28 March, 2008 | Leave a Comment
I went to see this movie tonight in Leicester Square, which cost £12.50 (that’s $25 — no joke. There’s an interesting article in the Times today called Goodbye to Rip-Off Britain, which forecasts a recession coming and an end to these insane prices — could it be?).
This Boleyn movie has gotten pretty bad reviews, so I don’t know why I wanted to see it. I felt like a costume drama, I guess. To my surprise, it really wasn’t bad. I was engrossed throughout. Though this is not a serious historical epic, it does remind one of the way women in the upper classes were pimped out by their families like whores — and that’s no exaggeration. Women were used, abused and then tossed aside like trash or, in the case of Anne Boleyn, murdered. [Of course, this still happens. Lady Di, anyone?] The 500 years that have passed between now and then have somehow lessened the horror of Henry VIII’s reign, which I don’t understand. Henry VIII is like a cartoon character to us now. In the gift shops around London, I see Henry VIII stuffed toys and finger puppets being sold for children. Would you let your kid play with a stuffed toy of Saddam Hussein? Frankly, I don’t see much difference.
Many of the reviews have discounted this film as a bodice-ripping romance. While any movie with Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson doing English accents can’t be taken entirely seriously, a film that features scenes of rape is not romantic. But then I guess not all film critics recognize rape when they see it.
Anglofille said @ 10:34 pm | film |
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I saw it last week and I liked it. I mean, I usually enjoy all period movies, but I thought that the relationship between the two sisters was well played out. I can’t wait until the Tudors (season 2) starts again tomorrow!
