Elizabeth

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but lacking ballast
Review: This movie covers the 8 years (1554-1562) during which Elizabeth I emerges from under a cloud (being imprisoned in the Tower of London and her neck on the line) to her accession to the English throne under fortuitous circumstances and the consolidaton of her power in the wake of a trail of gore ,treachery and opportunism .The moviemakers have obviously taken artistic license while producing "Elizabeth".However the idea is to give the viewer a 'feel' for the precarious circumstances under which she assumed the throne and the web of political-religious intrigue through which she had to navigate her way in order to transform England from a weak & bankrupt country into a great power .Her love affair with Dudley is given ample scope to play out through the movie,as is the shrewd,steely role played by Sir Francis Walsingham (Geoffery Rush) in establishing her imprimatur upon the English throne .Cate Blanchet gives a convincing performance . The costumes and music are impressive .All in all an entertaining movie , provided you are not looking for absolute historical verisimilitude .

Rating:
Summary: Treat Yourself to an Exciting Cate Blanchett Debut!
Review: ELIZABETH is NOT a stale historical costume drama. If you're looking for a movie with all the intrigue of a good Mafia flick and a lead character as fascinating as Elizabeth Bennett in PRIDE & PREJUDICE, see this film! I've had to go back for several viewings, and I'm as enthusiastic as ever about Cate Blanchett, the script, the cast, the art direction -- everything about this movie just plain works. I think you may find it irresistible.

Cate Blanchett is truly amazing. A virtual unknown when Kapur selected her for this film, Cate owns the role all the way from the naturally beautiful, frolicking young Princess to the awe-inspiring, white-pancaked visage of the Virgin Queen. Her expressive face is very easy to watch in all her moods.

I'm not comfortable with the term "fictionalized" when applied to this movie because the intent here is not to rewrite or depart from history at all. In fact, this is a very convincing effort to deduce the methods and manner by which Elizabeth evolved to her ultimate power and glory. I think they've done a spectacular job of connecting the dots and giving us, at least impressionistically, a look at the likely forces at work.

Again, this is not a costume pageant. It's young and vital and suspenseful and very engaging. The movie is lush and beautiful, but the film is all about human beings, motivations, machinations and the stream of life. Blanchett carries the film along with ease, even in its most difficult passages, and is framed by a great cast as well. Standouts for me included Jeffrey Rush as loyal facilitator and protector Walsingham, Kathy Burke as Cate's dying sister Queen Mary -- who worries that Cate will champion Protestantism but admirably refuses to execute her own sister without cause -- and the exotically beautiful Fanny Ardant as the conniving and bloody Mary de Guise.

I had to watch the film more than once to fully realize the point that this film makes regarding Elizabeth's re-invention of herself as the 'Virgin Queen' -- she did have a boyfriend, after all. The dialog toward the end is quite persuasive in this regard, as events force Elizabeth to the conclusion that, as monarch of the people, male companionship can only bring weakness to her country, and so she marries England just as a nun marries the church -- for good (at least, in public).

ELIZABETH is a joy of a movie and I am glad to have it in my DVD collection -- a fine job of rendering by the way and some nice extra featurettes. Mainly, it is a Cate Blanchett tour de force which establishes her as a major star, but it is also a triumph of the British cinema and an instant classic -- in fact I enjoyed this movie far more than the other period film released at the same time, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE. Blanchett in ELIZABETH is a different cup of tea, and much more to my taste. If you have any remaining doubts about seeing this movie after all the stellar reviews herein, I urge you to take the plunge and find out what everyone is raving about. You are going to see much more of Cate Blanchett in future, after all.

Rating:
Summary: Cate's performance is unsurpassable
Review: "Elizabeth" embodies the characteristics of truly great filmmaking. Blanchett's portrayal of the young queen is nothing less than astounding. The transformation of this innocent and uncorrupt creature brilliantlly produces a strong and empowered figure, despite all obstacles. The style of this period is captured quite effectively, most evident in design of period costume and stage. "Elizabeth" transcends the less than accurate account of history by creating an emotionally satisfying experience for the viewer. Such scenes as "Enigma" with Joseph Fiennes is as climactic as it is chilling. A haunting scene I will not soon forget. Despite all obstacles, "Elizabeth" represents the remarkable power of the human spirit. A refreshing and passionate performance. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Elite tapestry of historical majesty!
Review: "Elizabeth" is like a dream that will steal your heart away for the duration of its story, and once it is handed back to you, you'll find yourself in utter awe of the events that have taken place before your eyes. It pours on many different elements, those of emotion, intelligence, slight suspense, romance, betrayal, and historical events, all of which combine on a canvas that takes us into the life of a woman who stands out as one of the most successful monarchs in world history. But more importantly, we become so wrapped up in the movie's gossamer feel that we forget everything else and just enjoy it for what it is: pure beauty.

