth to future queen Elizabeth. Mary is widowed and remarries William Stafford (Eddie Redmayne). Ambitious courtesan Jane Parker (Juno Temple) marries George and would cause a great royal scandal.Anne seems to be written as the flamboyant sister while Mary is the shy one. Portman is older than Johansson and that does fit the Boleyn sisters. However, I think Johansson and Portman are more fit in personality to switch their roles. It's pushing through a lot of plot and the material may be better for a TV series. The actors are capable and the story is fascinating. The execution is a little flat but still very watchable as a vast costume soap opera.

How many more films on this theme I have to watch? I mean I saw a whole bunch of mini series, series and films about Henry VIII and his six wives.This one has some excellent costumes, sets and acting is outstanding. When these stars act, you really just have to sit and watch in amazement. It can not get much better then this as far as the acting is concerned.If you go to the Hampton Court you can see good old King Henry being reenacted by an actor and the rest of his court as well. It is interesting, but that is it. I would not dwell too much more on that part of English history, because it was very tragic for some, but at the same time very interesting and it changed that rainy island for ever...