A little preliminary research will help in appreciating a fine film.

Rating: 9/10 (3 July 2000)

Despite being weirdly edited and directed, this film manages to give an accurate picture of the spirit and times of the era when Elizabeth I came to power. True, we mostly see the powerful people; the nobodies are usually seen being burned or beheaded, and that briefly. There are any number of unexplained actions, and characters are sometimes hard to identify, but the camera work, color, and scenic backgrounds are superb. Locations are all real, and the acting is uniformly convincing. If an initial viewing leaves you a tad confused, do a little reading on the period, see the film again, and enjoy it all the more.