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Rating:  - Like a Virgin
Masterpiece Theater's latest remake of "Elizabeth I" is a turgid portrayal of the first queen of England. Her father, Henry VIII, desired a son so much he took six wives--ironically,his daughter took the throne. "The Virgin Queen" is a step far below the famous portrayals of Glenda Jackson, Cate Blanchett, and even Quentin Crisp(!!!)
In "The Virgin Queen",Ann-Marie Duff portrays England's first female monarch as a bland,lifeless,definitely sexless woman. She is in constant voice-over mode, giving pathetic looks. Luckily, she has stronger co-stars. Sienna Guillory shines as a scheming,envious,cruel lady in-waiting. She's cold,calculating,yet lively. Guillory is excellent as the royal con woman. Hans Matheson,who's given bland portrayals of King Arthur's illegitimate son Mordred and Doctor Zhivago,is equally great as Guillory's Oedipal son. The villains steal the show. Elizabeth I is the victim of circumstance,and has the same dull expression on her face whether she's deeply in love or executing an enemy. Duff is a dull actress. "The Virgin Queen" leaves it open to interpretation whether she had a lover (according to Hilaire Belloc's prurient "Characters of the Reformation",she was physically handicapped,'deformed in mind&body',incapable of regular relations with men but doing things with them constantly,going into Gossip Girl mode)
"The Virgin Queen" is bland and lifeless. It's like a virgin, but you won't be touched. At all.
Rating:  - There is Only One Sun in the Universe
I have three films on Queen Elizabeth I in my library and this is by far the best in my collection. I have not see the one with Glenda Jackson to date and it is on my Wish List.
First off, I found the use of language to be intelligent, not like the Hollywood Elizabeth that seems to lack true English wit. I am caught up every time I watch this with the casting, scenery, and costumes, which in turn merely embellishs the script. Some reviewers mentioned that this production left out Queen Elizabeth's other accomplishments by focusing on her relationships. Quite the contrary, I found it just as intriguing due the fact that it showed the human side upon which every leader or monarch has had to endure. This film showed the "frail feminine side and the body politic" Queen Elizabeth struggled so hard to balance, a difficult feat for anyone. It is mentioned in the history books that as she got older she suffered terrible headaches likely due to immense stress. I see there is nothing wrong with highlighting this part of her life, if so however accurate or inaccurate it is nothing but captivating performances, strong content, and true human emotion.
Tom Hardy's performance in this film has made me a fan of his and will continue to look for other works of his. His character as the Earl of Leicester seamlessly transitions from a young suitor to an older, wiser man faithfully standing by the queen's side until the day of his death. Duff's performance of the Queen encapsulated her joy's, frustrations, struggles, love and loss spot on. The end of the film was the pinnacle, as was Elizabeth's life, I actually held my own breath as if it were my own life reflecting upon.
You will not be disappointed. It is not often for me to be so taken in with a movie that I forget I am watching a film on a 15" laptop.
Rating: - Anachronistic blend of history and modernity
Although I normally enjoy period pieces, especially Masterpiece Theatre programs, I could not get into this production.
I found the modernized soundtrack and fast-cut video editing to be distracting and offputting. Many of the characters frankly looked too "modern" to be believable, particularly Tom Hardy who would have been more suited to a street gang film.
I am an older viewer, so this may very well have affected my response to the film, which seemed geared to a more youthful audience.
Production values, of course, were high and lent the film a sumptious air but it ended up being little more than eye candy.
I've seen so many other, better, Elizabeths, that I cannot recommend this one. Obviously, I'm in the minority, but that's nothing new for me. I have, let us say, oddball tastes!
Rating: - Exceeded expectations
The movie provided insight into life of the Queen Elizabeth I and heighten my curiosity into her life.
Rating:  - Got a bit long
I very much enjoyed the beginning and end of this production; the period preceding and following Elizabeth's inheriting her crown were very well acted and gave a good sense of what her character would be like. The middle, however, was dragged down by dwelling too much on her relationships with Leicester and her various suitors, making her seem very bland and uninteresting.
My favorite part of the production was the last hour or so, portraying her as an aging woman trying to keep up the fantasy of the invincible queen. Particularly moving is a scene when one of her young favorites bursts in on her unexpectedly in her private rooms, where she is completely devoid of her usual finery and poise and appears very vulnerable and frail.
Overall, I did enjoy it, but can't recommend it with any real enthusiasm due to the long middle part where very little of interest happens.
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