Hit – Starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana

Anne and Mary Boleyn are driven by their family’s blind ambition to compete for the love of King Henry VIII.

I have always enjoyed movies and books that are historical fiction. This story is particularly intriguing because many people have forgotten the role that Mary Boleyn has played in history. Although this story is not specific to facts in particular areas, it still encourages you to independently look back at the ties between the Boleyn girls and King Henry.

This movie had a very nice look to it in terms of lighting, costumes and make-up. Although, I feel that the women could have been more pale since I don’t think of them as particularly dark skin. The characters in general seemed a little more glamorous than I would normally think of them (and compared to their caricatures).

The actors in this film were well cast, although, I do feel that Natalie Portman could have toned down her portrayal of Anne Boleyn – she seemed to be stretching slightly in some scenes.

One thing that really bugged me about this film is the necklace that Anne Boleyn wears. I realize that in portraits of Anne we see her with the necklace that includes the letter B, but it reminds me too much of the necklace that America Ferrera wears as Betty in Ugly Betty.

Bottom Line: If you enjoy historical fiction, you will enjoy the Boleyn Girls.

Drama

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content and some violent images.

Running Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Miss – Starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover

When Jerry (Black) becomes magnetized due to a power plant sabotage gone wrong, he accientally ends up erasing all the movies in a friends video store. In order to keep customers happy, Jerry and Mike (Def) attempt to remake (swede) movies on their own.

Although this movie had its moments of entertainment, it was overall not a cinematic marvel. My main question is, what is up with Mos Def? Why can’t he enunciate? It drives me nuts! I found myself focused on the idea that I had no clue what he was saying.

There were some ideas of the film that I found to be interesting – the idea of sweding a film, and the interaction when the producers (Mike and Jerry) were trying to get an actress in their film. The rest of the film was merely bland and the ending was dropped off to a point where I was waiting for the film to come back on, only it didn’t.

Bottom Line: Don’t Be Kind.

Comedy

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references.

Running Time: 1 hour 41 minutes