Elizabeth

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
$39.98
This movie has been on my to-view list for too long. So now, I broke down and rented.
Phillip II raises an army in Spain to attack the Protestant England, ruled by Elizabeth I. Elizabeth struggles to balance the Catholics and the Protestants in England, and to face off against the Spanish Armada.
The costumes, sets, and scenery are goregous, stunning. I can't tell you how often I would look at Cate Blanchett and think she was Elizabeth (in her costumes, she looks a lot like the paintings I've seen of Elizabeth I). The same goes for Samantha Morton as Mary. Absolutely stunning!
I think Cate did a fair job as Elizabeth, I enjoyed watching Geoffrey Rush as Sir Francis Walsingham, and Samantha Morton was excellent as Mary.
As I'm sure you could tell, I had trouble giving a plot to this story. Much of it seems to revolve around the teenaged antics of Elizabeth falling head over heels for Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen), who only has eyes for Bess, the Queen's attendant. While I am sure that Elizabeth wasn't the portrait of perfection that we receive from history, I got tired of the melodrama of the romantic angle (hence the title of this review). It feels like a blasted soap opera. And it interrupts the conflict between Spain and England, making that storyline almost impossible to understand.
And the pacing! So slow, so boring, so tedious! So confusing! All these events...Mary's treason, Sir Francis Walsingham intercepting messages. It might make sense if it weren't so hidden, so buried underneath the romantic triangle.
Cate Blanchett attempts to do a good job with Elizabeth and she does make the queen appear strong, but at times, she makes Elizabeth too human, whining, complaining in front of her courtiers, in front of the people she's supposed to govern, who are supposed to respect her. What kind of woman can command admiration to be called the Virgin Queen if she is angsting over Raleigh being with Bess? Clive Owen is forgettable as Raleigh, Abbie Cornish will never win an award of any kind for her "performance" as Bess, and Jordi Moll��� as the Spanish King just cements in our heads that Spain = Bad.
Lastly, historical inaccuracies abound, even to a history dunce such as myself. Wasn't Mary Elizabeth's sister, not cousin? Didn't she die before Elizabeth took the throne? Would Elizabeth really go all Eowyn on us and ride out Theoden style to meet her army? I understand that movies don't have to be historically accurate 100% of the time, but I can only suspend my disbelief so much.
Ultimately, I wouldn't recommend this movie. Perhaps history buffs might be able to glance over the inaccuracies (probably not) or maybe the uninitiated can become interested in the story (if they like romance triangles), but other than that. I don't know. But I know how I feel, and I didn't enjoy it. 2 stars for Cate Blanchett's attempts, Geoffrey Rush, and the gorgeous costumes.

The Life of Elizabeth I
$17.00
This book was very interesting from an historic view, but a bit tedious and boring. A lot of jumping back and forth making it difficult to follow at times.

Elizabeth
$14.98
An excellant film on the life of Queen Elizabeth with a stunning performance by Cate Blanchett.

Elizabeth I
$19.98
What is so wonderful about this film is how Mirren's Elizabeth contrasts with Jackson's in BBC's "Elizabeth R." Mirren both embodies the "Gloriana" legend with full regality as well as showing us a vulnerable, sensual, REAL woman behind the iconic portraits. This film and Jackson's are the two best films on the mythic monarch.