As the movie begins, King Henry VIII of England is dead, and his daughter Mary Tudor assumes the throne as queen of England. At this time in society, there are two sides to religion: the Catholics, who are comprised of the monarchy and the citizens considered loyal to the throne, and the Protestants, who are seen as heretics. Mary's half sister, Elizabeth, is of the Protestant faith, so after her father's death, there is fear in the royal court that the Protestants will try to raise her to the throne. Before Mary is able to send Elizabeth to her death, she herself miscarries a child and soon dies of a tumor, leaving the throne, as well as the turmoiled country, to her sister. She is christened queen, only to discover that her country is in shambles, and that her personal relationship with Lord Robert Dudley is looked down upon by the court. As the plots of overthrowing her position of power begin to thicken, Elizabeth is aided by the help of Sir Francis Walsingham in finding out her true adversaries as well as finding the will to lead her country.

There are so many positive aspects that the movie has going for it; it takes all of this in stride, however, never thinking too highly of itself, which can lead to failure. The story itself is the most intrical of these aspects, handling the history and events in a straighforward and very effective manner. As soon as we are introduced to the character of Elizabeth, we become entranced by her physical beauty as well as her willingness to do what is right by her country. For the most part, the history involved in the movie is accurate, and while their do remain some minor elements of historical liscense, in the end, it does not have as great an effect as the rest of the movie will.

The settings for the movie are absolutely gorgeous, some of the most elaborate ever used in a film. Perhaps this is because they are the real thing, filmed on location in numerous castles throughout England and Scotland, as well as becoming the first film ever to obtain permission to carry out production at the historical York Minster. The intricate sets, combined with the abundant use of dark imagery, all work together in creating the dismal and unforseen atmosphere that is Elizabeth's world. The light and dark imagery is also a key factor, for as the film progresses, there is an obvious transition from the darkness of England to the lighter days of Elizabeth's less-heinous rule than that of earlier monarchs.

The aspect of Elizabeth's personal life is a truly magnificent in the way it shifts when she becomes queen. The movie handles this transition greatly, giving actress Cate Blanchett so many avenues to travel down as Elizabeth begins to realize that once she is queen, her personal life will become public and accessible everyone around her. This has a great effect on the romance between Elizabeth and Lord Robert Dudley, whom she loves more than anything in the world. She soon realizes, though, that the love she holds for him is of a higher caliber than that which she holds for England, and her decisions begin to focus more on her concerns for her country's welfare.

The music for "Elizabeth" is quite striking, possessing that same gothic/light feel that shifts with the intended mood of each scene. David Hirschfelder, through his powerful use of vocals as well as strings and ensembles, is able to bring to life the many feels of the movie, from the intense and beautiful romance of the two main characters to the patriotic and wartorn England. I found myself most partial to the music of the royal festivities, especially that of the night in which the boats ride the water, where the music could easily be playing from the shore by the queen's royal court.

There is a high momentum of star power employed here, bringing diversity and grandeur to the film. Cate Blanchett received a Golden Globe award for her portrayal of Elizabeth, giving the title character fire and passion, wit and sincerity. She plays out all of the queen's ambitions and hopes for her reign with true believability, and by film's end, we are left with a stunning portrayal of the monarch. Geoffrey Rush portrays the sinister though well-meaning Walsingham, whose loyalty to his queen is makes for one of the most excellent performances from Rush since "Shine." Joseph Fiennes, playing the part of Dudley, is superb as the confused lord who cannot decide what to do about his love for the queen. Richard Attenborough seems the only person fit to play Sir William Cecil, attending to his queen's wishes for her country's rule. And Christopher Eccleston plays the enemy, the Duke of Norfolk, with pomp and piety.

There is a lot at work in "Elizabeth," making it one of the best movies of 1998. We are able to feel sympathy for the historic queen, not only because of the implications of her personal life, but also for the many responsibilities with which she is left to attend to. You'll find yourself moved by the movie's story as well as the character development and interaction, all making the movie rich, deep, and warm as pulsing blood.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully costumed mush
Review: Driven by a recent bought of the flu to rummage through my video library, I recently watched this movie again. My initial impression that the film was historical mush was mightily confirmed. There is no historical reality to the characters, especially to the character of Elizabeth who, by the time in which the movie begins, was already a shrewd and wily politician, not a naive innocent. But, in addition, the damage to such characters as Burghley is unfortunate (and if I were one of his descendents I would sue). There is no logic to the plot, which not only telescopes time in the usual manner of historical films (i.e., jamming 20 years into 1, going forward), but even telescopes past into present. Add to that the dimly lit sets (in which nearly all interiors appear to have been filmed in Durham Cathedral) and any rationality is lost. The overall effect is one of historical gibberish. About the best thing I can say is that a handful of scenes are at least somewhat evocative and suggest that the costumers did make an effort at doing the historical research which the writers, director and producer clearly did not. (This is most prominent in the coronation scene in which Elizabeth's costume closely resembles an illumination in, I believe, the charter of the London barber-surgeons.)

Rating:
Summary: TERRIBLE DVD AUDIO - AND A MESS OF A MOVIE
Review: Because we live in a culture which more and more celebrates the mediocre above everything, we have examples of filmmaking like ELIZABETH. Clearly, when they earmarked monies for this production, they gave blank cheques to the production and costume designers - alone. One seriously has to wonder if they remunerated the director and script writers of this film at all, considering the total neglect of content and narrative.

