Title: Elizabeth Starring: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Richard Attenborough, and Christopher Eccelston Genre:  Drama Rated: R for sexuality and voilent content Rating: *** (out of ****) As much of a classic as the Academy Awards made Elizabeth out to be, it was a little bland. There was nothing wrong with the acting, in fact that aspect was superb. However, the life of such a prestigous and powerful queen was unfolded quite blandly and was horridly boring. The film dwiddled too much on realistic effects, making some nice physical graffiti, but Elizabeth needed a stronger pull. The film was horridly boring at many points, and immediately died when it started to get good. I was wondering how it would end, constantly hoping the ending would support some kind of meaning, but it unfortunetly dissapointed me. Cate Blanchett played Queen Elizabeth I of England and was very good at her part, but not too appealing. Geoffrey Rush played her gaurd and most loyal servant and was very cool and dramatic looking. Joseph Fiennes followed his Shakespeare In Love days and was portrayed as Elizabeth's lover, a part which was drastically important to the plot and followed through well by the Shakespearean Fiennes. Richard Attenborough played Elizabeth's councellor and Christopher Eccelston the Duke of Norfolk, both very evil men. Though they were good actors, their parts were a little irratating, but otherwise splendid. Elizabeth was finely acted and directed (Shekhar Kapur), but the plot (Michael Hirst) was adapted horribly and left me quite bored. Elizabeth recieves three stars out of four, barely holding above a two and a half rating. -Alaay-