DVD Buyer- Elizabeth I

At my house, movies and TV series are classified in two ways: "buyers" and "non-buyers".

Everyone knows what a "buyer" is- it's a DVD you cannot live without and pre-order the minute the news of it's upcoming release hits Amazon. A non-buyer can be left in the store.

Honestly, I'm finding more non-buyers than buyers as I get older. I'm always surprised at the places I find a good buyer.

I'm not much of a TV movie/series kind of person. Usually they are overacted and the set appears to be a non-descript hodgepodge that anyone could come up with on a budget of $100. My personal bias aside, I'm finding more and more this is not the case.

Movie series in point: Elizabeth I, from HBO Films.

I rented this from Netflix a few weeks ago, despite the nagging worry in the back of my mind, dredging up all the poorly done movie series that I had seen in the past. I was terrified that would be the case here.

Before I continue, I should state here that I spent 9 years studying Elizabeth I. I love the character and the culture behind that era, and I am fascinated by Elizabeth herself. An incredible intellect, Elizabeth was also scarred by her upbringing as the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn, who was executed for treason and adultery when Elizabeth was 3 years old. Her early years were characterized by upheaval and rejection, and her young adulthood by more of the same. When she ascended to the throne at the age of 25 upon the death of her sister Mary, few expected she would become the icon history has made her.

Instead, she flourished.

It is her story that I spent hours pouring over when I was a child; her birth and rejection by her father, the tense years she spent during the reigns of her brother and sister, and finally, her own ascension and reign. I poured over every detail, and could not get enough. As an adult, and with a degree in history under my belt, I look at historical movies with an eye for accuracy as well as good acting. Elizabeth, released in 1998 and starring Cate Blanchett, was well acted, but I had to turn it off to keep myself from pummelling the TV over the historical inaccuracies. "Angry" does not even begin to describe it.

I hope my reader can understand my aforementioned terror at receiving this movie in the mail. On some level, I expected a repeat of my previous experience. Happily, it was not the case.

Elizabeth I, starring Helen Mirren (who won an Emmy for her role as Elizabeth I), and Jeremy Irons, tells the story of England's Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558-1603. The story picks up in the late 1560s, when Elizabeth was entertaining her last offer of marriage from the Duke of Anjou, and ends with her death. The film beautifully captures Elizabeth, her court, and the intrigues of the later half of her reign, without glossing over the intricate details and drama that were the Elizabethan court.

Incredible detail and historical accuracy were observed in the filming, to the point of using exact historical descriptions of clothing and events. When the Queen of Scots is executed, it is historical fact that her head fell out of the executioner's grasp, revealing that she wore a wig. There are many details of this nature throughout the series.

Helen Mirren was inspired in her portrayal of Elizabeth, capturing the mercurial aspects of Elizabeth's personality while showcasing her humanity and insecurities. Jeremy Irons, in his role as the Earl of Leicester, created a compelling character, who captured the Earl while complementing Mirren's Elizabeth. Neither, in my opinion, would have performed to the level they did without the other. Hugh Dancy's performance as the Earl of Essex was also inspired, as he captured not only the earl's passion, but also his incredible lack of sense.

In all, this series was inspired. Historical accuracies preserved, ombined with excellent acting by two of today's great performers.

A definite buyer.