better than expected,

Rating: 6/10 (20 March 2008)

I heard some truly awful reviews of this film, which i now feel were unfounded. Yes so the accents are a bit dodgy, yes Eric bana is as wooden as Pinocchio, but there was a lot that was good about the film. I felt Katherine of Aragon really stole the show, she was the one honest character in the whole film! Natalie Portman was excellent as the conniving Anne, Scarlett Johansson well cast as the naive, confused Mary, and excellent support from David Morrisey as the mischievous Norfolk. It really summed up life in the 16th century. Women were just pawns in a mans world, even though Anne challenges this fact. It was a tad slow in the middle, and large plot lines like Henry's split from Rome were missed out, but the acting was solid for the most part. One word of caution though, the film was very adult for a 12a. Do not take any under 12s to this film, not unless you want to explain rape and incest to them. I thought the story went a little too far in that regard. Its no Elizbeth, but worth a watch!