Rating: 
Summary: A Dark, Fascinating Characterization
Review: I thought this movie was a captivating look at a sovereign queen's struggles and triumphs in Elizabethan England. The history is loose and inaccurate, but the drama of the movie's own story are sufficient enough to warrant a re watching. Cate Blanchett shines in the role of Elizabeth with a mix of steely determination and an undertone of vulnerability. She is at once confident and uneasy, shifting unresisting from the role of a country residing princess into the queen of a death and sex filled domain. The romance is present in "Elizabeth," but it is pure human emotion that takes center stage. Her trials and tribulations merit beautifully crafted scenes, complimented by Blanchett's acting and by Shekhar Kepur's allowance of solitary scenes with Elizabeth. These scenes not only build up her character, but they also allow the audience a peek into the aforementioned vulnerability that underscores her public decision. "Elizabeth" is a ultimately a classic drama. It combines all the elements of drama, with a historic setting and sweeping characterization that at once intrigues and mystifies. It also has elements of feminism, and if you are so inclined as to enjoy a depiction of a strong woman with human weaknesses, I would highly recommend this movie to you. I would also highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves a good biography. In the end it is a period drama that does not lose itself with a mass of supporting characters, and instead has a heart and soul in the form of its lead actress (which for once truly describes the role), Cate Blanchett. If you decide to watch this movie, I sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as I did! I for one, went into it thinking I would dislike it, but was thankfully very wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Classic favorite
Review: We own this one and watch it frequently. A stunning combination of strong acting, great script, and wnderful cinematography. If you enjoy movies that have strong female leads yet also have a compelling storyline, this one is for you. No Romance Channel here.
Rating: 
Summary: Plot So Inaccurate It Ruins The Movie
Review: I'm all for entertainment, but the appeal of the movie is supposed to be that it (pretty much) really happened. The movie plot, however, bears almost no resemblence to history. Of the several glaring inaccuracies, there a few that are so central to the movie that they ruined the movie for me. First, Leicester (the character played by Joseph Fiennes) was never involved in a plot to kill the Queen. Why would the movie do this? Second, no matter how hard it is in this day and age to imagine a non-sexually active person, the Queen did not have sex with Leicester and probably with no one, ever. Besides the fact that she was never alone, it seems she was never to marry or engage in a sexual relationship considering the terrible associations she had regarding sex/marriage during her childhood (including the beheading of her mother Anne Boleyn by her father). She did enjoy (and demand) the adoring courtly manners shown her by the young men in her court. And she used marriage negotiations with royal suitors in many countries in order to forge alliances with these countries. Third, the crux of the film is Elizabeth gazing at a statue of the Virgin Mary and deciding to be like her in the eyes of the world. Elizabeth was a Protestant and while she abhored the Puritan extremism and was somewhat tolerant of Catholics who outwardly conformed to the Church of England, she unequivocably banned all statues of the Virgin Mary (a Catholic symbol). The list of innacuracies go on and on but here are a few more: Walsingham did not travel to Scotland to kill Mary of Guise or Mary Queen of Scots for that matter. The Duke of Anjou portrayed as an effeminate, cross-dresser was in fact the former Duke of Alencon who was not effeminate at all and who Elizabeth once considered marrying, but used his Catholic religion as a pretext for turning him down (and that he was approx. 20 years younger than her) while in reality, she just used the constant marriage negotiations with the Duke and others (Erik of Sweden, Philip of Spain, royal suitors in Austria, etc.)for her political benefit. The scene where the Duke at first meeting Elizabeth whispers that he'd like to see her quinny is hilarious. He would have been thrown out of England on the spot. The real "plot" is interesting enough and I would have liked to see these wonderful actors act it out.
Rating:
Summary: of shakespearean proportion
Review: This is a first-rate film, combining intrigue, sex, and solid history. THe actors are superb and subtle, defying stereotypes and hollywood-style exagerations. Warmly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: So beautiful it hurts
Review: I have seen the DVD many times, at least 3 times before I purchased it for myself. It is beautiful, like a painting or a poem but on screen. Cate Blanchett is amazing. If you like period pieces -- or incredible acting, visual and auditory effects -- get this DVD!
