Elizabeth I (NR, 2006)
common sense media says
Handsome, talky HBO miniseries with Helen Mirren.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there's a brief but vividly gruesome scene of public torture and executions by disembowelment. There are also decapitations, in grim, blood-spurting close-ups. Queen Elizabeth's personal life and affairs are more important here than affairs of state (practically the same, in fact). An opening credit scene of the Queen non-explicitly undergoing a ritualistic gynecology exam might incite some questions.
Positive role models:
Not many movies are made about kindly, well-behaved, peaceful kings
and queens. Elizabeth is mercurial -- passionate, poised, and witty, but
also often moody and bitter. At one point she unleashes a reign of
torture and executions against her supposed enemies (Catholics,
mainly). Though under some circumstances she can hardly be blamed for
not showing more grace under pressure. At the end of her life her bad
choices seem to weigh heavily on her -- or do they? Her famous virginity
is a constant theme but is rarely discussed directly; in a final
scene she more or less declares her love for the British people over
her own affairs. Her two main suitors, Essex and Leicester, don't quite
love Elizabeth enough to not get other women pregnant, but the older
Leicester seems to have widsom and humility more on his side. Only one
of the Queen's advisors, the dwarfish Robert Cecil, seems immune to all
the plotting and scheming at the court.
and queens. Elizabeth is mercurial -- passionate, poised, and witty, but
also often moody and bitter. At one point she unleashes a reign of
torture and executions against her supposed enemies (Catholics,
mainly). Though under some circumstances she can hardly be blamed for
not showing more grace under pressure. At the end of her life her bad
choices seem to weigh heavily on her -- or do they? Her famous virginity
is a constant theme but is rarely discussed directly; in a final
scene she more or less declares her love for the British people over
her own affairs. Her two main suitors, Essex and Leicester, don't quite
love Elizabeth enough to not get other women pregnant, but the older
Leicester seems to have widsom and humility more on his side. Only one
of the Queen's advisors, the dwarfish Robert Cecil, seems immune to all
the plotting and scheming at the court.
Violence:
Though it takes up just a small amount of screen time, it's pretty intense. There's a grisly scene of torture, with disembowlments and eviscerations of living men. A woman is decapitated by an executioner, not very cleanly and in ghastly closeup. A public hand-chopping-off is shown from a distance. There's an assassination attempt on the queen by dagger and a swordfight that draws blood. A man undergoes torture on the rack. Musket fire kills a number of men.
Sex:
Intense smooching and cuddling with the queen, but it never goes farther than that. A couple of young, unmarried women are revealed to be pregnant. An opening credit scene shows Elizabeth being slowly, ritualistically
stripped for what turns to be a gynecological exam (not explicit).
stripped for what turns to be a gynecological exam (not explicit).
Language:
The queen calls a character "a son of a whore." The term "bitch" is used as a double entendre.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Social drinking, talk of the quality of Ireland's whiskey.
More on Elizabeth I
Review It
Most useful reviews by all members
waltzmaple
adult
adult
shocking violence
The torture scenes are so horrible, I wish I had not seen this movie. I would not recommend it to anyone. I certainly do not want my teenage kids to see it.
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dark rose
adult
adult
Totally awesome!!
i was surprised by how good this was. almost no swearing and no intimate moments (just some kissing). since violence is definately not an issue for me i found this movie to be wonderful. however it is not as good as the 1998 cate blanchett version
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