A fabulous achievement...

Rating: 10/10 (11 February 2005)

This film is amazing. It craftily becomes more than the average costume drama and ascends into a fabulous conspiracy thriller (well... sort of) and drama like you've never seen before. Whether you are familiar with Queen Elizabeth I or not, it is definitely worth your while.
Cate Blanchett's performance is riveting! I believed that she was Elizabeth every step of the way.
I was very surprised that Geoffrey Rush was nominated for the Oscar for his ordinary performance in Shakespeare in Love instead of his amazing and cunning performance it this film.
The mystery, drama, love, and passion of this film leave you begging for more. Sheker Kapur directs flawlessly and the music and cinematography are inspired as well. Costumes by Alexandra Byrne (The Phantom of the Opera), Academy Award winning makeup by Jenny Shircore (The Phantom of the Opera) and Anita Burger (Vanity Fair and Alexander), production design by John Myhre (Chicago), art direction by Lucy Richardson (Chocolat), and set decoration by Peter Howitt (The Four Feathers) make for a beautiful film to be eternally loved.