What a crashing disappointment and frustration to recognize a talented actor in Ms Blanchett, and yet see her appear in so little of the film. For a title character, she is astonishingly absent. I would like to credit this as having a good agent, who told her to spend as little time as possible on this sunken ship - but the sad fact is that the director, writers, and producers could not have cared less about the driving engine of this piece, Elizabeth herself.

From the start, the DVD is appalling - singularly, because of an excrutiating AUDIO MIX. The sound effects and incessant, forgettable music are distorted and at times deafening. This is because one has to raise the volume so high to be able to attempt to understand what is being spoken by the actors. And even then, their speech is whispered or swallowed - in some effort at 'gritty reality', I suppose.

As other reviewers have correctly pointed out, the story line is not only inaccurate but impossible to follow. The fact that Kapur and his team made no effort to help the viewer understand the labyrinthine confusion of this pivotal period in history is revealed in their exceedingly poor product. Not every historical film has to be didactic. Nor must every movie goer have an expert grasp of the subject. But, at least, upon watching an event in time, so thoroughly documented as Elizabeth's rise to power is, one should not end up more confused than one started. And when the mere lavishing of millions on sets and costumes merits the kind of gushing admiration this film has garnered, you know we are in very deep trouble - not of losing our culture, but of literally having none at all.

Fanny Ardent, the great French actress who appears here briefly - and in the single scene where one can understand what is being said - had it right. Show up, work two days, go back to France....and pray Shekhur Kapur nevers calls again.

Rating:
Summary: Well Done History
Review: ...but not very entertaining. A very sad movie. Everything that Elizabeth does turns into something sad. The acting is terrific. Elizabeth has to learn how to be a queen. One of the best queens that we have ever had in history. She ruled for forty-three years. But she had to become a man. So after I viewed it, I put the tape down, and didn't want to pick it up again. Lord Robert loved her. And she loved Lord Robert. But it was beside the point. Good direction.

Rating:
Summary: THE VIRGIN QUEEN
Review: A beautiful, well crafted cinematic work. At its heart, of course, is the talented array of actors who portray the most important roles. Of course, Cate Blanchett is startling and forceful in her portrayal as Elizabeth... expertly reflecting the naivete and loss thereof as Elizabeth matures and undergoes the changes that will facilitate her becoming the Queen of England. Shaping these changes, of course, are the times, but also the characters who populate her life. First of all, Joseph Fiennes character, Sir Robert, appears to be Elizabeth's one and only love, and when she feels that love is betrayed, she takes it to heart and declares that England will be her only husband. This is a turning point, according to the movie, in her life, in which she sees the power and need of deceit, cunning, and also of warfare. Geoffrey Rush is his reliably talented self as Elizabeth's most adept and trusted advisor. (Strangely, of course, Fiennes and Rush both figure prominently in the film Shakespeare in Love, which was released at approximately the same time as Elizabeth. Joseph Fiennes's character may as well be the same, apart from the fact that in one film he is Shakespeare and in another he is Elizabeth's lover. In both pictures he is a man who falls in love with and seduces a woman he should not while married to someone else). Elizabeth is a beautifully made film which will illustrate a turning point in English history. Cate Blanchett illuminates the way.

Rating:
Summary: Okay, but I expected more
Review: Not being a history buff, I have no idea of this films accuracy, however, though it started out strong, some of the intrigue got a bit confusing.

Cate Blanchett's performance however, was impeccable. She embodied the young Elizabeth suddenly thrown into a whirlwind of controversy that even an elder would find daunting. Her power and vulnerability were well illustrated. You could see her confidence grow with every step and you could see her dilemmas.

What I found odd about the movie was that she seemed surprised about the fact the man she was having a relationship with, was married. Given her position and the prior portion of the relationship, I would think that would not be unknown. Especially, when her relationship continued for a while after she gained the throne. This may have been a clumsy "movie" introduction and not based in fact however. It just did not seem to make sense.

Additionally, I found the intrigue with the Spanish ambassador very hard to follow. I never did figure out, what went on there. Also the handling of the French prince was a joke. It was so one sided. With so many other portrayals as 3 dimensional this character was rather clumsily handled. It seemed out of character with the rest of the movie. It added a light note, but awkwardly.

This movie had so much good acting, but I felt it was not pieced together well. Maybe a more astute follower of history would find this easier. However, reading the other reviews, it seems history only played a small part in this movie.

It could have been better. The acting was great, the way it was pieced together was not.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Film!
Review: In response to the many comments made by previous reviewers with regard to historical inaccuracy, so what? It's a film meant for entertainment, not a source for writing a paper. Moreover, if directors stuck to portraying history then there certainly would not have been the film "Shakespeare in Love." This film deserves five stars because it is without a doubt, at least on my part, a high calibre piece of work. My eyes were riveted by the wonderful cinematography, the beautiful costumes and of course, the superb acting. In addition to Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchette gives a soul stirring performance as Elizabeth. I am never disappointed by her!