Beautiful, but don't watch for a history lesson
Emma from Dublin, 13 Jul 2008
This film is stunning to look at - gorgeous costumes & fabulous locations. For me, Cate Blanchett captured Elizabeth's pain of having to deny her own passions & desires in order to maintain & strengthen her position as ruler excellently. However, historically accurate it ain't. For a start, Cate is too young - QE1 was in her fifties at the time of the Armada, and the nature of the relationship with Walter Raleigh is entirely fictional. For accuracy try Helen Mirren's turn in the C4 production.
Lavish, stunning but uninspiring
maurice from Waterford, 01 May 2009
A beautifully filmed episode in the life of Elizabeth 1 including the beheading of her sister Mary and battles with the Spanish Armada. The acting is great and the attention to detail, filming, sets and costumes are wonderful, however it doesn't incite any emotional response from you. Perhaps it is because the Queen's personality is so cold, repressed and dedicated to duty and this pervades the whole film. Disapointing.
Form over substance
Maggie from Mayo, 03 Mar 2008
Sumptuous costumes and stunning settings. But the storyline was superficial and the characterisation thin and two dimensional. Dialogue was false and stilted, with every scene full of its own importance, reminiscent of 1950's historical epics. Actors struggled with poor scripts, with Clive Owen especially wooden. Disppointing and a lost opportunity for a great film.
Elizabeth - the goldern age
Tansey from Dublin, 16 Aug 2008
Good - staging etc. very good - totally unrealistic of course - in those days personal hygiene was an issue and Elizabeth didn't have such a good choice of dresses - but it did 'set the stage' and was a good 'interpretation' of her time - even if it was the hollywood version!
Elizabeth:The golden Age
Elizabeth from Dublin, 10 Apr 2008
If you like the first addiction of Elizabeth then you will definitely enjoy this. Epic tale of Elizabeth 1 Golden Age. Clive Owen and Cate Blanchett are excellent in this film. The love tension that is between them is intense!