Disappointing

Rating: 1/10 (25 December 1998)

The lavish costuming and sets and good performance by Cate Blanchett could not overcome the grossly inaccurate depiction of history.
First, the Catholics were all uniformly depicted as sexual libertines, murderers, and/or hypocrites. The portrayal of the Jesuit priest as a murderous 16th century commando was especially disgusting. St. Edmund Campion, one of those Jesuits, was martyred by Elizabeth for ministering to the faithful in England and refusing to renounce the Catholic Church for Elizabeth and the Church of England.
Second, William Cecil - Lord Burghley, was also seriously misportrayed. Cecil, in fact, was Elizabeth's closest advisor for a lengthy period of time; Sir Francis Walsingham was a subordinate to Cecil. Cecil was not the milksop portrayed in the movie.
Third, many of the cast looked like members of a 1990's Los Angeles street gang instead of characters from 16th century England.
I believe the high overall ratings given the film are a result of ignorance of history.