MovieChat Forums > The Virgin Queen (2005) Discussion > Not quie underserstanding the love for t...

Not quie underserstanding the love for this version


I am not history expert so this is no commentary on the accuracy (or not). But I am not at all a fan of this production. The two leads don't have any chemistry, the choral music is often quite intrusive and annoying (I am now muting whenever it comes on) and the pacing seems plodding and slow at best.

Admittedly I am not familiar with Duff's work but I find her mostly wooden and can't say I was much moved by her tears or anger.

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I think just the opposite. It was one of the best Elizabeth performances I've seen. Bette Davis was about Bette Davis. Cate Blanchett was superb, as usual. But Duff turned in a rousing, convincing, superb performance herself. I forgot she was acting and actually perceived her as the Queen.

I didn't notice the music, except the few scenes where it was intentionally midieval music of the times.

I thought her foolish love for Dudley was convincing and utterly realistic. She simply could not see him for what he really was: a taker, clinging to her for what he could get out of it, and not someone in love with her in the same way she loved him. And she repeated her foolishness again with his son.

A wonderful show with wonderful performances. Duff is extraordinary.

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*Shrugs* I haven't seen some of these other performances, but I can't say Duff really sold being Queen or her relationship with either man. I was bored to tears when I didn't find the music grating and overly loud.

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Oh my god, me too! The constant singing chorus of children was very annoying! But for the record, I think Ms. Duff is an able actress. Can't say the same for the Earl of Essex's mother though. And the makeup seemed terrible. What happened to their hairlines? Was that the fashion in Elizabethan times?

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bPollen:

A small correction: if you refer to the Earl of Essex as the queen's repeated foolishness, he wasn't Dudley's son, but his wife's, Lettice Knollys, from her first marriage.

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I thought it an exquisite rendition - I consider Duff showed Elizabeth's vulnerability, and great effort when she had to be tough. It must have in reality been a horrible life for Elizabeth.... charged with having to keep England safe, powerful ambitious deceitful men all around her trying to manipulate her for their own agendas constantly, not knowing whose advice to trust at any given time - and on top of that not being able to indulge in her one true love and having to also keep him at an emotional distance while keeping him around for her personal needs.... and keeping him from being killed by rivals and scheming courtiers.. as she depended so much on their history of friendship and love to feel she had anyone at all in her corner. She could never just step out of her life (and her constant duties) to be herself, never able to let down her guard - what a horrible life it must have made.

I thought Tom Hardy as Dudley was supberb - the best Robby to date I say. He and Duff's characters were the most up close and personal dipiction of the relationship, so far. Tom Hardy's presence all but eclipsed Duff's. I thought they were evenly matched and did portray a deep attachment for each other. My favourite scene was when he lifted her onto the horse and rode her through the bushes, for an instance her youth reborn - and I thought the music perfect for that scene and as it hauntingly played at various intervals throughout.

Whether true or not, I consider this version captured their frustrated romance and passion for each other in an impossible scenario in history. Not at all unbelievable.

This 'The Virgin Queen' was my favorite version of the Elizabeth I movies. But I admit it was mostly due to Tom Hardy's dynamic portrayal in it.



Matrixflower :)

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I thought it was really good overal. I especially liked the scenes with Bess and Robert (Hardy). I actually thought the love he had for her was genuine but because he was young and foolish he did make it seem like a game but to be fair though she also did the same. It was realised obviously when it was too late. I thought it was a shame really for them 2

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