Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth in Universal Pictures'

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Abbie Cornish, Samantha Morton

Directed by: Shekhar Kapur

RS: 2of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 2of 4 Stars

2007 Universal Pictures All Movies

Cate Blanchett can do anything, even play Bob Dylan, but she can't save this creaky sequel to her star-making 1998 biopic of Elizabeth I. Fie on director Shekhar Kapur's visual and aural bombast and the script's soap-opera heart. Though the sixteenth-century queen is facing her greatest challenge -- from an armada attack by King Philip of Spain (Jordi Molla's performance comes direct from the Ministry of Funny Walks) -- she mostly moons over Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen), who'd rather unbuckle his swash for lady-in-waiting Abbie Cornish. Ugh.

Peter Travers

(Posted: Oct 18, 2007)

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Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Review 1 of 2

2of 4 Stars

Try the Elizabeth I that Helen Mirren plays for more satisfaction in the HBO miniseries that won an emmy for her. Kate Blanchett cannot be faulted; its the director and his shallow inappreciation of authentic English history - combine that with a sophomoric inability to weave a sufficient dramatic plot, when a whole wealth of material was at hand. In both of his films dealing with Elizabeth I, Kapur can be faulted for making his characters one dimensional, especially such rediculous caricatures of the contrasting catholic and protestants of that age. These men were not mere creepy torturers, but capable rather of furnishing a societal spiritual ethic that lasted centuries. Shame on Kapur.

Apr 1, 2008 06:50:37

Review 2 of 2

4of 4 Stars

Those that hate the sequel seem to forget why the first film was so much fun...it was "Dynasty" with costumes...the "Golden Age" is no different. Get over yourselves. Pop some pop corn and enjoy!

Feb 20, 2008 02:03:02

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