The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Moderate themes and sexual references
| Director: | Justin Chadwick |
| Actors: | Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Jim Sturgess |
A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in European history two beautiful sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King Henry VIII.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 104mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
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Member Reviews (77)
77 Member
Reviews
Noela
says
I had read the book and the movie was simplified version but true to the novel and well portrayed and acted
margaret
says
This movie was worth the watch,i enjoyed it.
Cynthia
says
This was cast very well, especially with the lovely Eric as Henry. I have been reading 'Wolf Hall' and was interested to see another aspect of the Boleyn saga.
Kaz
says
Excellent film!!
Tracy3
says
Always loved this movie Eric bana always. Pleasure
Catherine
says
Rent, rent rent! Before I rent it again!
Clouseau
says
It was only okay. Nothing great!
klr
says
loved it
Pandora
says
Having seen The Tudors I expected more historical background on the Boleyn girls. Alas, it was just another costume flick and as such neither very edifying nor entertaining. We fell asleep halfway through.
Emily
says
A absolutely love Natalie Portman. She is fantastic in every movie I have seen. Except I didn't like her in this movie. I didn't like this movie at all. Boring, dull and depressing
Peter and Jill
says
Would have been disappointed if we had gone to see it in the cinema but great home movie. Great attention to sets and costumes. Kirsten Scott Thomas very convincing performance.
Alex H
says
Even the almighty king will react to true love amongst all the deceitfull actions at court. Great acting of English history. Good production and period costumes.
ann
says
this is a good movie I enjoy it
Nicola
says
I enjoyed this. Thank God we live in a civilised democracy. It wasn't long ago when government and justice were arbitrary.
simone
says
soooo disappointing. after reading the book i couldn't wait to see the movie but was so disappointed. they rushed the movie so you had no connection to the characters emotionally or otherwise. if you've read the book DO NOT watch the movie as you'll just feel cheated and angry. if you haven't read the book do so and LOVE it and if you've watched the movie PLEASE read the book.
Mary-Lou Davis
says
A lavishly filmed story, but one which rewrites history in lots of ways. Despite this there is lots to like. Eric Bana is a wonderful Henry V11, Scarlett Johanasson and Natalie Portman are believable Boleyn girls. worth seeing.
June F
says
This film was somewhat of a disappointment. It didn't fit what I thought happened but perhaps I was wrong.
P.
says
A heartbreaking story of ruthless ambition, the cruel world of pretty young things thrown onto a gambling table on the whims of the men who rule their lives, and the love/hate relationship between sisters destined to be rivals to the end. The film necessarily deviates a little from the 500 page book on which it's based (which is written from the point of view of Mary, the less famous Boleyn sister) but still captures the essence of the historical fiction novel, making us care about the characters and plot even though history tells us the ending. Natalie Portman has a decent English accent and does some convincing acting, and you can't help feeling sympathy for her Anne even though she's a cut-throat wench marching towards her inevitable end on the executioner's block.
Pip
says
This copy was poor kept pixilating very frustrating should be destroyed
Clare
says
Not bad...not great. I'm used to seeing Scarlett J as the sex bomb, yet here she played the quiet sister overshadowed by Natalie P of all people. Both girls did a good job with their roles - Eric Bana was a little lacking as Henry.
wheeliecrone
says
Such a mediocre effort!
Anaemic.
Cass
says
Great acting, wonderful costumes, well worth watching.
JG
says
Liked this one.
Bridget
says
I thought this would be a boring historical movie, but no, it was great! So sad that a woman who has the misfortune to have a miscarriage, then has to suffer being seen as a witch to boot! If only Henry had known he was responsible for the sex of his children, he might not have been such a pig!
Tanya
says
An enjoyable movie. Goes to show how producing a male heir for royalty was all important back then.
Melissa I.
says
Definitely NOT a history lesson ! This is the Hollywood version, it is not even correct to the book, let alone to history ! When he married Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII was an old, obese redhead with a festering unhealed wound in his leg that plagued him til his death, not a sexy young, dark, Eric Bana ! The book is much better, as was the TV version I saw with Jodhi May in it.
Chloe
says
I wish I hadnt read the book first! Great movie, but maybe not if you are a fan of the book.... Hi glitz and high drama. Wonderful.
Cassie
says
Really enjoyed this one although I wish these historical drama movies would give more info in special features about what really happened and what they have made up.
