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ElizabethRating:
Release Date: 05 November, 2002 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $9.99 You SAVE: $4.99! Cast: Complete Cast (14 total) |
Elizabeth Reviews
Cate? yes! History? No!
Lush, well produced, beautfully filmed, visually appealing, well-acted, all of these describe "Elizabeth." I am very surprised at the number of people here who claim to be lovers of British history who praised the film for its accurate depiction of events. Elizabeth could certainly play the fragile, indecisive maid when she needed to do so, but fragile and uncertain she was not-- she learned hard politics from a real master, her father, Henry VIII.
Certainly fond of Lord Dudley, there is no evidence they ever had a sexual relationship. The sorry truth is, if Good Queen Bess ever had a sexual relationship it was with her abusive guardian, the husband of Queen Catherine (Parr). Elizabeth and Anjou never met, in England or elsewhere (she did later meet his brother, who came closer than other man to marrying her but of course did not succeed).
The clothing and hair styles, while deserving of notice, are largely inaccurate, in some cases, Edwardian more than Elizabethan. This is somewhat surprising given the rich and accurate store of knowledge regarding the couterie of the period.
There are numerous other points to make, but simply know this:
This is a work of fiction, based on certain historical figures and a few historical events. Watch the film and appreciate the fine acting, the beautiful settings and costumes, and the intensity and passion of the characters (who really were that proud, that devoted, and that ready to die for their various causes), but do not learn history from it. Hopefully you'll be intrigued enough to find a few good books to read and learn of it yourself-- you may be surprised that the real stories are even more arresting.
History takes place over periods of years, decades, and longer, and even significant events that unfold quickly can be awfully hard to condense into a 2 hour movie, so faulting them for inaccuracies serves little purpose; audiences should however be better trained to recognize fiction and enjoy it but not necessarily learn historical facts from it. Rather, learn about the human condition from fiction, which is the greatest purpose it serves.
Poor History and a screenplay over-dramatic
I'm glad someone knows enough about English History to recognize the pure fiction of this film. But in addition to points made about historical inaccuracy, I also had to object to the ridiculous portrayal of Mary Tudor. Over-zealous and fanatic (as was a common religious stance in those times - promoted by both sides of the Protestant/Catholic conflict), she was not insane as the film makes her in the opening scenes. And throughout the film, there was this emphasis on milking the passions for all they are worth - no objectivity whatsoever. I was sorely disappointed!
If you want to get to know Elizabeth and the period in which she lived, I would recommend the superb BBC series, Elizabeth R with Glenda Jackson. And if you want even further background, look to the BBC again in the Six Wives of Henry VIII with Keith Mitchell. Tidbits can be gained as well from the movie Mary, Queen of Scots (although a few historical inaccuracies can be found in it - for example, Mary Stuart and Elizabeth never met, although it was Mary's great desire) and even another title, Anne of the Thousand Days. Those two more theatrical representations fulfill the desire for the more dramatic while still coming closer to the history of the times. This film just doesn't cut it!
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