Most impressive.

Rating: 7/10 (11 August 1999)

There are scenes in Elizabeth that strike you with the most beautiful imagery that has only been seen before in tapestries. The coronation scene is absolutely stunning, with those high reaching walls and those massive arches. Visually, Elizabeth is a triumph of art direction and costuming. The story is quite good too. Treachery, deceit, and plenty of scheming make for dangerous times in England. As the young queen, Cate Blanchett runs a full course of emotions. She is young and naieve, but once she ascends to the throne of England, she is thrust upon the world stage as a ruler of a soon to be great nation. She must first deal with the machinations of her own court. She then learns how to deal with her new found title, and she begins to take care of all of her enemies. The climax of the film reminded me of The Godfather, as one by one, Elizabeth's enemies are dealt with. Geoffrey Rush is scheming and devious as Elizabeth's main protector. He's cunning, ruthless, and he knows how to play sides. In the end, even he is floored by the transformation that Elizabeth takes upon herself. She truly becomes The Virgin Queen.