The Other Boleyn Girl, the film

[lampshade_days]

Oh man. Someone please tell me that the book is better than the movie. Please tell me that it is less of a half-assed, thrown together anti-Anne Boleyn work of fiction. Say what you will about The Tudors, at least they get more than just the minor details right.

Flaws:

• The overstated importance of Mary Boleyn. I get that the title is, after all, The Other Boleyn Girl, but there is no way that, if Mary had borne the King a son, he would not have chosen to acknowledge that son as he did with Henry Fitzroy (his son with Elizabeth Blount). The story just falls apart there.


• Anne didn't actively set out to seduce the King. From what I've read, he was interested in her, and her father and uncle urged her onward.
• Though I know she was accused of it, I don't for a minute believe that Anne Boleyn considered sleeping with her brother (i.e. committing treason) so as to bring forth male issue, and I found it kind of insulting that they even went there. (Surely even in the 16th century they were aware that a child that was the product of incest between individuals that closely related would be born with some physical deformities and/or developmental disability, but I could be wrong on that one.) That whole scene was so ridiculous and made Anne look like a crazy person.
• They completely skimmed through the Reformation. So that was not the focus of the story, okay, but the whole Katherine of Aragon issue was dealt with in far too tidy a fashion. (Speaking of the first queen, I never know if her name should be spelled with a K or a C, or with the extra a like Katharine - I've seen it all three ways.) Also, I did not like the actress who portrayed Katherine, either in appearance or the way she played the queen. Maria Doyle Kennedy did a far better job with the role.
• The rape scene. Ugh.
• What about the other alleged lovers? I think they merit at least an offhand mention.
• This is a minor detail, but they left out the "and I have a little neck" line, which, though morbid, is a really good line.

Positives:

• The footnote at the end about Elizabeth I. I wish I could remember the exact wording, because it brought tears to my eyes. Honestly, this was possibly the best part of the movie for me.
• The gorgeous costumes. The Tudors, take note: 16th century monarchs did not wear black silk royal boxer shorts to bed.
• The inclusion of Lady Elizabeth Boleyn, Anne's mother. Great, strong, female character. Why Michael Hirst left her out of The Tudors is beyond me.
• Jim Sturgess made for a prettier George than Padraic Delaney, sorry to say.