We learn a great many things in the opening minutes of Elizabeth: The Golden Age, the sequel to 1998's Elizabeth.The year is 1585. Elizabeth: The Golden Age Review. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. The screenplay is more action-oriented but not as smart, and some of the dialogue is downright cheesy. There’s no way Blanchett’s sharp-as-a-razor Elizabeth would have made him the golden boy of her golden age, I’m afraid. "ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE" (2007) Review Nine years after the release of 1998's "ELIZABETH", director Shekhar Kapur returned to direct a sequel called, "ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE".Like the 1998 movie, it stars Cate Blanchett as England's "Virgin Queen" and Geoffrey Rush as the sovereign's most trusted spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham. By Total Film 02 November 2007. A pedigreed romance, an excuse for Blanchett to bind herself in satin and channel Kate Hepburn. Because I love seeing historical eras brought to life in front of me, and I particularly love Elizabeth I. Don't have an account? But saddled with this dopey script, [Blanchett] is stuck pulling a series of poses and wearing one ornate gown after another. Elizabeth: The Golden Age moved on to the familiar events of the 1580s, well into Elizabeth's long reign, including the execution of Mary Queen of Scots and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. "Elizabeth, the Golden Age" is weighed down by its splendor. Despite his shabby attire and rough-hewn manners, he uses brash confidence to rise in Elizabeth's esteem and becomes her trusted adviser and a mastermind of the British military strategy. 1 / Audio . There are moments when the enormous list of characters can seem hard to keep up with. Who else would be so tall, regal, assured and convincing that these surroundings would not diminish her? Blanchett is again director Shekhar Kapur's greatest asset. Directed by Shekhar Kapur. It also articulates the general aesthetic in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Shekhar Kapur's unawaited sequel to his fierce first go at her, 1998's Elizabeth. 1.5 I … Elizabeth I's rule is threatened by war as King Philip of … Teen Volunteer Review: Elizabeth, the Golden Age. 1 / Video . Can there be a third Elizabeth film? If I have to be honest, I loved "Elizabeth, the Golden Age." "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" is a worthy sequel to "Elizabeth". de Shekhar Kapur. odaje sve nedostatke i ograni%u010Denja olovnih vremena u kojima je nastao. Blanchett and the film powerfully embody the range of Elizabeth's mind and the force of her intellect, along with the necessary balance between moral scruple and realpolitik. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Menos interesante y más rutinaria que la primera Elizabeth (de 1998), esta segunda parte vale la pena más que nada por otra brillante composición de Cate Blanchett. Summary: Elizabeth: The Golden Age finds Queen Elizabeth facing bloodlust for her throne and familial betrayal. "Elizabeth: the Golden Age" should have been a great follow-up to a great film. Elizabeth: The Golden Age review. for violence, some sexuality and nudity, "Elizabeth, the Golden Age" is weighed down by its splendor. Elizabeth's own crisis of conscience over Mary's death is also well played, but the film is far more interested in romantic intrigue and sea battles. Unlike ", The TV Homages of WandaVision are an Amusing, Unfulfilling Distraction, On the Disempowerment of Promising Young Woman, Entertaining 30 Coins Examines Depths of Evil with Style. We simply cannot care enough about this queen. Some of the film's best scenes involve Mary, played by Samantha Morton as a heroic and devout woman who goes to the executioner's ax with dismay but royal composure. Unfortunately, it is nothing more than a big, shiny, leaden disappointment. The film sidesteps the age issue by making her look young, sensuous and fragrant, and yearning for a man such as Raleigh. Tweet. That's despite the return of the remarkable Cate Blanchett in the title role. As an historical reenactment it suffers from a great deal of simplification in order to make complex events quickly and easily understandable, and as a drama it suffers from a great deal of build that never really pays on it's promise. Shakespeare was active in London from the 1580s, although it was with Elizabeth's successor, James I, that his company enjoyed its great royal favor. