Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

As Nietzsche once said, Stupidity in a woman is unwomanly. This is in fact a true statement that women make highs higher and lows less frequent. A perfect example is Elizabeth of England, her reign had lead England to a golden age and being the most powerful country in Europe after the defeat of Spain.

In 1585 King Philip II sees England as a threat, due to different religious beliefs and a threat to his own power. The pessimist King Philip II considers his young daughter a traitor for having a miniature of Elizabeth I, Queen of England. On the other hand, Philip II declares a war against England but the Queen declines it. In England, Elizabeth I is being pressured to marry as she is aging with no child to be her successor.

As always, Elizabeth refuses to take someone's hand in marriage but sees another prospect in mind, Walter Raleigh from the New World known as India. Elizabeth finds Raleigh attractive and asks Bess to observe him. Bess also finds him attractive and begins an affair with the explorer secretly. Elizabeth, concerned about her leadership, seeks an astrologist for guidance and advice. Two empires will go to war, but one will win and one will lose, not mentioning who will fall. Elizabeth ponders on the fate of her country as she detests war again Spain. In the meantime, Bess confesses that she is pregnant with Raleigh's child, the enraged queen bullies her and sends Raleigh to prison. Feeling betrayed, Elizabeth reminds Bess that she cannot marry without royal consent.

As a leader, Elizabeth seeks the loyalty of her people. For having a Protestant belief, Catholics are being hunted, tortured and murdered, including the brother of her adviser and the cousin of Bess. Not to mention, she also seeks the loyalty of her family - her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots had threatened her that she will place herself on England's throne and rule over England. Elizabeth had her cousin executed and her son beheaded. Now, the only threat to England is Spain.

Elizabeth finally goes against the Spanish army joining her men in battle right after she forgives Bess and sets Raleigh free. The amount of the Spanish army outnumbered the English but strategy never runs out for the Queen, The men light their ship on fire before retreating to the water below and being rescued by another one of their own ships. The English watch as the Spanish Armada sinks in flame. A history in the making occurs, Spain's loss proves to be the greatest in naval Spanish history.

The forgiven Bess and Raleigh awaits for their child's birth as Elizabeth blesses the child.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age is the sequel to the film Elizabeth of 1998 also starring Cate Blanchett and directed by Shakhar Khapur, written by William Nicholson and Micahel Hirst and produced by Working Title Films. Co-starring Cate Blanchett is Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Rhys Ifans and Abbie Cornish. The Golden Age was released in the US on October 12 and will be released in UK in November 2.