The Other Boleyn Girl details
| Format: | 15 DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Natascha McElhone, Jared Harris, Yolanda Vasquez, Steven Mackintosh, Jodhi May |
| Directors: | Phillipa Lowthorpe, Philip |
| Genres: | Drama - Period, Romantic, Romance |
| Studio: | 2 ENTERTAIN VIDEO |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
The Other Boleyn Girl |
15 Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 30 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 06 Oct 2008 |
| Main languages: | English |
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Most helpful review
Drab dramatisation of a colourful novel
By a customer from Bangor , 19 Sep 2008[Highly rated reviewer]
This British, small-screen, and first, dramatisation of Phillipa Gregory's best-selling novel was originally shown as part of the BBC's Xmas and New Year package for 2003 on BBC2 - it was eagerly anticipated by many Gregory fans who had read the book and knew it would only be a matter of time before someone attempted to put it on screen but tellingly this version was 'inspired' by the Gregory novel and was filmed following sessions of 'improvisation' by the actors - it shows. Unfortunately, despite an understated and charming performance by Jared Harris as Henry, this piece falls pretty flat. The problem seems to be that all life, drama and colour has been drained out of it - which appears to be deliberate 'styling' with a paired down, 'minimalist' approach (even McElhone and May's dresses look positively drab and puritanical) - and in doing so loses much of the magic of the book. Beautiful Natasha McElhone is uncomfortably too old for the part of Mary Boleyn and for inexplicable reasons is portrayed as the older sister of Anne - in the book (and mostly agreed by historians) Anne was the older sister. This type of apparently unnecessary deviation of Gregory's story occurs quite frequently here - possibly to assist with this abridged retelling - but results in a frustratingly thin plot. In contrast May fairs better in the more beefy role of Anne and does succeed in procuring much sympathy from the viewer in her inevitable and tragic fate - but all this feels a bit 'too little too late'. The usually wonderful Philip Glenister turns up here in a woeful example of miscasting (as Mary's second husband) which again only serves to add to the awkwardness of the whole thing. Anyone who has read the book will know that the story is colourful and full of life - totally driven by ambition, passion, envy and an ever present threat of real danger - all this appears to have been lost here with the bleaching out of colour from the frame. The result is something which is almost unrecognisable from the original novel - but yet much closer than the 2008 Hollywood version.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(67)Just average
By a customer , 22 Apr 2013Poor quality film technique, very low budget but is worth a view due to its historical content about Henry VIII.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Low budget
By ASClondon (3 reviews) , 06 Dec 2012This is a terrible low budget film, nothing like the book which is very good and easy to read, no suspense, big brother style interviews. So bad.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Quite Dull.
By a customer , 11 May 2012THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide
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The Other Boleyn Girl
By a customer , 18 Mar 2012Have read all of Philipa Gregory's novels and her books on the Tudors have opened up a most fascinating period of English History. I think the problem with adaptations of books is that they never are as good as the written word. As a stand alone film this was well acted and entertaining, but of course, could not go into the depth the novel did. I hope some of those who watched the film then went on to buy the book!- Was this review helpful to you?
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Surprising in a bad way
By Noid (1 review) , 03 Jan 2012What an utterly weird film!
I rented it with no idea that it was based on a novel and found the setup of the film very bizarre. Imagining it to be a fictionalised account of a historical family/event it seemed to take the format of an 'I'm a celebrity...'/'Big Brother' reality tv show, with the characters often speaking alone to the camera.
Moving past the jarring choice of storytelling, the film itself is blatantly low budget. I was surprised at the advertisements I remembered seeing as the whole film was so obviously made in the same location with grainy camera effects.
Overall really disappointing!- Was this review helpful to you?
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