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Elizabeth : Special Edition [1998]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

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 realised. 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 stabilise 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


Historically inaccurate
Review date: 2008-03-08 Rating: 2 out of 10

A huge dissappointment. Having read Alison Weir's book on Elizabeth 1st, I was amazed by the inaccuracy's in the film. The story of Elizabeth is exciting and captivating in it's own right and doesn't need poetic licence to improve it. Sadly the inaccuracies totally spoiled the film for me. Wilikipedia gives a very good precis of all the inaccuracies.

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Reviews


An interesting movie.
Review date: 2008-03-07 Rating: 8 out of 10

The struggle between the Catholics and the Protestants are threatening to tear the nation in two. Out of this chaos rises Englands greatest Monarch, but one mans hero is another mans villian. Cate Blanchett makes a great Queen Elizabeth, Geoffrey Rush is (as always) fantastic as Sir Francis Walsingham and Christopher Eccleston is also impressive as the Duke of Norfolk. Joseph Fiennes (as Robert Dudley)is out of his depth. He is a good actor but in this movie he is the weak link in what otherwise is a great peice of casting.

Actually, If pushed I would give this film a good 3.5/5, but what the heck, I cant do that so I'll up it to 4/5.

Special?!
Review date: 2008-02-28 Rating: 4 out of 10

With the release of `Elizabeth: The Golden Age' on DVD, I decided to buy this special edition DVD along with the exclusive version of the second Elizabeth film, thinking I'd get more special features than I would with the newly released box-set that includes both movies. Sadly, I made the wrong choice. Firstly (and I don't know whether this applies to all copies, or just my own), but as soon as I put the disc in the machine it caused an incredible whirring noise and a really powerful vibration in the machine, which continued throughout the trailers, the menus and the first two chapters, slowly diminishing and disappearing as the third chapter began. I tested the disc on another DVD player and the result was the same, although not quite as intense. It's not something I think I could complain about and get a refund for, but it was distracting while it was happening.

I liked the `making of' featurette on this DVD, but one feature does not a special edition DVD make. Although there is also a director's commentary & a sneak peak of `Elizabeth: The Golden Age', which will please some fans, for me it just wasn't enough to warrant the `special edition' tag line. So in short, I recommend the `Complete Elizabeth Collection' box-set. It's gotta be better value for money than this!


best ever film
Review date: 2008-01-02 Rating: 10 out of 10

this is joint number 1 on my favourite movies ever! its intriguing, interesting, good storylines and even though is historically unaccurate the changes the directors have made is for the overall benefit off the movie ! the acting is brialliant and it deserved all the awards it got! def worth the watch

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Geoffrey Rush
Richard Attenborough
Christopher Eccleston
Cate Blanchett
Joseph Fiennes

Creators:
Cate Blanchett (Primary Contributor)
Geoffrey Rush (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582508130
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-10-22
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 118 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1998

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