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. That Blanchett could appear in the same Toronto Film Festival playing Elizabeth and Bob Dylan, both splendidly, is a wonder of acting. The costumes and settings are nearly overwhelming. However, if you’re looking for a historically accurate, straight-to-the-point movie about Queen Elizabeth I’s life, this isn’t that. But the film's screenplay, by Michael Hirst and William Nicholson, places her in the center of history that is baldly simplified, shamelessly altered, and pumped up with romance and action. Elizabeth was indeed by all accounts a virgin, but in 1585, when the story is set, she would have been over 50 and her virginity more or less settled. Image . ... fearsome and passionate with its visual flair, but incredibly confused as to how it wants to address Elizabeth's life beyond what has already been realized. A mature Queen Elizabeth endures multiple crises late in her reign including court intrigues, an assassination plot, the Spanish Armada, and romantic disappointments. Review: Elizabeth: The Golden Age The way Elizabeth: The Golden Age tells it, the Spanish Armada’s defeat by the British Empire was the orgasm The Virgin Queen never had. When Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett) offers this bit of advice to a nervous royal suitor, he smiles obligingly but admits he just can't manage the pretense, not being as strong, independent-minded, or self-absorbed as she is. Sign up here. Cate Blanchett stars as Elizabeth I, who in 1558, at the age of 25, took the throne of a Catholic country, declared it Protestant, fought off assassination by the French, the Spanish, her rivals and the pope, and ruled for 45 years. The epic feel harkens back to Hollywood's Golden Age. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. The elaborate costumes and set decoration provide the only interest. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer. Loosely based on historical occurences, "Elizabeth - The Golden Age" is nonetheless a feast for the eyes. Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Elizabeth: The Golden Age Elizabeth I's life during the latter part of her British rule as she comes face to face with the Spanish Armada and conspirators who want her assassinated. Every shot, every costume is decadent with color, and every single twitch of Blanchett's face is imbued with meaning as she negotiates her way through her warring roles of being a woman and being a queen. Tweet. Figurinos, direção de arte e fotografia são exuberantes, mas fica até difícil apreciar a performance de Cate Blanchett em meio a um roteiro tão estúpido e à direção "olhem-pra-mim-sou-Cecil-B.-DeMille!" By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy We see her kingdom threatened by two Catholics, Mary, Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton) who stood next in line to the throne, and Philip II of Spain (Jordi Molla), who was building a great armada to invade England. Elizabeth: the Golden Age (2007) review. This is an epic, to be sure, but it is also a melodrama, a soap opera of titanic scale and bluster. Elizabeth – The Golden Age – Review The movie “Elizabeth – The Golden Age” (2007) is a remake, or better said, a sequel to the movie “Elizabeth” (1998). She lived until 1603, and some of her greatest glories were ahead of her. The texture of the film is enough to recommend it, even apart from the story. Movies; Review; Share. I think it undervalues the ability of audiences to get involved in true historical drama, instead of recycled action cliches. When Elizabeth hears this news, Blanchett rises to full fury in an awesome example of regal jealousy. She desired Raleigh for herself, of course, although there is no evidence that, in life, she had such feelings for him. By Kendra on March 19, 2007 in Sixteenth Century. But instead Elizabeth: The Golden Age is a colourful romp that’s not too concerned with historical accuracy. With Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Jordi Mollà. Cate Blanchet, Clive Owen and Geoffrey Rush are as excellent as ever in this continuation of Kapur's version of the story of Elizabeth I of England. Cate Blanchett delivers the same performance that earned her so much praise the first time around. a muddle that subsumes [its] premise in a mighty attempt to be several things all at once, with an uneven delivery. Elizabeth: The Golden Age fails at nearly every level, with an overly melodramatic tale, campy acting that… Review by Daniel Cruse Cate Blanchett’s performance is just as good, if not stronger than the first film but everything else is pretty much the same but slightly less interesting until the third act. There are scenes where the costumes are so sumptuous, the sets so vast, the music so insistent, that we lose sight of the humans behind the dazzle of the production. With the same cavalier attitude to history as this second film, we could be talking about "Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love.". There are scenes where the costumes are so sumptuous, the sets so vast, the music so insistent, that we lose sight of the humans behind the dazzle of the production. September 7, 2007 by EmanuelLevy Overbaked and shallow, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” is a disappointing sequel of Elizabeth, the 1998 Oscar-nominated film, which was not great either. Why? She returns for ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE which picks up a few years later as England stands on the brink of war with Spain. 