In association with

Elizabeth: The Golden Age [2007]
from Universal Pictures UK
starring Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Rhys Ifans, Abbie Cornish
directed by Shekhar Kapur

Features:

• PAL
• Subtitled

Editorial Review:

Elizabeth: The Golden Age may not have been bestowed with a similar shower of awards (nor quite as glowing critical reaction) as its predecessor. But don’t be fooled: this is a terrific costume drama, and one that very much leaves you hoping for the hinted-at third installment.

Once again starring Cate Blanchett in the title role, Elizabeth: The Golden Age sees events pick up with her very well established on the throne. It’s a new set of problems and issues that present themselves, with the impending threat of the Spanish Armada, and the scheming Mary, Queen Of Scots (brilliantly played by the always-terrific Samantha Morton) foremost in her mind.

That is, of course, apart from Sir Walter Raleigh, played by Clive Owen. Elizabeth: The Golden Age adds a potential romance for the virgin Queen, one that she struggles to come to terms with. And in the capable hands of returning director Shekhar Kapur, these many threads are woven together skillfully and a willingness to break the conventions of the period drama.

The star attraction remains Blanchett again, of course, whose performance is just as striking and textured as it was nearly a decade before. Elizabeth: The Golden Age may have an impressive cast, but all of them must have known they were on a hiding to nothing going up against the majesty (in more than one sense) of Blanchett. Because while the film itself does have a problems, it’s still better than you may have been led to believe, and boasts a tour-de-force central performance that you simply won’t see matched very often at all. --Jon Foster

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

• Not a disaster but less than commanding
  At once more ambitious and less intriguing than its predecessor, Elizabeth: The Golden Age certainly isn't the abject disaster reviewers claimed on its theatrical release, although it's not nearly as engrossing as the original. Unfortunately, while Shekhar Kapur opens up the action and opts for a much lighter palate this time round, with at least a trailer's worth of striking visuals, the results are not particularly compelling. By focusing on the best-known part of the Virgin Queen's reign there's less of... more info

• Cor blimey Guvnor! What was all that about?
  Spaniards are dressed in black and have mean, scowling faces. They are the ugly catholic baddies out to get whatever they can in the name of religion. Oh my goodness me yes...
  England is a clean, gloriously-lit kingdom with a gorgeous, sexy queen that smoulders with her on-screen beau, the dashing, Bond-esque Sir Walter 'oh what a big ship I've got' Raleigh (see below). She bathes amidst the glow a million candles with her cute (blemish-free, full-head-of-teeth) handmaid. Lord Essex didn't exist, Lord... more info

• a visual delight, an interesting story but rarely exciting - but will appeal to people who don't like history books
  As a visual spectacle this film is wonderful.
  As a historical drama it is interesting but rarely exciting.I didn't really believe in the characters being portrayed in this film - particularly those in the royal circle - because they seemed to interact too freely and frivolously which in those ruthless authoritarian times could result in your head getting chopped off.However I would recommend the film to you because it builds to a satisfying conclusion and there is a terrific fight sequence between the... more info

• Where was Sir Francis Drake?
  This film was okay, but why wasn't Sir Francis Drake given more of a platform? He was surely the helmsman at the defeat of the Spanish Armada; famously 'singeing the King of Spain's beard.' As a Plymouthian, I was hoping to see more of him and less of Raleigh.

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