Not Approved

The Other Boleyn Girl

Based on a novel by Philippa Gregory, "The Other Boleyn Girl" revolves around the ferociously ambitious Boleyn sisters, Mary (Johansson) and Anne (Portman), who are rivals for the bed and heart of 16th century English King Henry VIII (Eric Bana).

A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in European history, "The Other Boleyn Girl" tells the story of two beautiful sisters, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) Boleyn who, driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). While both women eventually share the king's bed, only one will ascend to the throne for a brief and turbulent reign that ends tragically with a swing of the executioner's sword.
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Negative Rating
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SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
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Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

This is one of those films that may pleasantly surprise you. I don’t know exactly what I expected, but I do know it is a better made film than I figured it would be. The acting is good, particularly that of Natalie Portman who plays Anne Boleyn. Anne is a cunning and quick learning young woman who knows how to get her way by manipulating certain situations as well as the king himself. She can certainly turn on the charm when it is to her advantage. Her flirtatious nature entirely captures the king’s attention. The cinematography was also excellent. An example of this is a scene in which a ship is coming in from sea and it is simply a beautiful scene to watch with the brooding sky and foamy waves. Another nice shot is one of the castle with all its majesty.

As far as I could recall from my history classes in high school, this film is fairly accurate in its story telling. The king’s affairs were well known and the film includes this fact. However, some of the content shown including the king damning a character twice in this film, preclude us from considering this film family friendly. Other content concerns which our readers need to know is that the king’s unfaithfulness and affairs are included, although no graphic sex scenes were shown. In one scene, which is partially shown from the waist up and strongly implied, the king forces himself on Anne who has been teasing him for some time. There are also two beheadings at the conclusion of the film, neither of which are graphically shown, although a corpse and blood is seen in a long shot from above.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

None

0
Integrity

Two beheadings although not graphic.

3
Sex

The king has affairs, although none are graphically shown but enough is revealed so the audience knows what is happening. A character consummates her marriage to a man but then the marriage is annulled. A character almost talks her brother into having sex with her so as to provide her husband a child but they do not go through with it; a few sexual innuendos; the king apparently forces himself on his wife.

3
Language

D-2; G/OMG-2; B-5; P-1; J-with reverence in a prayer.

1
Violence

Two beheadings although not graphic.

1
Drugs

Drinking in a few scenes.

2
Nudity

Woman's nude back is seen; woman's thigh exposed; shirtless man. Cleavage.

1
Other

Some bloody meat is seen being chopped in one scene; a character lies to the king to protect a family member; blood on the bed in a couple of scenes as women miscarry babies.

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