Rating:
Summary: More deserving of the oscar than Shakespear In Love
Review: This is a very special movie, one of the great period movies of all time. Searing performences by Blanchet and Fienes help the movies more dramatic parts move along at a brisk pace. The queens personel body guard steals the show though.
Rating:
Summary: Take it with a grain of salt
Review: This movie is a masterpiece of historical FICTION. Do not go in expecting to see a perfectly accurate documentary when you watch this, because if you do, you will be sorely disappointed. Granted, this is based on real events, but they did not necessarily occur in the order this movie suggests. If this movie were completely accurate, it would be very boring and unappealing to viewers except for a few not too exciting people. Instead, watch this movie ready to be moved. It is a fabulous illustration of the power, majesty, wit and political abilities of Britain's most powerful and famous Queen. Elizabeth combines sex, violence, betrayal and intrigue, while presenting it in a deep and meaningful way. In the beginning of the movie we see the young and innocent Princess Elizabeth in constant danger while her catholic sister rules. Protestant attempts to place Elizabeth on the throne put Elizabeth in great danger. When Mary dies of cancer, Elizabeth takes the throne in a catholic male dominated society and must overcome plots and intrigues just to stay alive. Cate Blanchett delivers a spectacular performance as Elizabeth, portraying her caring sensitivity at the same time as her cold and ironic wit. Her evolution throughout the movie is spectacular, and this performance far outshone Gwenyth Paltrow's in the cliché movie that beat this one out for the presigious oscars. Joseph Fiennes plays Robert Dudley, the Queen's love interest, and plays the part well, but comes off as a somewhat two-dimensional character. Other notable performances are by Fannny Ardent as the venomous queen of Scotland and Richard Attenborough as William Cecil, Elizabeth's advisor. Historical discrepancies aside, this movie is an amazing and powerful portrayal of the raw majesty that was Queen Elizabeth. In my opinion is was just slightly too dark for the academy's liking, and that cost them the best picture.
Rating: 
Summary: History "Smushed Together"
Review: While this is an engaging and entertaining movie, it rides roughshod over the facts of history. Most of the events in it are factual, but the movie makes it appear that they all happened over the course of perhaps five years. In fact, it took over thirty years or more for most of them to play out. Watch it for entertainment, but NOT history.
Rating: 
Summary: Bracingly Shakespearean.
Review: Ignore the fools who would dismiss this startling film over historical inaccuracies. As in a Shakespeare history play, 'history' is a background against which director Kapur frames his uncomfortable insights about power: the way it is based on god-like surveillance, murder, blasphemous invocations of religion etc.; and, more frighteningly, the way power is represented in art-forms, like masques, boat rides, costumes, the very images used in these artworks (e.g. the debate about the body and the body politic) - even, I guess, Shakespeare plays. And the best Shakespeare history plays were always about his present. Sometimes the film feels a little too CGI in its effects, but its mordant, violent and systematic cynicism makes it refreshing in a decade of limp costume dramas, and Geoffrey Rush once again proves why he is a titan among modern actors.
Rating:
Summary: Oh, I just can wait to be Queen
Review: Elizabeth Score: 93/100 Elizabeth is like a dream of a movie. It's dramatic, mysterious and fact-based. Not only this, it is the best film of 1998, and it's one of the most amazing Queen movies of the 1990's. Yes, it's that good, an unforgettable and unmissable motion picture event! When catholic Queen Mary (Kathy Burke) dies the succession goes to Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett), the protestant half-sister Mary was not prepared to execute. The new queen finds herself surrounded by advisors, some supportive but some plotting to restore the catholic line by almost any means. She is also under pressure to marry and produce an heir, but her lover Lord Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes) is not considered suitable. Elizabeth realises she has some decisions to make, the most important being who rules England. Shekar Kupar's film is the first to actually take us back in time and feel like we're in every situation, going through every trouble the character's get into. It's a remarkable thing to feel like you're there, and I have Kupar to thank for that, his direction is marvellous, his effort for this film was astounding. Cate Blanchett's performance is also very unique, the best performance of 1998 by a long shot, she pulls off Queen Mary with power and elegance. Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston and Joseph Fiennes back her up nicely. The costumes and set decoration are perfect, especially the costumes, which shine brightly and have unforgettable style. Elizabeth is a film of tamed passion and emotional beauty, not to be missed and not to be disliked.
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