Michelle H.
says
Great movie. The characters were acted very well. Costumes were fantastic. This story needed to be told, and it was done in an interesting way.
Tracey
says
loved it
Debra W.
says
I enjoyed this movie, it was more than I expected. I few twist and turns. I had everything in it, deciept, rage, murder, love, passion. I would rate it as watching it again.
Kathryn
says
Loved it, Loved it, Loved it. What a great interpretation of what could have happened some many years ago. I love how it kinda of was modern I guess to help the audience to relate. I feel like how amazing it would be for those people that lived in those times to see the differences in today's world. Anyway this movie was brilliant.....no wonder it is always on short wait.
Annie
says
The well known actors in this movie made it a great one to watch. The story line of King Henry VIII never gets tiresome to watch.
Carolyn A.
says
On its own this movie is OK. Eric Bana is a surprise as Henry VIII. In comparison to the book however this is a poor second rate movie. The characters are quite one-dimensional and the storyline is completely different from the book in many parts. The Director should be hung drawn
Steven
says
I thought this was a really good movie,Scarlett Johanson beautiful !!! ,
Louiza
says
great movie, touching and captivating
Louiza
says
well made, very enjoyable
Sean
says
Enjoyable. Not historically the most accurate, but still worth a watch.
Janelle
says
Quite enjoyed it.
Yasmin
says
Wow, what a performance by especially Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn, but also Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana put up some great acting. A really interesting insight into Great Britain's royal history and the conditions under which they lived back then.
Roslyn H.
says
Great movie. Well worth watching. Eric Bana was brilliant as was Scarlet Johansson. Loved all the period costumes
Alex M.
says
I really enjoyed this movie. The acting was great.
Helen C.
says
I really liked this movie. I was pleasantly surprised. Worth a watch.
Scott P.
says
One of the better period drama's i have seen. The three main actors (Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman) in this really make this a great movie to watch, with all the twists and turns. Loved it.
Lyn W.
says
Love historical movies, and this did not disappoint - it was excellent, especially the acting. Thought-provoking look at life in those times, when families competed for the most advantageous marriages, and for the favour of the monarch - which could change on a whim and cost you your life.
Lydie L.
says
Historically, really inaccurate. If you know anything about the period, you'll be wincing at the huge holes in historical accuracy as much as I was. The beautiful costumes do not make up for this bashing of history. 'The Tudors' mini-series, for all it's own inaccuracies, is done far, far better than this.
Only worth watching by people who are fans of the actors/resses or who don't know very much about the period. Otherwise, you won't really enjoy this film much at all.
Meg
says
This movie wasn't as good as the book.
MissyKat
says
Great acting by Natalie, Scarlett
adinjess
says
The Book is much better but as a movie on its own, it was ok.
Found Eric Bana a very poor Henry VIII but the girls played their roles quite well.
Eliana E.
says
Overall, I must say this film is well made and not at all boring. A 104 min history lesson that you won't regret watching.
Toni F.
says
Very interesting, certainly made me look in Henry 8 and the Tudor period. The actors were excellent, Bana was OK, he was a little wooden. A movie that made me think about it days after.
Trish T.
says
Highly recommended to all who enjoy period films - beautiful costumes and scenery. Follow up the film with Elizabeth, and then Elizabeth: The Golden Age.
Andrew H.
says
I don't ever remember seeing a picture of Henry VIII as a buffed, handsome Eric Bana-type, always thought he was a tubby red head. The costumes and setting are lavish and the performances and story are engaging.
Kevin D.
says
Very worthwhile - Eric Bana's Henry VIII's descent into darkness show remarkable acting. Portman's portrayal of Anne Boleyn's change into a viper who poisons Henry's over-opinion of himself shows subtle guile. The second half gallops along at too brisk a pace when compared with the first half. Oh, and David Morrissey as the duplicitous and scheming Duke of Norfolk is again very good and quite at odds with the miserable streaks of bacon he usually portrays
Judy H.
says
This is a great movie with a good twist at the end. Definitely worth watching
Barbara C.
says
Excellent movie - great acting from Bana, Johansson
Jan K.
says
I was disappointed, but probably because I read the book first. It was very shortcut (compared to book) and just lacked depth I felt. However it was beautifully filmed, costumes were wonderful and it was worth watching.
irine22
says
Well acted, a little slow and off at the beginning, too much sex, but the story builds and Henry VIII turns into his image as we know it quite well. I think I would behead Anne as well. Excellent acting, even from Natalie Portman.
