Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsAfter all these years - it's still the best!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2014
If you want to see a good movie about Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 1, do NOT fall into the crap trap of the newly made Hollywood abomination films about her! This is the ONLY film about Her that captures the most from history, accurately, and with performance unmatched by today's actors in my opinion. The only other film that even comes close is Helen Mirren's version, but it leaves out a lot of history, as it takes place in her later years. Elizabeth R tries to capture everything it can, from King Edward, to Mary, to Queen Elizabeth 1 coronation to Her death. It's a wonderful trip.
Does this epic film look flashy and gaudy like Hollywood likes to produce? No... thank goodness! In fact, I believe that the quality of this film (sort of stage like) actually adds to its realism! Personally, I'm sick and tired of all the computer graphic, sex lies videotape BS coming out of Hollywood these days... especially when it comes to historical icons such as Her Majesty! If She were alive today..... heads would roll...
Is it's film quality up to today's standards? Not exactly but the story, actors, and overall feel of this movie FAR outweigh these minor issues. Again, I feel this is a very positive attribute to this film!
Does this movie capture all historical facts? Of course not. In order to do that you'd have to make a year long series and so far, every time Hollywood tries to do this, they screw it up with 21st century sex and BS soap opera crap. This movie gives you a very good idea and insight into what her life and reign were probably like.
Among those of us who actually study Her Majesty (and love her), there is no movie made in the last 30 years that captures Bess more accurately than this one. I WISH.... oh.... how I WISH... that someone would take the script from this movie, expound on it to include more detail on other historical facts, LEAVE SEX OUT and KEEP Renaissance MORALS, and have QUALITY actors like Elizabeth R had in it, and make an EPIC 1 year long saga... I would pay HUGE to see Elizabeth R redone in this way, and keep its spirit! Sadly, I do not believe there are any Directors or actors alive today, or writers for that matter, who could do this... it would be too hard, they are too 21st century in mind and spirit, and they would probably want to throw sex sex sex in it mixed with soap opera fantasy... and ruin it.
Anyway, if you want the BEST movie about Her, this is it! And will probably be the only one...
The world has missed Her, and I think in silent mourning for Her, for 500 years - and for good reason. However, at least we have good books, good documentaries, and films such as Elizabeth R to help us relate to a time when things were simpler, people were honorable, and leaders were leaders and wanted nothing more but the best for their people. Perhaps this is what we miss... what we desire most of all.... and why we miss her so... 500 years later...