Shekhar Kapur's sequel to his 1998 film Elizabeth isn't completely accurate in its portrayal of the queen's relationship with Walter Raleigh. Nor is the film balanced in its treatment of Mary Stuart and Spain's Philip II and their schemes to place a Catholic monarch on England's throne, but there's enough rough historical content within the film to make it worth viewing.

Reclusive director Terrence Malick's The New World is a breathtakingly ambitious but only partially successful cinematic retelling of the story of Jamestown's founding. The plot meanders along an uncertain path through much of the lengthy film, and historical accuracy isn't its strong suit, but the naturalistic cinematography is stunning.

This Disney film pays meticulous attention to the historical details—well, not really. But it does encourage us to think about how early American history might have been different if there had been more singing.