DVD Review: Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Academy Award winners Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush join Academy Award nominee Clive Owen in a gripping historical thriller full of suspense, intrigue and adventure!

When Queen Elizabeth’s reign is threatened by ruthless familial betrayal and Spain’s invading army, she and her shrewd advisor must act to safeguard the lives of her people. But when a dashing seafarer, Walter Raleigh, captures her heart, she is forced to make her most tragic sacrifice for the good of her country.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age tells the thrilling tale of one woman’s crusade to control her love, destroy her enemies and secure her position as a beloved icon of the western world.

Review:
Nearly a decade after the original Academy Award winning Elizabeth rocked the film industry, director Shekhar Kapur welcomes us to the more well-known part of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Full of majestic color and the tangled politics of a Renaissance era royal court, the Queen (Cate Blanchett) is faced with not only the threat of her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots eyeing her throne and the impending threat on the delicate religious balance of England by the Spanish Inquisition, but also the defiance of her own desires toward the adventurous Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen).

While the film doesn’t follow all the historical details, Elizabeth: The Golden Age is a fantastic continuation in the portrayal of the making of one of England’s greatest monarchs, the sacrifices she made to ensure the security of her people and her place with them. One of the more remarkable aspects of this movie was the fantastic performances given by all, especially Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush. Also impressive were the elaborate sets and costumes that flowed nearly flawlessly with the massive on-site historical locales.

For fans, the Special Features do not disappoint. With “The Reign Continues: The Making of ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age'” as well as highlights on the intricacies of making an elaborate historical film in “Inside Elizabeth’s World” and “Towers, Courts and Cathedrals” provide another good hour of entertaining movie magic.

Review by Marie Holzer

Grade: A-
Official site: http://www.elizabeththegoldenage.net/
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