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Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Limited Edition Sleeve and Free Bookmark (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) [2007]


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £5.19 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk 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


An escapist piece of historical fiction
Review date: 2008-08-29 Rating: 8 out of 10

I came across my review of the first Elizabeth film, and thought I'd better follow up the sequel.

Firstly, I enjoyed the first film, accepting that it was historically 'a little off', and enjoyed it for the acting of the leads. It was a beautiful production, with superb shots of Durham Cathedral and the like.

Sadly, the director seems to have a fascination with church stone. From what I understand (remembering in part an interview someone gave), the stone contrasts with the fleeting nature of human life etc.

That's all very well, but it doesn't help to combat the issue of this being a very historically inaccurate film. Ely, Wells, Winchester and St John's Cambridge all look beautiful and are shot cleverly. The external scenes are also tremendous to see, and it is clear that this is a skilled team. The costumes are beautiful (I understand from an interview given by Blanchett, whenever the dresses were too large for the doorways, they would upsticks and find another cathedral...). The score is typical of this genre of film - good, clear, affecting.

At this point I must confess that I am a fan of Blanchett. Given that she is much younger than Elizabeth was for the most-part of this film, she still delivers lines in a way that most actresses would find difficult. As in the first film, she knows just how to portray the human insecurities of a woman, and when to drop her voice a couple of octaves when she is Queen.

This is an escapist piece of historical fiction. It is not as trashy as The Tudors (although Clive Owen, swarthy as he is, doesn't help). If you can stand the cathedral architecture dominating every scene (occasionally upstaging the lower cast), and you want to see some very fine acting by Blanchett, then do purchase this.

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Reviews


Could it have been worse?
Review date: 2008-05-29 Rating: 2 out of 10

Atrocious. A serious candidate for the worst film ever made in colour.
The closest this film comes to historical fact is the spelling of "Elizabeth" in the title (actually, since the rest is so far off the mark, I'm beginning to wonder now, if it that should be with an 's').
The acting is truly unbelievable - meaning "not believable". Clive Owen was at risk from woodworm - sadly, not for the first time. The whole film is just posing in costumes. This film is so bad, it's not funny (although some of the dialogue comes pretty close). Maybe it could have been worse, but it's hard imagine how. Perhaps if the cast had worn digital watches? It's a pity the star rating doesn't include negative numbers ...

Elizabethan Hollywood
Review date: 2008-05-15 Rating: 2 out of 10

Having gone to great lengths to get this film I wish I hadn't bothered. Glitzy, historically inaccurate, unbelievable sets (Elizabeth would not have held court in any of the great Catholic cathedrals or abbeys). Once again the English film industry has pandered to Hollywood tastes perhaps in anticipation of Oscars . Even Cate Blanchette could not inject a poor, dull script and a constrained characterisation with any credibility. Sadly disappointed.

SINKER!!
Review date: 2008-04-28 Rating: 2 out of 10

Please do not pay any attention to any reviews that give this film anything more than one star - even which is being generous. This film is dreadful; the Spanish ambassador character is hilarious and belongs in Black Adder 2 (which by the way is a far more entertaining take on QE1!!) and does anyone know if the King of Spain had a funny walk? The guy walks like his pantaloons are chaffing him! The acting is woeful; Clive Owen is as wooden as the ships in the Armada and his performance along with everyone else's goes up in smoke as quick as the Armada did! How do you make film about what is an interesting part of England's history with interesting characters, exciting events and impressive battles and then manage to turn it into a boring load of nonsense with rubbish acting and script leaving the characters either as boring, comical or both and delivering a battle at sea with comedy death moments so void of reality it is shocking. Need I go on I could because every second of this film is total and utter trash.

second time unlucky
Review date: 2008-04-05 Rating: 6 out of 10

This is a luxurious,colourful spectacle, but unfortunately thats all it is. There is no true substance to this film, and it is held together by the performance of Cate Blanchett. If you enjoyed the first film, you will watch this one, but in my opinion the first had a very important ingredient which this one doesn't. Originality.
Watch on a sunday afternoon after lunch. You will fall asleep, but it won't matter cause there's nothing to miss.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Geoffrey Rush
Cate Blanchett
Clive Owen
Abbie Cornish
Rhys Ifans

Creators:
Cate Blanchett (Primary Contributor)
Clive Owen (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582550511
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-02-25
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 111 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Original Language)

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