Elizabeth: The Golden Age on TV on New Year’s Eve
Posted By Claire on December 27, 2010
Just a quickie post to let all of you who have access to ITV 1 know that Elizabeth: The Golden Age, the film starring Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I, is on at 9.10pm on 31st December. Here is what The Radio Times say about this film:-
“Almost ten years after her dazzling breakout role in Elizabeth, Cate Blanchett shows that she is still a force to be reckoned with as she reteams with director Shekhar Kapur. Queen Elizabeth I is now a little older and a lot wiser, as she faces potential conflict with Philip II of Spain (Jordi Mollà) and betrayal by her own cousin, Mary Stuart (Samantha Morton). It’s only in her personal life that she’s imprudent, flirting with Sir Walter Raleigh (a dashing Clive Owen), then growing jealous when he seduces one of her ladies-in-waiting. Kapur cleverly makes the dilemma of the 16th-century monarch relevant today, as Elizabeth is forced to sacrifice love for duty. And with a religious war brewing, the story resonates even more. Although the build-up to the launch of the Spanish Armada is haphazard, and Kapur plays fast and loose with history throughout, the final scenes are both exciting and wildly romantic. Ultimately, the success of the film is down to Blanchett, who leads the charge with guts and charisma.”
Despite its inaccuracies, it is a wonderful film so if you’re snowed in on New Year’s Eve in the UK, then make yourself some mulled wine and grab the choccies and enjoy!
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7 Responses to “Elizabeth: The Golden Age on TV on New Year’s Eve”
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How can the ITV play so fast and loose with one of the most
important periods of english history, I have just watched your film
on the ITV and am immediatly moved to write these comments. Raleigh
whilst witout dout a hero in this period did not ride a fire ship
into the middle of the Spanish armada. he was at this time land
based and in charge of the coastal defences of devon and cornwall,
yes it made a good story, but history is a matter of fact and
cannot and should never be changed. I am disgusted that the makers
of this film should play so fast and loose with our history. I
welcome your reply Mike Preddy
Funnily this film also aired in my country on the 30th Dec. I must confess I stopped after half an hour; couldn’t stand the ridiculous scenes with the archduke (who in reality never got as far as England). I had the impression that the film seemed somehow more economic and conventional in the actual making than the 1998 predecessor. What I cannot accept of course is replacing Leicester with Raleigh in the Tilbury camp scene! That’s too much! I guess I only like “Fires over England” and, of course, Blackadder when it comes to Elizabeth on screen.
Mike,
I annoyed my husband like mad by continually saying “well, that’s not what really happened”! I did get very annoyed at times because there are some truly awful inaccuracies in it and I do hope that students/school kids don’t think they can take a short cut in their history studies by watching this film. It’s colourful, entertaining and has some very good actors in it but it’s not history!
Christine,
It is an annoying film, isn’t it. When people ask me what films/tv series I recommend about Elizabeth I do not recommend the Cate Blanchett films. My favourites are the Helen Mirren and Anne-Marie Duff series, both are far more accurate. I too love Blackadder, it’s fantastic!
Mike, the director painted himself into a corner with the first movie, Elizabeth. In that movie, Robert Dudley is a traitor and removed from power, so he isn’t available to be the Armada hero in this movie. Although it would still be taking liberties with history to show Dudley riding a fire ship into the heart of the Armada, it would be closer than Raleigh!
I watched the film on New Year’s Eve, and thought that it was interesting… I just wish they’d stuck closer to the facts! Aren’t they interesting enough, without adding more?
Thoroughly enjoyed it,but realised it was historically inaccurate,as was Braveheart,but that still managed to win awards-god knows how, as ,as a Scot who prides himself in knowing his national history Mel Gibson took liberties also,for that reason I didn’t enjoy Braveheart,maybe if I was English I too would be complaining about the historical inaccuracies of this film,but somehow I managed to still enjoy it.The kids would be better watching Blackadder,as this would hold their attention longer and be more historically accurate.