Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

“Elizabeth: The Golden Age” is the continuing story of the original from 1998. Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush reprise their roles of Elizabeth I and Francis. It opens on the English court trying to marry off the “Virgin Queen” to sire a male heir.

I thought the dating service scenario at the beginning was so silly. Elizabeth meets Sir Walter Raleigh the legendary way with draping his cape over a puddle for her to pass. She becomes goo-goo-ga-ga over her and her chambermaid, Bess.

The “love triangle” was so soap opera after—if you read the history books, Raleigh impregnates Bess and marries her. It was so unnecessary in this movie.

The Spanish Empire and Catholics want Elizabeth to die and let Mary, played by Samantha Morton, become queen.

I think that this movie is mish-mash of what happened to Elizabeth towards the end of her reign.

I love the costumes, which won the Oscar and the lighting effects.

It was an okay movie. Did I think it should have been made? No. The strength of the original “Elizabeth” was more than enough.