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Elizabeth I
MINISERIES: HBO, begins Saturday 4/22 at 8:00p


8.8

based on 21 reviews
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based on 15 votes
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Official Show Site

Starring Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, Hugh Dancy, Ian McDiarmid, Patrick Malahide, and Barbara Flynn

Helen Mirren gives a sure-to-be-Emmy-nominated performance as the unmarried English ruler in this co-production of HBO and England's Channel 4 that is set during the later years of Elizabeth's reign.

GENRE(S):	Biography, Drama
FIRST AIR DATE:	April 22, 2006
LAST AIR DATE:	April 24, 2006
ALSO ON:	Concludes Monday 4/24 at 8:00p

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Detroit Free Press Mike Duffy

The lavishly beguiling historical drama is pumped up on passion, wit and the majestic fire of Helen Mirren's thrilling performance as one of history's most intriguing rulers.

100

New York Post Linda Stasi

"Elizabeth I" soars on every level from the writing, to the directing to the acting.

100

Christian Science Monitor Gloria Goodale

Mirren is TV-biography magic.

100

People Weekly Tom Gliatto

An explosion of fireworks. [1 May 2006, p.39]

Entertainment Weekly Alynda Wheat

Mirren's Elzabeth is emotional... But with that comes soemthing as rare on TV as it is rewarding--a love affair involving people over the age of 50. [21 Apr 2006, p.67]

Baltimore Sun David Zurawik

Elizabeth I features two of the finest actors [Mirren and Irons] in film and television inspiring each other to some of the most spectacular work they have ever done.

New York Daily News David Hinckley

Elizabeth is mercurial, powerful, unpredictable - qualities made real, and a bit frightening, because of the intensity with which Mirren commits to the role.

USA Today Robert Bianco

As Elizabeth movies go, this version has neither the sweep of Glenda Jackson's Elizabeth R nor the easily digested entertainment value of Bette Davis' Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex. But it has Mirren, and that's reason enough to make it and watch it.

Washington Post Tom Shales

No matter how opulent this production, Mirren is never upstaged, and she is the best reason to keep watching.

Arizona Republic Bill Goodykoontz

Elizabeth [is] portrayed by Mirren in as brilliant a performance as you're likely to see.

Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan

Mirren, a true virtuoso at the height of her powers, is what makes this excellent two-part film worth watching, but there are many other pluses as well.

Wall Street Journal Amy Finnerty

Impressive... Ms. Mirren leaves her authoritative stamp on the role of Elizabeth.

TV Guide Matt Roush

Mirren... hits a dazzling career high.

Variety Brian Lowry

Somewhat plodding through its opening hour, "Elizabeth I" gains steam and then soars through its concluding installment.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen

An engrossing, humanizing portrait of the British monarch.

San Jose Mercury News Charlie McCollum

It is a great performance [by Mirren], strong enough that it overcomes the flaws of "Elizabeth I."

New York Magazine John Leonard

[Mirren] delivers big-time... Congratulations should also go to Nigel Williams, whose screenplay for Elizabeth I is as sassy as Tom Stoppard’s was for Shakespeare in Love.

The New York Times Alessandra Stanley

"Elizabeth I" was made for television and is not a lavish, big-budget production. Visually, it is no match for the 1998 movie. But what "Elizabeth I" does offer is not insignificant: a richly drawn portrait of a powerful woman who is both ruthless and sentimental, formidable and mercurial, vain and likable.

Chicago Sun-Times Doug Elfman

Irons and the rest of the cast are spot-on. The writing and directing are fairly crisp. Perhaps, though, tracing Elizabeth's life for 20-plus years subtracted from my becoming intently involved in each period of this biopic.

Philadelphia Inquirer Jonathan Storm

[It] would be an above-average Masterpiece [Theatre] installment.

Los Angeles Times Robert Lloyd

The film as a whole is a strange case of mostly excellent parts that make an overlong and tedious whole.

The average user rating for this tv show is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

kelsey w gave it a2:
Take away the costumes, set and cinematography, and you have an overacted and overwrought movie of the week. The writing is actually embarrassingly bad at times, and it's obvious that Hooper couldn't control his actors' performances. A dressed-up sappy love story, masquerading as History - with a capital H.

Randy M gave it a10:
Elizabeth I is an awe-inspiring, terrifying, work of brilliant art. Definitely one of the best shows you'll see on television this year. The acting is absolutely astounding (kudos to Helen Mirren) and the show keeps you mesmerized until the very end. Amazing.

K8rpot8r Faith gave it a10:
I thought this movie imptomized what Elizabeth the I was all about....Oh and about the Music aspect...I am going to school for music and the music was exactly what you would have heard back then! I just wish I could have been a fly on the wall for this movie in the making!!

chris z gave it a10:
superb!

Peter P gave it a10:
At last a reasonably factual and non-Hollywood version of this great story. A magnificent production and definitely worthy of several Golden Globe Awards.

slobodan gave it a10:
absolutely excellent, mirren is fantastic

Kathryn H gave it a3:
Mirren is fab, but the writing is not up to HBO standards, and the music is bizarre, alternately incongruous and sappy. A bit disappointing that the focus was on Liz I, hottie, as opposed to Elizabeth Regina, world ruler.

Elizabeth I MINISERIES: HBO, begins Saturday 4/22 at 8:00p

Elizabeth I
MINISERIES: HBO, begins Saturday 4/22 at 8:00p