The woman,the crown and her path to power...

Rating: 9/10 (1 October 2004)

Elizabeth, the first English feature from Shekar Kapur who would later do The Four Feathers, shows the ascension to the throne of Elizabeth after the reign of Queen Mary. Religious tension as well as gender tension made this transition hazardous for her and this movie does an excellently job of combining the major events of her early life into a concise film. While it may not be 100% accurate, I'm sure length and drama were the cause. Cate Blanchett in the film that launched her career especially after the Golden Globe win is excellent as Elizabeth and other actors in the film are equally good such as Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Ecclesson, and others. The scenery and color of the film are the standouts and this film although being a period piece is never boring. The DVD has plenty of extras including two featurettes and a director's commentary. Overall this is a high quality film that is scheduled to have a sequel in 2006. A good rental or buy.
Grade: A