One of the most interesting movies I've seen this year. Natalie Portman demonstrates her talent in this movie.

Mary Boelyn(Scarlett Johansson) is the other Boelyn girl; as in the other Boelyn girl deserves to...not Anne(Natalie Portman). The ornamental "B" that Anne wears stands for her namesake, obviously; or "bitch", because she schemes with belligerence, but on an intertextual level, Anne's alphabetical bling-bling makes reference to the "A" that Hester Prynne is burdened with in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlett Letter". In the final scene, when the "B" reappears after its retirement during Anne's reign as queen, we realize that Mary's indiscretion is the greater offense. Anne might be a "whore"(Katherine of Aragon said it; not me), but Mary is Hester Prynne. Don't let Mary's woe-is-me countenance fool you; in her own passive-aggressive manner, she matches her sister blow-for-blow, every step of the way, as both sisters try to bed King "I'm-too-sexy-for-this-court" Henry(Eric Bana plays the randy Tudor like he's Hugh Hefner with a sceptre). Both sisters learn too late, to their misfortune, that the court of England is a man's world. Since "The Other Boelyn Girl" presents a larger-than-life set of circumstances and payoffs, they should've let Johansson have some overheated fun, too, and allowed her to go vis-a-vis with Anne more honestly. I think Mary is coy. Her simple way is a country girl act. Substitute Mary's tears with a smile the last time she sees Anne would've made "The Other Boelyn Girl" a guilty pleasure.… Expand

Off with its head! Avoid.

As The Monarchy Turns, The Days Of Our Royal Lives, The Young and The Priveledged... ...ya see where i'm going here?

Simply an outstanding production, whether or not it is true.

Amazing movie! Great cast, powerful music and an overall thrill to watch!

Great costumer with just enough sex although a bit loose with history. I enjoyed Bana and Portman the best.

It was kind of short for the story it was telling and jumped ahead of time really fast and expected you to know that, but overall the movie was great and the characters did a great job expressing emotions and being people that they really aren't.

This movie did not portray the book at all!! Mary was already at court serving her Majesty! Anne was still in France! Anne when she was sent away she was sent to HEVER NOT FRANCE! Mary had a daughter first, son second (who in real history is not 100% to be Henrys! The affair was already over!) The King never raped Anne! He waited until the verdict was almost in, they slepted together lovingly then married when she became with child. Mary was not a virgin with her first husband, she had an affair with the french King before she came to serve Queen Katherine. I could go on but that would take more time then I have! The book was great, not 100% historically true but very close, the movie destroyed the book and the author should be ashamed and embarassed to have ok'd a half-written script like this. OH AND THE ACTING.....Watch Tudor's the women who plays Anne is much more the Anne Boleyn we have all come to learn then natalie Portman any day! Oh and Scarlet go fix your teeth you have enough money right All in all I was very sad I was looking forward to see this movie and I was very disappointed. We need to leave our wonderful books alone before they are all butchered.… Expand

As mentioned before this movie fails to follow the book. If I had not read the book before watching the movie I wouldn't have had any idea what was going on. It was all over the place. The casting was terrible, they didn't depict the characters in the book at all. I recommend reading the book, because the movie will just give a bad perception of the whole Boleyn story.

Too much melodrama and not enough on the interesting aspects of the characters. It sure is pretty with great sets and costumes, but it bored me. Natalie Portman is always worth watching and the production is magnificent.

I hated the movie and adored the book.....I cant believe that Phillipa allowed her book to be butchered!!!! What a beautiful piece of work turned into crap.

I really enjoyed this fresh take on the Henry VIII story--instead of another retelling of the entire historical event,which already has been done so many times, this zooms in and focuses on some of the lesser known individuals. It shows the price of greed and ambition so great that all else, family loyalty, love, marriage vows, even faith, can be easily changed or traded. It was daring in that it used some controversial theories (like the book's author, apparently) by historians, and not just the textbook version in grade schools; it is actually not all just artistic license, although there is some of that as in most films based on factual events. Glad to see something original and not just another stodgy re-telling of the same old story, without covering new ground!… Expand

I f you love looking at period costumes and authentic 16th century sets, The Other Boleyn Girl just might work for you. But, if you like a believable story line that is at least a little respectful of the history it claims to represent, this ain’t your movie. In this sudsy story, Ann Boleyn (Natalie Portman) is whiny, petty, and rarely has a serious thought except for her own survival. Henry (Eric Bana) has the weight of England on his shoulders but seems principally motivated by sex. This leaves Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johannson), "the other Boleyn girl," to manage her sister and smooth the royal paths; the King trusts her because...well, it seems he trusts her because she looks like Scarlett Johannson. It's a silly film that takes an extraordinary moment of English history and turns it into a boring bit of cinema. Except for the costumes, and the sets. Those were pretty cool.… Expand

I really liked the film...it's unforgettable and it makes you think - so many time has passed, but actually not so many habits changed.

Not sure why the critics slammed it. It was definitely better than the reviews made it out to be.

