A startlingly realistic portrayal of the hardships that the great Queen Elizabeth struggled through in the early days of her reign.

Rating: 10/10 (14 March 2001)

It's too bad that they don't make more period films, because of they did, Joseph Fiennes might find more work. Joseph Fiennes was probably asked to play William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love because of his excellent performance in Elizabeth, and he was only one among a great many actors who gave incredible performances in this spectacular historical drama, in which the 16th century is flawlessly created and presented.
There are many things that make Elizabeth a great film. For example, not only is it amazingly realistic, but it also portrays a very accurate depiction of the Queen. The difficult early part of her reign is not as well known as the stunning success that she later achieved as a leader, and her potent and strong-willed personality is captured very well in this film. She suffers through countless hardships during this part of her life, and the circumstances leading to her crowning of herself as The Virgin Queen are what make up the story of this excellent film.
The visuals, particularly the breathtaking interiors of the tremendous castles in which much of the film takes place, are some of the most amazing things about this movie. This is an epic drama crafted with amazing skill, excellent performances, and stunning photography. See it.