Do not see this movie if you love the book!

Rating: 7/10 (1 March 2008)

As a movie, The Other Boleyn Girl is interesting, compelling, and visually stunning. However, if you are like me and absolutely loved the book, then the movie version will (as usual) be extremely disappointing. The purpose of the book is to follow Mary's story (hence the title). We all know Anne Boleyn's history, it is the chronicling of the younger sister's journey that caused the book to be such a phenomenal read. Apparently someone forgot to clue the screenwriter in on this little detail because Mary is virtually forgotten for the middle portion of the movie. Her romances and emotions are swept aside for the drama of her older sister's life. What is somewhat ironic is that this is the reason Mary's story was neglected all of these years- she was perpetually overshadowed by her sister. The movie was no exception.
To be completely fair, Scarlett and Natalie give incredible performances and the movie, taken as a separate entity, is very good. However, for the hard-core Phillipa Gregory fans out there, do not expect to see the book come to life or you will leave, as I did, greatly disappointed.