A film review on the movie Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen Barte, Chastity H.

The movie Elizabeth directed by Skhekhar Kapur is a story about a kingdom divided by two faiths. A story of loyalty, treachery, devotion and intrigue, it is set in the 15th century where the Catholic Church is set to defend its title as the one true religion of England, a bastard protestant of a queen was crowned to rule. This is a chronicle of Elizabeth Is first years of reign. 1554, Henry VII is dead. The country is divided. Henrys Eldest daughter Mary, a fervent catholic, is queen, as it was narrated in the film. During Mary Tudors time, there were frequent burnings of Protestants. The Catholic Church, insistent to become the one and only true religion in England, used violence to subdue any protestant they find. One of their fears, however, is that when the childless queen Mary dies, her protestant half-sister would take over the kingdom. Then spread a rumor of Marys pregnancy. Mislead by false hope, Mary was shocked to find out it was actually a cancerous tumor. Having worried about the throne, she sent for her half sister, Elizabeth. She had wished for her sister to rule and uphold the catholic virtues Elizabeth replies that shell rule as dictated by her conscience, which angered Mary. She had threatened to sign Elizabeths death warrant, but, as she lay on her deathbed, never had given in and signed. Elizabeth was announced queen. Through her rule, many adversaries and difficulties had come her way. With rulers from different nations who seek for her hand in marriage, she was troubled. With one loyal adviser, she had overcome all of these problems. With Walsingham, she had trusted. With Walsingham, she discovered what was truly under the facades put up by her so called loyal servants. With Walsingham, she discovered her one true loves manipulation and treachery. She had opened her eyes. She had abandoned her past life and found a suitable partner. As she wed with her country, she had attached all of her her life, her soul, with it. Loving and serving the kingdom till death do them part. Analysis and Reaction:

Most movie adaptations are usually off from the original historical context. Even so, the thought that Elizabeth wouldnt have lasted a week on the t hrone if it wasnt for Walsingham, had dawned to me. Walsingham was indeed the most suitable adviser for Elizabeth. Elizabeth was innocent, she had seemed never to have experience any gruesome past in her life Walsingham, as it seemed, had. The way how he made his young assassin stop and think how graceful an execution it was. He made his young assassin stop and think about life. If this assassin had done so the task of killing him, will he still be able to live life being thrown out already his innocence? The fact that Walsingham had paralyzed his own assassin by mere words alone had sparked my interest in his character. But of course, as one would do to guarantee safety, he killed his own assassin. Innocence is the most precious thing you possess. Loose that and you lose your soul. As he said this line to his assassin, he himself can relate to the message. Walsingham had already thrown away his own innocence, such little a task it is to kill a peasant boy. What is left to Walsingham after his innocence has faded is mind without a soul. A mind of amorality. As he looked over the kingdom thought the window, I imagine him thinking of all kinds of things mostly of how he can rid the place of fiends. This man, this utilitarian perhaps, will do anything for the good of the kingdom and his loyalty for the new queen. A vigilante, Walshingham had virtues only he himself had seemed to understand. But, as Elizabeth had continued to rule, she came to realize Sir Walsinghams teachings. Whatever Walsingham had uttered on his mouth was truth. Although heinous in context, it was still reality. This was hard for Elizabeth to take in, but as a rule, she is bound to face maybe even greater troubles as this and Wlasingham would still be there to guide her. With Elizabeths eyes opening up to the many horrendous truths her onw kingdom has hidden from her, she had lost the one thing she supposedly gained in the end. She had lost her innocence, lost her gullible nature and started a change not only through appearances but also by heart. The Virgin Queen perhaps a title so fitting for a queen without a king. Perhaps, a title so ironic. Comparison to Machiavellianism

It was as if Niccolo Machiavelli himself is personified in this film. Walsingham, Elizabeths adviser is known for his ruthless nature and loyalty for the queen. As seen in the film, Walsingham has in countless times mentioned teachings of Machiavellis book, The Prince. His savage way of dealing with the queens enemies for t the betterment of the rule truly exemplifies Machiavellis saying: The end justifies the means. As was mentioned in the discussion, in the modern era, people were searching for new political symbols, styles and orientation. One great example was Elizabeths rule as a queen who was a protestant. The war on Protestants and Catholics, as what Ive noticed in the movie, did not quite spark the spirit of a common peasant. Instead, it was as if the catholic commoners had pitied their protestant brothers and sisters. In the first scene, when the protestants being burned had called upon some help for they had burned too slowly, the witnesses around had, in their own way, helped them. They have thrown bundles of hay to help kindle the fire. Gruesome as it may seem, it was actually done to help their protestant brothers and sisters not to suffer the agony longer. Politics is an art, viewed apart from religion, morality and ethics, as was mentioned in the discussion. In the old days, there were two sources of power in Europe the Pope and the Monarchy. They had been stayed in harmony until Mary Tudors rule for she was a fervent Catholic. But, when Elizabeth sat on the throne, the Pope was outraged. It was Walsingham who has been doing all the violence and not the queen. It was as if he had prepared for events like these will be a common thing to see for the coming years of rule of Elizabeth. Walsingham had taught Elizabeth virtues from the Prince so shell know how to act in certain situations assuring, if what she has done was for the good of the kingdom. This had spared her from doing all the grueling tasks which Walsingham had been undertaking.