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The Virgin Queen
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £9.98 (subject to change)
Terrible TV
Review date: 2008-08-23 Rating: 2 out of 10
I'd hoped that this version of the Elizabeth story was going to be a "hidden gem". Unfortunately, it was not. Although there were undoubtedly a few interesting historical details included (together with some terrible moments of "poetic license"), on the whole, it was a very lame and out of date piece, with a lead actress who did not grow during her performance, and who was, in my opinion, quite clearly not up to the task of playing this great part.
A major, MAJOR criticism must be made about the make up. While some characters aged hardly at all, others aged at a ridiculous pace, their faces so puffed out with latex that it made them look like extras in a terrible Star Trek episode from 20 years ago. Such pathetic make up should not be shown on TV today. It was an insult. Another insult was the terrible use of wigs and false beards. Elizabeth's shaven forehead and wig glue were so visible in some scenes that it was unbelievable.
As far as production values go, it is enough to say that many scenes, just like with the laughably "old" make up, reminded me of yet more old Star Trek episodes, where the crew visits a planet which has a population of five. The whole of the English army, for example, waiting to face the Armada, consisted of 16 pathetically dressed extras. And so on ... And so on ...
The only plus points in this terrible, embarrasing production were the horses. Finally, a piece set in Tudor times did not employ modern Thoroughbreds or Arabs, but used the old type of quasi-shire horses which were actually popular at the time. Here, and nowhere else, the other Tudor TV and film epics could learn something.
So 11 out of ten for the horses, and -1 out of ten for everthing else.
:-)
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Reviews
Quite dull? Why
Review date: 2008-05-02 Rating: 4 out of 10
This comes 3rd in my opinion, with the films starring cate blanchett second helen mirrens elizabeth I 1st and this LAST! anne marie duff is unbelievably bad, and all the rest of the cast are like something from hollyoaks. the script is good but the acting is bad. Mary queen of scots is barely covered too, whilst also shoving a bad soundtrack into the bargain. As most people say about this production its that the first 15 mins are good and then it goes down hill. If they kept up what they did in the first 15 mins this would have been great. In the 4th episode they make her look so ugly, whilst this is horstoricly true its just not serious enough to look at it looks stupid. Ive given this 2 stars becuase the script is flawless and it goes into the little details like elizabeths moment with smallpox, but i just cant give it 5 stars because of no mention (well 10 mins added all together whilst hbo's production with helen mirren goes into an hour +) of mary queen of scots. Anne marie Duff does no justice to Elizabeth I's speech at the spanish armada either the whole production is droll.
Helen Mirren is the best elizabeth I portrayer, Anne Marie Duff doesent cut it in this historic drama.
Decent production but it doesn't live up to other portrayals of this queen.
Review date: 2007-08-29 Rating: 6 out of 10
'The Virgin Queen' starring Anne-Marie Duff as Elizabeth I is a four-episode BBC drama that covers (roughly) the years 1554-1603. As such, it allows us to see Elizabeth prior to her reign when she is dragged into accusations of treason and fears for her life and then to her accession, the problems she faces as queen including even more plotting, her infatuation with her favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and later the transfer of her affections to his hot headed step-son, the Earl of Essex.
On the surface the production delivers what is usually expected in dramas on Elizabeth I. We witness her closeness to Dudley and the troubles between the two, the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, the defeat of the first Spanish Armada, the rise and fall of the Earl of Essex. However in some of these aspects the production does well while in others it evidently fails. For example Duff is given the fantastic scene where Elizabeth addresses her troops at Tilbury with her infamous speech. The production includes fantastic details like showing us more about Dudley's first wife, Amy. It also includes Dudley's next marriage to Lettice Knollys. However the whole Mary Queen of Scots affair is covered shabbily. We gain mention of her once and then later we discover that she is somehow under Elizabeth's protection and that she is conspiring against her, with no mention of how she came into this condition or more about the Babington plot. Furthermore the rise of Essex is dealt with poorly, particularly in comparison to the other drama 'Elizabeth I' starring Helen Mirren. The production also does not pay sufficient attention to the subject of religion which is a large mistake considering how vital the issue was in the sixteenth century.
Duff attempts her best at playing Elizabeth and while she is not terrible, she has the misfortune of joining a daunting list of actresses who have played the queen and who have been able to play her more convincingly. Duff is good at playing a young Elizabeth in the 1550+60s but by the third episode they have failed to make her appear much older. It is only until we get to the fourth episode does the prosthetics and make-up come out to de-age her.
Surprisingly one of the best performances is by a relatively unknown actor, Tom Hardy, as Robert Dudley. He is able to portray the loyal, handsome and long-suffering favourite very well and it is interesting to see his Dudley's relationships with his long-suffering wife, his new ambitious mistresses turned wife and, throughout, his queen.
One of the best things about the production is the wonderfully catchy music sung by the `Mediaeval Baebes'. It certainly is a new approach to Elizabeth I; usually music in productions on this monarch or even this period attempts to be slightly sombre or the authentic court music. This soundtrack is fantastic; the costumes are good, although not outstanding.
Overall it is a decent production of the reign of Elizabeth I but it is constantly overshadowed. Duff's performance is overshadowed by previous actresses' portrayal of Elizabeth. Not all the cast is great or used well and therefore is a poor comparison in this respects to its predecessor, the other BBC drama on Elizabeth: 'Elizabeth R'. But the little details in this are excellent; it makes you wish that they worked harder on the main plots and casted some characters better. If so this could have been a great piece rather than a decent one.
Wonderful!
Review date: 2007-03-05 Rating: 10 out of 10
Having viewed many programs both on TV and film about Elizabeth, i can honsetly say it was one of the most brilliant. Anne-Marie Duff plays a fantastic Elizabeth showing both her strengths and her weaknesses. The only part I was disappointed with was the very very badly done make up artistry when aging Elizabeth. It ruined viewing the last part of the series. I was concentrating more on the plastic on her face rather than what she was saying. But, overall, fabulous. But, Cate Blanchett will always be the best!!!
Good but not perfect
Review date: 2006-08-07 Rating: 6 out of 10
This COULD have been such a brilliant production, and the first 15 minutes certainly have the air of something awesome about to happen. Sadly, however, the predominant focus of this film is on the relationship between Elizabeth and Dudley, and as a result, the pace suffers unbearably. For everytime Dudley and Elizabeth are together, the audience is subject to 5 minute intervals of beautiful Celtic music during which Elizabeth and Robert Dudley dance melodramatically in slow-motion in a park or gaze at one another across a crowded banqueting hall. This all becomes too much in an Elizabethan world of unrest, uncertainty and turmoil. These romantic interludes slow the intense pace of the intrigue that happens in between to the point that the whole film becomes a little tedious because it happens so frequently. To be sure, the music is lovely, and I can't wait to buy the soundtrack, but is it really necessary to prolong those speechless musical moments every single time Elizabeth and Dudley are together?? I first wanted to give this 2 stars, but I do think that the actors (all of them perform so well), the photographers and the BBC DO deserve some credit, because this could have been such a lovely film if only someone had concentrated on the Queen side of Elizabeth rather than the Personal side which is constantly having love problems with her favourite.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Tara Fitzgerald
Ewen Bremner
Robert Pugh
Anne-Marie Duff
Emilia Fox
Creators:
Anne-Marie Duff (Primary Contributor)
Robert Pugh (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Warner Vision International
Manufacturer: Warner Vision International
EAN: 5051011214523
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-02-13
Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 240 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2005
Language: English (Original Language)