REVIEW: THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL

Great! Yet, ANOTHER film based on a novel, and a historical fiction novel at that! I'll admit that this was our sentiment going in to this movie date.

The Other Boleyn Girl is a historical fiction novel written by British author Philippa Gregory, based on the life of 16th-century aristocrat Mary Boleyn. Reviews were mixed; some said it was a brilliantly claustrophobic look at the palace life in Tudor England, while others weren't convinced. Either way, it has enjoyed phenomenal success and popularity since its publication in 2002 and has spawned five sequels not to mention this feature film.

Ultimately, though it features some extravagant and entertaining moments, The Other Boleyn Girl feels more like a soap opera than historical drama.

Here's the trailer:



HUBBY'S REVIEW

During my research, I learned that A ninety-minute television drama based on the novel was broadcast by the BBC in 2003. It had a relatively low production budget and was filmed using modern camera techniques, with much of the script improvised.

In contrast, on the Bonus Disc that comes with this movie (the 2008 feature film adaptation starring Scarlett Johansson as Mary, Natalie Portman as Anne, and Eric Bana as Henry VIII) screenwriter Peter Morgan discusses the dilemma he faced in adapting Philippa Gregory's 600-plus-page novel for the screen. He ultimately decided to use it merely as a broad guideline for his script, which Gregory felt perfectly captured the essence of her book, although many plot elements were eliminated, diminished, or changed. Among the more notable deviations in the film, Mary's marriage to William Stafford, a major part of the book, is mentioned only in a note just before the closing credits, Anne and George decide against committing incest, and there are no overt references to George's homosexuality.

Personally, I came away from it all pleasantly surprised and actually wanting to learn more about this time period and these people who left their mark upon history. In that sense, it's EXACTLY the way Heather Huntington of ReelzChannel.com described it when she wrote, "A run-of-the-mill costume drama that made me think more about running home and Wikipedia-ing the characters than investing in the story before me." That's a little stronger than my feelings about the movie, but you get the point.

I also think it was the perfect cast for this type of story and for these types of characters. It was nice to see Natalie Portman in something other than Star Wars.

Thank the Lord that we no longer live in a time when women are traded and used like cattle; objects for man's lust. Wait, my mistake. Look at how short we've come in 500 years. Sad.

As period pieces and adaptations go, I will give this one a 3 out of 5 Ben & Jerry's ice creams.