Elizabeth

Rating:
Summary: The Real Elizabeth!
Review: "Elizabeth" is a great film! You must bare in mind that it is a "Hollywood" adaptation of history, and was written as a tale of intrigue, and the screenwriters and the director were well aware that they were NOT doing a documentary. But this tale of the young Elizabeth I is quite accurate. I'd hate to burst bubbles, but She did have many lovers during her life time. Bare in mind that she lived in a period long before Victorian morality; affairs were common. The beginning of her reign was extremely shaky. She walked a tight-rope, and her reign was one characterized by compromise and wise delay tactics (always giving everything a 'wait and see' attitude so evident in her Religious Compromise). She was very much a Saint and Sinner. If you want the real facts, go read a book about it, but if you want to get a picture of what drove Elizabeth, and about this period in English history, you can get a good idea by watching this movie. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Don't Waste Your Time or Money
Review: I am a lover of English history, in particular the period of Richard III - Elizabeth R. This is the most awful re-write of history I have ever seen. Cross-dressing lords, gay armies ... PLEASE!!! Why do 90s social themes have to be "in your face" in a 16th century presentation?

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful movie, above compare with others
Review: Despite its historical inaccuracy, "Elizabeth" carries with it a certain beautiful motion. The design team, including the lighting and cinemetography divisions, have brought us a smooth and polished movie, and the director has made it brilliantly interesting. Reviews which speak of its historical inaccuracy only forget the fact that this is not a documentary, it is a movie, and should be treated as such. And those who compare it with "Shakespeare in Love" have missed the point. A must see, "Elizabeth" is a wonderful tale of assasination, love, and their interaction with power. I highly suggest "Elizabeth."

Rating:
Summary: This movie remined me of a commercial
Review: Elzabeth was a compressed, and overly dramtic movei that lacked everything but attractive stars. The performance by Cate Blanchett would have been spectacular if she would have had any decent dialogue. The direction was horrible. How many times does the audiece want to see Elizabeth shot through a haze, or through a window shaped like a cross. This movie was worse than The Romeo and Juliet that came out with Claire Dnaes,

Rating:
Summary: Best Picture of the Year
Review: True, the Academy named *Shakespeare In Love* Best Picture of the Year, but I've seen both it and *Elizabeth* and think the latter far superior. The same with the Best Actress award. Cate Blanchett is such a fascinating actress--I can't wait to see her later this year in *An Ideal Husband*. I saw nothing that really stood out about Gwyneth Paltrow's performance in *Shakespeare*. So you think *Elizabeth* was a tawdry sex film, oh high-ranking industry insider? Obviously you didn't see *Shakespeare*. Paltrow's part consisted mostly of crawling into bed with Joseph Fiennes and flashing the audience. (And people were outraged when some suggested that Cameron Diaz should be considered for an Oscar nomination!)

True, the movie wasn't completely historically accurate. However, "viewer from Michigan", I find it cheap of you to point out "historical inaccuracies" that are NON-EXISTENT! Mary, Queen of Scots was not in the movie. The woman that Walsingham murdered was Mary de Guise, NOT Mary, Queen of Scots.

Okay, just had to point that out. :-)

Anyway, it was easily the finest film of the year. Blanchett's performance was "heat lightening" (to quote *Vanity Fair*). A fine movie, see it as soon as possible. You will be blown away!

Rating:
Summary: Off with its head!
Review: Other critical reviewers have already noted that Elizabeth makes a travesty of history, and unnecessarily so. The politics, personalties, and intrigues of the Elizabethan period were fascinating enough without debasing them with this kind of cinematic rubbish. Even more deplorable is the quality of the screenplay itself. In contrast to such classics as Elizabeth R and Mary Queen of Scots (and even The Virgin Queen), the writing here alternates between the banal and the sophomoric--it's just plain boring. See Shakespeare in Love for a lesson in how truly talented writers can bring this period alive with an engaging, witty, intelligent script.

Rating:
Summary: A MASTERPIECE!
Review: Cate Blanchett was outstanding and oscar worthy as Elizabeth..the makeup was amazing..and she looked exactly like her namesake at the end of the movie. Joseph fienes is a very sexy actor, but playing the same character he played in Shakespeare in Love, in my opinion. he is nothing special... Too much sex in this movie... but otherwise it was very entertaining and mesmerized me.. I didn't really know much about Elizabeth before this movie and i don't know how historically correct it is but it is worth a look..

Rating:
Summary: A most magnificent cinema treat
Review: If only all films could be this good. The acting was extraordinary and the costumes and set designs were exquisite. A very important story to be told. Elizabeth was a remarkable woman if you've done any research about her.

Rating:
Summary: Historically inaccurate.
Review: In an age when many people get their history from TV and the movies, "Elizabeth," while a well crafted film and suberably acted, makes you wonder if the screenwriter bothered to pick up a history book. Elizabeth was not above political intrigue and regicide (she had Mary, Queen of Scots imprisoned and eventually gave the order to have her executed; she was not murdered by Walsingham with no involvement by Elizabeth as depicted in the film)and continued the practice of her father, Henry VIII after his break with Rome, to have dissenters (Catholics)executed. To portray a priest as wandering through the palace in priestly garb to assasinate Elizabeth is ludicrous. She had pushed the Catholic Church underground and had no hesitation to execute those underground priests who were found ministering to Catholics. As a historical work, the film, in a typical late 20th century practice to make complex situations manageable in 2 hours, leaves much to be desired. If one wants something more historically true, rent "Elizabeth R" with Glenda Jackson.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece
Review: This is a beautifully well-done film. Amazing acting by Cate Blanchett, and Geoffry Rush. It is mind boggling that the academy only gave this,movie one award (best makeup), I mean I have not seen "Shakespeare in love" but it would have to be good to beat Elizabeth.This is an exceptionly beutiful movie.*****