Biggest cinema disappointment so far this year

Rating: 6/10 (4 November 2007)

Cate Blanchett's acting in the central role is as spectacular as in the first film, but she, (and everyone else involved), is totally let down by the writers of the script. The whole film plods along as, in popular history, the Spanish galleons allegedly did in the Armada of 1588 itself; top-heavy, over-manned and extremely sluggish in covering the ocean. Recent naval historians have revised such views and, while the film contains numerous other pieces of historical tosh, (Sir Francis Drake and Raleigh virtually sharing the command of the English fleet against the Armada??? I don't think so!), this was also abundantly true of the original film, "Elizabeth". The crucial difference, though, was that the original film had pace, humour, terrific insight into the nature of power and, simply, thrills, which made one more than ready to suspend disbelief and be swept along by the action as it unfolded. Although the latter film looks very good, (the costume department having done an especially fine job and the photography being on a par overall with the first film as well), there is just not the pace or human interest in it to sustain the attention of the audience over nearly two hours, (as testified to by the fact that this was the first film in 2007 which I had seen in a cinema in which more than one party walked out before the end!) As I say, a terrific disappointment, leaving one wishing the writers, (considering all of the assets they had their disposal, not least the massive talents of Ms. Blanchett), could meet the fate of those unfortunates who come under Walsingham's power in both films! The protracted scene in the original "Elizabeth" where the plotters against her throne are arrested or otherwise dealt with to a background of achingly beautiful choral music was said to have been inspired by a similar scene in "The Godfather". Seeing "Elizabeth - the Golden Age" reminds one how "The Godfather" was also very rare indeed in having a sequel which at least matched the original film. If a third "Elizabeth" is planned for future years, (the Essex rebellion and Elizabeth's final years?), the producers will need to consider very carefully what went wrong this time and not repeat it.