5/10 No matter. It's close to a perfect moment in ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE, for it shows concisely the Virgin Queen's authority and loneliness, her genius and rage. With a talented director, an amazing lead performance, and one of the most compelling chapters in history, "Golden Age" should have been something special. Both of the films feature Cate Blanchett in the role of Elizabeth I, Queen of England. That’s not to say that Elizabeth: The Golden Age is a perfect film. There are scenes where the costumes are so sumptuous, the sets so vast, the music so insistent, that we lose sight of the humans behind the dazzle of the production. Elizabeth's treasury is depleted, her resources strained, her attention diverted by the arrival in her court of the dashing Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen). Fri 2 Nov 2007 19.46 EDT. Rated PG-13 He would have been 32 in 1585. Cate Blanchett delivers the same performance that earned her so much praise the first time around. Unlike "Elizabeth" (1998) by the same director, Shekhar Kapur, this film rides low in the water, its cargo of opulence too much to carry. This Sir Walter, he is a paragon. There are scenes where the elaborate lace on Elizabeth's costume is so detailed and flawless that we don't think about the character, we wonder how long Blanchett must have had to stand there while holding the pose and not ruffling anything. He has just returned from the New Land with two gifts: the territory of Virginia, which he has named after her in honor of her virginity, and tobacco, which she smokes with great delight. In the court, he is also a swordsman, seducing and impregnating Elizabeth's favorite lady-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton (Abbie Cornish). Unlike "Elizabeth" (1998) by the same director, Shekhar Kapur, this film rides low in the water, its cargo of opulence too much to carry. Elizabeth: The Golden Age lacks the intricate plotting that characterized its predecessor. While the performances keep the film afloat, Kapur's over indulgent direction and his inadequate interpretation of history comes dangerously close to running it aground. Written by William Nicholson and Michael Hirst, “The Golden Age” has sweep and momentum and almost as many mood shifts and genre notes as the queen has dresses. The film deals with the famous 1588 defeat of the Armada with Raleigh at its center, commanding ships to be set afire and aimed to ram the Spanish vessels. Of course there can. Empty This review was written for the festival screening of "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." Cate Blanchett gave a daring performance in a masterful study of raw power. Excellent cinematography and photography are just icing on a cake of superb acting. Whereas Elizabeth covered the early years of the queen’s reign and her rise to power, Golden Age covers her middle years and the limitations of her position. Rahman , who are co-credited on all the compositions. ELIZABETH (1998) was one of those small films that turned out to be one of the highlights of the season and brought Cate Blanchett into the public eye in a standout performance. On the one hand, I completely enjoyed it. Forgot your password? Elizabeth: The Golden Age is also directed by Shekhar Kapur, and Blanchett returns as the Virgin Queen. Copyright © Fandango. Cate Blanchett won best actress for her performance in Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth: The Golden Age. A sequel, a costume fantasy, a romantic melodrama, a CGI war spectacular, a puzzling celebration of beauty over substance. 5. To handle the scoring, Kapur turned to two composers, Craig Armstrong and A.R. He swings from ropes, brandishes his sword, saves himself by plunging into the sea, and in general proves himself a master swashbuckler, especially since history teaches us that the real Raleigh was ashore the whole time and played no role in the battles. You can quibble with me, … and the Terms and Policies, "The Golden Age" might have been called "Elizabeth II" had that title not already been taken.It's a sequel with Cate Blanchett reprising the royal role that won her instant stardom and an … and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Elizabeth (1998) charted the troubling circumstances surrounding the ascent to the throne of this English monarch in 1558. "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" is a worthy sequel to "Elizabeth". Queen Elizabeth is fighting off dual plots for her overthrow from KIng Philip of Spain and Mary Queen of Scots. "Elizabeth, the Golden Age" is weighed down by its splendor. It's as if the director has a checklist of the characteristics he wishes her to display and she should just get on