Elizabeth: The Golden Age

I will have to add to the chorus of folks being a bit disappointed in this followup to Elizabeth.

I think director Kapur goes a little overboard with the directorial flourishes, with the ornate camera moves and production design, seemingly to do so to captivate with flashiness, while the screenplay that doesn't provide enough substance for unfolding of "the golden age", Elizabeth's biggest challenge to her rule. Elizabeth's dalliance with Raleigh stumbles after a promising start, and just sputters unconvincingly, which undermines the momentum of the film. The last act was confusing to me in terms of depicting the strategy of the sea conflict, and I was scratching my head at the scene depicting Elizabeth's rallying of the troops, just seemed out of place or odd in terms of presentation in the film.

Blanchette's acting is in fine form, she definitely embodies the spirit and presence of Queen Elizabeth, but is let down by the screenplay which is awkward and not entirely engrossing. Geoffrey Rush and Clive Owen do good work with what they had to work with (screenplay), and Abbie Cornish's acting did not detract from the film.

I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.