same source but quite different to the TV version

Rating: 7/10 (23 March 2008)

Philippa Gregory's novel comes to the screen for the second time, the first time being a small screen BBC production in 2003, using a 'confessional diary' style, and now on the big screen with a larger budget and huge name stars.
Eric Bana (Troy, The Hulk) makes a rather bland Henry VIII, not big on personality or character. Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johanssen play the Boleyn sisters, the showy and scheming Anne, polished from the French court, and Mary, quieter and content to live a plain life away from court. As the older members of the Boleyn/Howard family, Mark Rylance, Kirsten Scott-Thomas, and David Morrissey make an impression, plotting to sell their family members as you would cattle for the amusement of men and the enhancement of family fortune.
I preferred the original version in many ways, and some of the source novel was tweaked and changed to make more of a big budget statement, but this is not a bad film, it looks good and has obviously had money spent on it, it has good performances and, although historically shaky, tells an involving tale.