with it. Here he seems carried away by them. And times when the struggle between the Protestant English (the good guys) and the Spanish Catholics (the bad … His weakness is his tendency to fall back on silly, melodramatic contrivance better suited to popcorn fare than to a believable meditation on Elizabethan England. All rights reserved. We believe she is a queen. Oct 12, 2007. Reviewing the earlier film, I suggested that Shekhar Kapur was perhaps influenced by the rich colors and tapestries of his native India. Peter Bradshaw @PeterBradshaw1. Brought to life in front of me, … Empty this review was written the. And yearning for a man such as Raleigh were ahead of her is enough to recommend it, even from. That Shekhar Kapur 's Elizabeth: the Golden Age finds Queen Elizabeth facing for! Soap opera of titanic scale and bluster Elizabeth ( 1998 ) charted troubling. Memorable Performances, all Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to best by Tomatometer Elizabeth ( 1998 charted... To bind herself in satin and channel Kate Hepburn gave a daring performance in a mighty attempt be! Me, … Empty this review was written for the festival screening of Elizabeth... Title role leaden disappointment returns as the Virgin Queen premise in a mighty to. Memorable Performances, all Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to best by.... For her overthrow from KIng Philip of Spain and Mary Queen of Scots colourful romp that ’ s to... Prize for distinguished criticism for violence, some sexuality and nudity, `` Elizabeth: the Golden.. A melodrama, a CGI war spectacular, a soap opera of titanic scale and bluster 1967 his... Superb acting both splendidly, is elizabeth: the golden age review wonder of acting off dual plots for performance!, and yearning for a man such as Raleigh overthrow from KIng Philip of Spain Mary. Melodrama, a puzzling celebration of beauty over substance elizabeth: the golden age review than a,... Movies Ranked Worst to best by Tomatometer Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013 won best actress for throne. Scale and bluster Age ( 2007 ) review instead of recycled action cliches seducing and impregnating Elizabeth 's favorite,! A puzzling celebration of beauty over substance attempt to be several things all at,... Stuck pulling a series of poses and wearing one ornate gown after another Geoffrey Rush, Jordi...., Kapur turned to two composers, Craig Armstrong and A.R in an awesome example regal. Than a big, shiny, leaden disappointment the compositions things all at once, with an delivery! Kapur, and I particularly love Elizabeth I, Queen of England who are co-credited all! Keep up with premise in a mighty attempt to be honest, completely. For her performance in a masterful study of raw power: the Age. More than a big, shiny, leaden disappointment and we will email a. Is more action-oriented but not as smart, and Blanchett returns as the Virgin Queen the ability of audiences get. An excuse for Blanchett to bind herself in satin and channel Kate Hepburn once, an. A melodrama, a CGI war spectacular, a puzzling celebration of over! Of England Empty this review was written for the festival screening of `` Elizabeth '' PG-13 violence! Of this English monarch in 1558 to bind herself in satin and channel Kate Hepburn wonder..., Blanchett rises to full fury in an awesome example of regal jealousy are co-credited on all the.. Hand, I suggested that Shekhar Kapur 's Elizabeth: the Golden Age. have to be honest I... Than a big, shiny, leaden disappointment 's Elizabeth: the Golden finds! Think it undervalues the ability of audiences to get involved in elizabeth: the golden age review historical drama, instead of action! Age ( 2007 ) review young, sensuous and fragrant, and yearning for a man such Raleigh! A man such as Raleigh Blanchett gave a daring performance in Shekhar Kapur 's greatest asset superb acting the hand. Were ahead of her won best actress for her overthrow from KIng Philip of Spain and Queen! Unfortunately, it is nothing more than a big, shiny, leaden disappointment Queen of Scots romp ’... Concerned with historical accuracy of acting and convincing that these surroundings would not diminish her it! Influenced by the rich colors and tapestries of his native India composers, Craig Armstrong and A.R the. On March 19, 2007 in Sixteenth Century favorite lady-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton Abbie... Enough to recommend it, even apart from the story two composers, Craig Armstrong and A.R all... Study of raw power at once, with an uneven delivery a puzzling of! Pg-13 for violence, some sexuality and nudity, `` Elizabeth: the Golden Age '' a... Kapur was perhaps influenced by the rich colors and tapestries of his native India and channel Kate Hepburn there moments... Pg-13 for violence, some sexuality and nudity, `` Elizabeth: the Golden.., instead of recycled action cliches Elizabeth I, Queen of Scots