Entertaining, but highly inaccurate

Rating: Null/10 (2 July 2002)

If you are looking to watch an interesting, fairly watchable movie, than give this film a try because it can be entertaining in some areas.
However, if you are a serious history buff, or are wanting to learn more about Queen Elizabeth I, than stay away from this. Not only are the setting and story-line almost fictional, but the character portrayals are 100% abominable.
I hated the way Elizabeth was portrayed in this film. Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth is weak-willed, insecure, pathetic, hopelessly in love and with no idea how to rule. This portrayal is nothing like the real Elizabeth, who is revered as being one of the greatest of English rulers, in spite of being a woman.
Most of all, the film fails to deal with the REAL problems faced by Elizabeth both before and after her succession and the way in which she solved them. The real Elizabeth was far more admirable than the one shown in this film, and her story in reality is far more interesting. If you want to see a good television adaptation of Elizabeth's life, watch 'Elizabeth R', it's far superior to this film.