Sorry, mechanical translation. The beauty of this film, supported by a cast worthy of the name, and a director (Justin Chadwick) that I brought to mind the tricks that Ignatius gives the devil when it engages nell'assalto the fortress of the soul cast , dismissed, on the one hand, struggles, and work on brains, just to penetrate another. I said, this movie gives you the opportunity to practice and entering, within the limits of its ability, in a more or less systemic analysis of the characters involved. This analysis, however, does not want to be in vain, to set goals, first of all to improve, not to fall into the same mistakes of our predecessors. Critical reflection on what we see, hear, read, and then that leads us to action, must be constant. The importance of this exercise improves the degree of civilization of our planet, which currently consider to be, in my personal scale of values that I call "State Collapse Terrestrial Civil - Civil Earthly State of Collapse", amounting to 40 100. That of Henry VIII (Eric Bana) has been a troubled life, chaotic, hectic, clerical man (Pope Leo X gave him the title of defender of the faith) because of its opposition to the theories of Luther. And anticlerical, when the passion to take over (the founder of the Anglican Church) which was established for political, religious, and especially as I said personally. Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) could not be his wife. Married to Catherine of Aragon, Mary was born and no male heir. And 'the political necessity of a male heir that triggers uproar in which to attend? No. The King, "He wants to have" Anna Bolena. At all costs. Failing to obtain the annulment of Rome (Pope Clement VII, fearing political repercussions by Charles V of Spain. Catherine of Aragon, wife of Henry VIII belongs to his family) strives at home. E 'parliament that relies on his desires. It 'the same Parliament to approve a series of laws that allowed the Archbishop of Canterbury to gain control of the Church of England. Since the archbishop himself is under the authority of the King, it becomes the highest authority. The games are made, marries Anne Boleyn. But this marriage will cost much blood, how many unjust decisions, foolish, will be taken. Among them, the death sentence imposed on Thomas, an opponent of the reform and coiner of the term UTOPIA. At London's King, anything is possible. The ad personam "laws have always existed. A criticism on himself, he probably would have done well to Henry VIII, that is, stopping a moment to analyze what has been done. The damage would have been less sure. There are many other things to say, but the beauty of cinema is just that, allows you to search, investigate, go further. For example: • Anne Boleyn is in love with Henry VIII? What kind of woman? Romantic, aggressive, restless, arrogant, go-getter, smart, clever ...? • The crisis that accompanies the process of separation from family, what is due? • The relationship with his brother. (Jim Sturgess) - There was incest? • What are the differences of character between the two sisters? Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson) • Father, mother and uncle of Anne Boleyn played that role throughout the story? • How is presented Catherine of Aragon? • How many were the wives of Henry VIII? • ... And Shakespeare, tell us? So many questions, so many different answers. All the more proud of those who work in the "Cinema for Cinema." And to us, the recipients of this work? Well, our task is more important. The legal proceedings. And in that regard so I leave ... - Two sparrows were sitting peacefully in the fresh take on the same plant, which was a willow. One was perched on top of the willow, the other down on a bifurcation of the branches. After a while, 'the sparrow who stood tall, just to break the ice, after the siesta said, "Oh, how beautiful the leaves are green." The sparrow that was down took as a provocation. The answer so annoyed, "Are you blind? Not you see I'm white." And the one above, annoyed: "You're blind, I am green." And the other from the bottom with its beak up: "I'll bet that the tail feathers are white. You do not understand anything! You're crazy. " The top of the sparrow he felt the blood boil and without a second thought rushed on his adversary to give him a lesson. The other did not move. As they approached, a face to face with the neck feathers ruffled with anger, before you begin the duel had the honesty to look in the same direction, upwards. The sparrow that was issued from an "oh" of surprise: "Look 'that are white." But he said to his friend: "Try a little 'to come up there where I was before." They flew on the highest branch of the willow and this time they said in chorus: "Look 'which are green." Good Ciak!… Expand

The Other Boleyn girl is a real mixed bag of a film when looking at just about every facet of its creation. It's got loads of talent behind it - director Justin Chadwick has experience with period dramas from working on Bleak House, Peter Morgan has written some great screenplays in the past for The Queen, Frost/Nixon and The Damned United, and Sandy Powell has proven her talent as a costume designer for Shakespeare in Love and Gangs of New York. The three leads Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana certainly look and sound the part as Anne and Mary Boleyn and Henry VIII respectively (and it's nice to see Portman maintaining her accent throughout the film, as she was unable to do in V for Vendetta). The real star of the show (as she should be, being the beating heart of the story) is Scarlett Johansson, who imbues Mary with genuine emotion, and understandable motivations - she just wants to be left alone to a lead a quiet life, and you really feel for her as she is used and abused by the king, court and her own family. Eric Bana's take on a young, virile Henry VIII is entertaining, as is Kristin Scott Thomas who plays Ma Boleyn as a bodice-burning feminist. Disappointingly, the main weak link in the cast is Natalie Portman. Her performance isn't bad as such, but as a character, Anne remains as an enigma for the whole film - we never understand her, or why she does what she does, and consequently she just comes across like an evil step-sister. The film has some good dramatic moments, and the authentic-looking costumes and locations are shot beautifully. That said, the majority of the film feels a little disconnected - some scenes don't appear to lead on from the previous ones, and huge amounts of time pass by in the blink of an eye for little or no explanation. One moment Anne has been banished to the French court, and the next scene she's back, and her character hasn't developed in any noticeable way. It has glimmers of brilliance, but The Other Boleyn girl just isn't consistent enough to be a noteworthy piece of film entertainment. It was a stroke of genius to cast two of the most beautiful and charismatic actresses in the world as one of the most infamous and powerful pairs of sisters in English history, and Scarlett Johansson gives a great performance, but Natalie Portman disappoints, and the film as a whole doesn't quite deliver as a historical drama, or even as a semi-historical romp. It's just a bit dull at times, and I think I'd take Showtime's high-camp series The Tudors over The Other Boleyn Girl any day, simply because it's a lot more fun.… Expand

The simple fact of the matter is you can not take a 350 page book and make it into a 1 and a half hour movie without it feeling rushed. This movie falls victim to this very thing. The first half of the movie tries to cover way to much ground in to little time. The other problem is this story is very sex laced. But in an effort to be open to a wider audience they made this movie a PG13 when it should have been R. Over all not a horrible movie, the acting was good and the settings were great but they jumped over important parts and the continuity was confusing and rushed. It's sad that such a good book fell short on the big screen.… Expand