Elizabeth: The Golden Age finds Queen Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett) facing bloodlust for her throne and familial betrayal. Growing keenly aware of the changing religious and political tides of late 16th century Europe, Elizabeth finds her rule openly challenged by the Spanish King Philip II (Jordi Molla)--with his powerful army and sea-dominating armada--determined to restore England to Catholicism. Preparing to go to war to defend her empire, Elizabeth struggles to balance ancient royal duties with an unexpected vulnerability in her love for Raleigh (Clive Owen). But he remains forbidden for a queen who has sworn body and soul to her country. Unable and unwilling to pursue her love, Elizabeth encourages her favorite lady-in-waiting, Bess (Abbie Cornish), to befriend Raleigh to keep him near. But this strategy forces Elizabeth to observe their growing intimacy. As she charts her course abroad, her trusted advisor, Sir Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), continues his masterful puppetry of Elizabeth's court at home--and her campaign to solidify absolute power. Through an intricate spy network, Walsingham uncovers an assassination plot that could topple the throne. But as he unmasks traitors that may include Elizabeth's own cousin Mary Stuart (Samantha Morton), he unknowingly sets England up for destruction.
This movie is basically a sequel to Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett assuming the role that she performed phenomenally a few years back. Unfortunately, this movie was nowhere near the first one's league. Where the first one was an epic a la Braveheart or Gladiator, this movie played more like Shakespeare In Love. That's not to say that it wasn't a good movie. It just wasn't the movie that was advertised and that I wanted to see. This movie is a lot more about emotions than the trials of running England and what not. Unfortunately, this pretty much made all the performances outside of Cate Blanchett a lot flatter than they had to be.
I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this one out. It is by no means a must see, but is worth the rental fee if you are in to period pieces like this.
