Product Details

• Actors: Natascha McElhone, Jodhi May, Jared Harris, Steven Mackintosh, Philip Glenister
• Directors: Philippa Lowthorpe
• Writers: Philippa Lowthorpe, Philippa Gregory
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: BBC Worldwide
• DVD Release Date: October 21, 2008
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00114XM04
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,512 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Other Boleyn Girl" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

OTHER BOLEYN GIRL - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The king's women, January 7, 2008

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Other Boleyn Girl (DVD)

Hollywood is releasing a new adaptation of Phillipa Gregory's "The Other Boleyn Girl," so unsurprisingly the older BBC adaptation is also (finally) seeing the light of American day.

And it's a pleasant, intimate little look at the difficult world of women in Tudor England. It's hampered by what is obviously a very low budget, but Jodhi May and Jared Harris turn in performances that knock it a few notches higher. Seriously, they're both amazing.

While serving Queen Katherine, Mary Boleyn (Natascha McElhone) catches the eye of King Henry VIII (Jared Harris), and soon her scheming, power-hungry family has shoved her into his bed. Initially she's horrified and ashamed, but soon finds that she's starting to fall in love with the charming king.

Meanwhile, Mary catches her sister Anne (Jodhi May) in bed with an engaged courtier, and the disgraced girl is sent away. When Anne returns, Mary is pregnant, and the Boleyn family is afraid of losing Henry's favor. But when he meets Anne, Henry immediately drops Mary, and becomes enraptured by the ambitious, frank young girl.

But Anne's one mistake -- and exile -- have hardened her, and she's determined not to be the "king's whore" like her sister, but his wife. Amid a storm of angry protest, Henry divorces his wife and marries Anne. But when she gives birth to another daughter, her position begins to slip...

"The Other Boleyn Girl" is not an epic movie -- it's more of a Tudor chick-flick. The big issues (women's reduced rights, splitting from the Catholic Church, poor Katherine of Aragon) are pushed to the background, in favor of a more intimate look at two young women's lives.

The direction is something of a hit-and-miss -- there are some lovely moments, like Mary's moment in the church when she realizes who she's in love with, or Anne's tantrum in front of the court. And Philippa Lowthorpe really gets across what a woman's life would have been like in the Tudor court, as well as the controversial idea that Anne really WAS guilty of incest. Unlikely, but interesting in fiction.

But the sets and costumes look a bit low-budget for the sumptuous Tudor era -- this is glaringly obvious in Katherine's chambers, which look like they were assembled hastily on a soundstage. And for some reason, the characters keep talking to the camera as if they're in a reality show.

What pulls this above "average"? That would be the acting. McElhone gives a graceful, understated performance, but May is the real powerhouse here -- her Anne fills the screen as a vibrant, passionate young woman who is burned by her family's ambition. And Harris is simply amazing as the young Henry -- not a bloated, diseased wreck, but a charming and athletic young monarch.

"The Other Boleyn Girl" is a rather mediocre TV movie that is given a massive boost by a trio of talented actors, particularly Jodhi May. Just don't expect too much historical detail.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Different, February 25, 2008

By 

Iris "arsanat" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Other Boleyn Girl (DVD)

The first time I saw this movie I hated it. I had been expecting a serious costume drama that followed the book precisely. This is not that, so anyone expecting it should be warned.

I don't know why, but I found myself watching it again (long after the first occasion) and I liked it much better.

Yes, the costumes and sets are terrible. There was clearly a pitiful production budget for this. Where the movie redeems itself is in the performances. Jodhi May is excellent. Her transition from lovestruck girl to scheming woman is very well done. The other performances are all solid (although Jared Harris comes off a little mild as King Henry). I also liked the music. It's not epic, but very moody, melancholy, and elegant.

Some of the dialogue is ad libbed and the director uses a confessional camera technique (a la reality tv) to allow the characters to say what's on their minds directly to the audience. It's jarring, unexpected, probably my least favorite choice for narrative. But at the same time, it held my attention.

Overall, it's an odd little movie. But anyone who is curious should give it a try. (I think that after seeing the new version opening this week, I may find myself wishing they'd combined the production values of 2008 with the cast from 2003.)

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compared to the American version, April 15, 2008

By 

Elizabeth Wood "Tudor history lover" (Clinton, IA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Other Boleyn Girl (DVD)

I feel that this movie, compared to the American version, follows the book a little bit more closely. When I saw the American version, I was appalled at how the movie did not follow the book in any manner. They made it seem like the whole part of history (several years worth) happen in 3 months. I will admit that the book is excellent, so it is hard for any movie adaptation to match up to that caliber. At least this movie tries.