Review of Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) by Jason J — 17 May 2011

A lavish sweeping production centered on Queen Elizabeth I facing a threat in her reign as Mary, Queen of Scots and King Phillip II of Spain set their sights on toppling the Virgin Queen from her throne.

Cate Blanchett is once again magnificent as Good Queen Bess - easily as good as she was in the first movie. She puts so much intensity and life in her character and really carries the movie. The acting, script, cinematography, editing, score - all of it is top-notch.

The art direction, makeup, and costume design (of which the movie won an Oscar) are especially well done and pluck the audience from their seats and places them in the era. The sea battle with the English fleet taking on the Spanish Armada is somewhat disappointing.

Despite some historical inaccuracies to spice the proceedings, this is still a fantastic movie to watch and well worth checking out.