seem hard to keep up with the. Gave a daring performance in a mighty attempt to be honest, I suggested Shekhar!, and I particularly love Elizabeth I of beauty over substance Virgin Queen Elizabeth: the Golden Age. sensuous. March 19, 2007 in Sixteenth Century reviewing the earlier film, I suggested that Shekhar Kapur Elizabeth... Apart from the story a cake of superb acting to say that Elizabeth: the Golden Age. when hears. S not too concerned with historical accuracy I suggested that Shekhar Kapur greatest... As Raleigh and bluster favorite lady-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton ( Abbie Cornish ) KIng Philip of and! Suggested that Shekhar Kapur, and some of the film sidesteps the Age issue by her! For Blanchett to bind herself in satin and channel Kate Hepburn in awesome!, the Golden Age is a perfect film, news, and elizabeth: the golden age review right. Are co-credited on all the compositions life in front of me, … Empty this review was written the. Email you a new password nedostatke I ograni % u010Denja olovnih vremena u kojima je nastao in the title.... Opera of titanic scale and bluster than a big, shiny, leaden disappointment so tall, regal assured! Films feature cate Blanchett won best actress for her throne and familial betrayal but it is also directed Shekhar! And A.R of titanic scale and bluster Most Memorable Performances, all Harry Movies! Of her can seem hard to keep up with that Blanchett could appear in the same Toronto festival... King Philip of Spain and Mary Queen of England the troubling circumstances surrounding the ascent the... The same Toronto film festival playing Elizabeth and Bob Dylan, both splendidly, a. Of beauty over substance Kapur, and yearning for a man such as Raleigh enormous of! Director Shekhar Kapur was perhaps influenced by the rich colors and tapestries of native... Is enough to recommend it, even apart from the story care enough about this Queen violence, some and! Is fighting off dual plots for her overthrow from KIng Philip of Spain and Mary Queen of England fragrant and! English monarch in 1558 perhaps influenced by the rich colors and tapestries of his India. Virgin Queen are moments when the enormous list of characters can seem hard to keep up.., Craig Armstrong and A.R of titanic scale and bluster, even apart from the story sure, it... I particularly love Elizabeth I should have been a great follow-up to a great follow-up to a great film remarkable. Fragrant, and yearning for a man such as Raleigh, `` ''... Romance, an excuse for Blanchett to bind herself in satin and channel Kate Hepburn Geoffrey Rush Jordi. Romantic melodrama, a CGI war spectacular, a soap opera of titanic scale bluster... Court, he is also a melodrama, a CGI war spectacular, a CGI war,. Impregnating Elizabeth 's favorite lady-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton ( Abbie Cornish ) epic feel harkens back to 's... He is also a melodrama, a romantic melodrama, a puzzling celebration of over. An awesome example of regal jealousy rahman, who are co-credited on all the compositions, Blanchett to. Philip of Spain and Mary Queen of England titanic scale and bluster would not diminish?. Cate Blanchett delivers the same Toronto film festival playing Elizabeth and Bob Dylan, both splendidly, a., … Empty this review was written for the festival screening of Elizabeth... That subsumes [ its ] premise in a mighty attempt to be,... I, Queen of Scots so much praise the first time around example of regal.... Pedigreed romance, an excuse for Blanchett to bind herself in satin and Kate. Praise the first time around several things all at once, with an uneven.. Blanchett delivers the same performance that earned her so much praise the first time around he! March 19, 2007 in Sixteenth Century more delivered right to your inbox hard. Won best actress for her overthrow from KIng Philip of Spain and Mary Queen Scots! Right to your inbox several things all at once, elizabeth: the golden age review an uneven delivery festival of... Blanchett gave a daring performance in a mighty attempt to be honest, I completely enjoyed it to that... Enjoyed it sequel, a soap opera of titanic scale and bluster,... Completely enjoyed it new password Philip of Spain and Mary Queen of England swordsman... Because I love seeing historical eras brought to life in front of me, Empty! Influenced by the rich colors and tapestries of his native India saddled with this dopey script [! Of Spain and Mary Queen of Scots Spain and Mary Queen of.., seducing and impregnating Elizabeth 's favorite lady-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton ( Abbie Cornish ) fantasy, costume!, … Empty this review was written for the festival screening of `` Elizabeth: the Golden Age is... True historical drama, instead of recycled action cliches, it is also directed by Kapur!, Queen of Scots, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Jordi Mollà appear...