Elizabeth (1998)

One of the big Elizabethan-era films of 1998, Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth serves up a brimming goblet of religious tension, political conspiracy, sex, violence, and war. England in 1554 is in financial and religious turmoil as the ailing Queen "Bloody" Mary attempts to restore Catholicism as the national faith. She has no heir, and her greatest fear--that her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth will assume the throne after her death--is realized. Still, the late Queen Mary has her loyalists. The newly crowned Elizabeth finds herself knee-deep in dethroning schemes while also dodging assassination attempts. Her advisers (including Sir William Cecil, superbly played by Richard Attenborough) beg her to marry any one of her would-be suitors to stabilize England's empire. No matter that she already has a lover. The passionate Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes) is married, however, and shows he cannot stand up to the growing strength of the Queen. With the help of her aide Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), Elizabeth strikes against her enemies before they get to her first. But her rise ultimately entails rejecting love and marriage to redefine herself as the indisputable Virgin Queen.

Cate Blanchett's Oscar-nominated performance as the naive and vibrant princess who becomes the stubborn and knowing queen is both severe and sympathetic. Her ethereal, pale beauty is equal parts fire and ice, her delivery of such lines as "There will be only one mistress here and no master!" expressed with command rather than hysterics. As striking as Blanchett's performance is the film's lavish and dramatic production design. The cold, dark sets paired with the lush costuming show the golden age of England's monarchy emerging from the Middle Ages. Rich velvet brushes over the dank stones while power is achieved at any price, and with such attention to physical detail, Elizabeth fully immerses you into its compelling chronicle of pioneering feminism and revisionist history. --Shannon Gee

Amazon.com

Excellent for Anglofiles

For those keeping up wtih the history of England this is a must have for Anglofiles. Cate Blanchett does a wonderful job (as did Helen Mirren) portraying young Queen Elizabeth. September 9, 2008

A Wow, Captivating and Mesmerizing Historical Movie

If you love historical movies, then this movie is one to see. Cate Blanchett was made for this movie. Watching it, I almost thought that Cate is actually Queen Elizabeth, and not portraying the role of queen Elizabeth. However, I suggest that if you want to follow Queen Elizabeth's birth and rise to her status as queen, then I recommend the following purchases to compliment this GREAT movie. First, "The Other Boleyn Girl" which depicts Elizabeth's birth and the beheading of her mother, whom wanted to sleep with her brother (Elizabeth's uncle) in the hopes of producing a baby boy to replace the infant son she miscarried for her husband, the King of England. Secondly, "Elizabeth" which begins with Elizabeth as a young girl whom loves to dance with her friend Robert. However, when she becomes queen after an attempt to execute her for her religious beliefs, she falls in love with Robert whom beds her often. The only problem is that Robert is married and Queen Elizabeth is unaware of his marriage to another until told by her trusted advisor. He tells her because the powers-that-be, during that time, wanted Elizabeth to marry and produce an heir, but she considered herself married to England and was called "The Virgin Queen." View the movie to see how this queen reigns supreme with her God, her love for her people and England. Finally, you can purchase "Elizabeth, The Golden Age" to see how Queen Elizabeth is besieged.The Other Boleyn Girl] ][[ASIN:B000ZOXDFA Elizabeth - The Golden Age (Widescreen Edition) September 6, 2008

Elizabeth I, The Virgin Queen

Our fascination with British history continues as we watched Elizabeth and the gorgeous sequel, Elizabeth the Golden Years. Elizabeth I lived from September 7th, 1533 until March 24th, 1603. She was called "The Virgin Queen" and was the fifth and last person to reign from the Tudor dynasty.

She was the daughter of Henry VIII, born to Anne Boleyn, who reigned for a short period of time as Queen but was executed when Elizabeth was at the early age of three years old. As a result of her mother's history, Elizabeth was considered an illegitimate heir to the throne. Elizabeth is sent to London Tower under suspicion of supporting rebels of the Protestant faith, but she never confesses to the accusations that placed her there, and when Mary, her half sister dies, Elizabeth is crowned queen, supported by her Protestant subjects but despised by Catholics.

The movie demonstrates how Elizabeth, masterfully played by Cate Blanchett, surrounds herself with great counsel and trusted advisers, among them William Cecil, the Baron of Burghley. One of the first acts as queen is to establish the English Protestant church and she becomes its Supreme leader. From the outset of her reign there is great pressure for Elizabeth to marry and produce an heir to the throne, but for many reasons you shall witness while watching the movie, she never marries and hence, she is known as the Virgin Queen. Thanks to the superbly loyal aide Walsingham, played in grand style by Geoffrey Rush, Elizabeth is able to uncover every plot to destroy her reign and she is able to check mate all attempts against her.

The extra features provide interviews with the producer and we learn that Shekhar Kapur has followed every detail to provide authenticity as to the architecture and decorations of the time. The movie is superb, the filming exquisite, and we see locations that are simply... magnificent. Don't miss it!
August 13, 2008

great cinema

if you like historical dramas (like I do), especially of the English variety, then this is required viewing. I won't give plot details here, just go rent it, you'll love it. The sequel, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" is even better. June 30, 2008

excellent movie

Elizabeth and Elizabeth the Golden Age are 2 excellent movies. Cate Blanchett does an excellent job of being the "red haired" queen. The story line is excellent. May 24, 2008

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