Movie Review: Elizabeth: The Golden Age

This visually stunning movie chronicles the struggles and intrigues of Queen Elizabeth I. The starts just after her ascension to the English throne after the death of her Catholic step mother, Mary. Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII, had separated the English church from Rome. England is in a state of flux. A large minority of English is loyal to Rome, but the English government and her Queen are Protestant. Mary, Elizabeth’s Catholic sister and rival to the English throne, schemes to reunite England with the Catholic Church.

The film’s conflicts include Elizabeth’s struggles with her half sister, Mary, her chief counselor, Sir William Cecil, Sir Walter Raleigh and King Phillip of Spain. Throughout the story, Elizabeth is torn between the necessity of being royal and authoritative and the need for intimacy, friendship and council.

Sir Walter Raleigh is in turn torn between the need for the queen’s royal patronage and sincere admiration of her intelligence, sensitivity and will. The interplay between these two characters is well developed, sophisticated and for the most part virtuous.

The visuals, costumes, setting and musical score are stunning. Some theatrical license was taken in some of the pivotal points of the story- including a Joan of Ark-like scene on the Cliffs of Dover as Elizabeth looks over the destruction of the Spanish Armada in shining armor on a white charger delivering a warmed over version of Richard’s St. Crispin’s Day speech.

The movie is rated “R” mainly because of the violence and brief nudity.