Flawed, but actually one of the better follow up movies to anything I've seen

Rating: 9/10 (17 September 2009)

I absolutely loved the first film, and do think if it was released at a different year to Shakespeare in Love(though that is still a good film), it would've got the accolades it deserved. The Golden Age is definitely not as good as its predecessor, it is very loosely based on fact, and the direction wasn't always rock solid. However, there are a number of things that do fully compensate. The film did look absolutely exquisite, just like the first film did, with the breathtaking scenery, stunning photography and sumptuous costumes. Just look at the dresses Cate Blanchett wears in the film, they were just wondrous. The screenplay is quite extraordinarily crafted, and the performances were superb. Cate Blanchett, though Elizabeth does look a little more youthful than I expected her to be, was simply mesmerising in the title role, and Geoffrey Rush(an example of an actor who rarely disappoints in anything he's in) and Clive Owen both give rock solid performances. And the music was absolutely beautiful. The film was in conclusion to this review, just beautiful to watch, and save the flaws, is almost as good as the first film. 8.5/10 Bethany Cox