Deirdre R.
says
An enjoyable film though not to be taken seriously, historically. Mary certainly existed but, according to the history books, this film takes a lot of liberties with her real story. Nevertheless, worth watching..
gol
says
Usually like this period of movies but was a bit disappointed in this one. Not one of Bana's best efforts. Showed how ruthless and uncaring everyone was at that time in history. Worth watching but don't expect too much.
Mercedes M.
says
This is crap! The best part is when Eric Bana takes off his shirt! The acting is bad and the script really messes with history. Avoid this film
Paz A.
says
I loved the book, but as in most American movies they changed so many things in the story I could hardly recognise it. Watchable, but just...
Georgia H.
says
Absolutely loved this movie! Great costumes, excellent acting and great cast.
Amour S.
says
I wanted to know how the other Boleyn sister contributed to history. When I found out I wanted to know if the iligitimate son became a royal. My curiosity sent me to the internet to continue reading about the kings and queens of England and Scotland. Found out it links to Elizabeth the movie starring Cate Blanchett as the redhead daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. So it became a huge lesson in history, which I did not study at school but found very interesting.
The costumes are beautiful. The acting was very convincing. I would have liked to have seen more of an ending, it was very rushed. But all in all a very good movie to see.
Kylie S.
says
GREAT FILM!!! Was a great intro to Anne Boleyn. Knew she was 1 of the 6 wives of Henry the 8th... but that was it!
Am gonna go research everything I can about her now!
Love the period genre - not to mention the costumes!
Heather H.
says
Just another thought- I was quite disappointed that there were no extra features on this disk, not even a trailer. I would have expected more from a movie like this.
Heather H.
says
An absorbing and good movie, well cast and it keeps quite well to the book (although a few major things are left out). Natalie Portman is great as Anne and very much how I pictured her.
One difference is the movie clearly paints Anne as the victim and fully sympathises with her, whereas the book leaves it up to the reader to decide. Mary and the king are much smaller characters than in the book as well. Very moving though, especially the ending. Beautiful costumes, sets and music.
Kristen S.
says
did not like the idea of eric bana playing king henry, but i was truly surprised and absolutely loved it. wished it could have gone longer and more of the book but it was still good.
Karen A.
says
Great actors do not always make for a great movie. This is a Reader's Digest Condensed verion of Philippa Gregory's novel of the same name. It glosses over the ruthless ambition of the Boleyns, how Henry was a spoilt brat and anyone who disagreed with him was sent to the tower, charged with treason and duly executed. It dosn't fully express that Anne was accused of being a witch who slept with her brother to begat a son, nor how Henry blamed his lack of a male heir on the sins of his many wives. I you thought you liked this movie, read the book.
Karen A.
says
Great actors do not always make for a great movie. This is a Reader's Digest Condensed version of Philippa Gregory's book of the same name. It glosses over Henry's being a spoilt brat, believng that his lack of a son was due to sins of his various wives and that anyone who disagreed with anything he said or wanted was sent to the Tower on the charge of treason and duly executed. It glosses over how ruthless the Boleyn family ambitions were and the allegations of incest and witchcraft aimed at Anne. If you liked the movie I suggest you pick up the book.
Carolyn S.
says
Definately worth a look. Outstanding
acting from Scarlett Johansen, Natalie Portman and Eric Bana and beautiful costumes.
Jane F.
says
Loved it! Cried and cried. Beautiful character development and fantastic acting. Superb production design.
Recommended!
Matthew B.
says
Although historically inaccurate still a very good film, though greatly watered down from the book on which it is based. Kristin Scott Thomas turns in probably the best performance out of the lot, shining in every scene she's in. Couldn't help but feel as if Portman, for as great an actress as she is, was stumbling in the first scenes, but redeems herself well before the end.
Lucy C.
says
Great story and great characters. Shame about the dreadful acting. Natalie should know better, Scarlett was playing her usual self and Eric looked like he was dreaming his way through.
Michael C.
says
the Tudors series is similar this is a shorter verision
Okto F.
says
Worth Watching
Jeanette C.
says
Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson,Natalie Portman it should say Awesome Awesome Awesome. I do not like Bana but he was fab! If you can act like this I don't know why yoou have waited till now. A great story to be to Queen Elizabeth I really love the costumes too! Beautiful as well as the sets!