Yet another sequel, but they couldn’t call it Elizabeth II, because it’s still about England’s Elizabeth I, who is still played by Cate Blanchett, who is still as excellent as in the original. It’s 1585; no longer the young girl consolidating power, the queen is the unquestioned ruler during a time of trouble. Well, almost unquestioned. Elizabeth’s imprisoned cousin Mary Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton) was a potential rival to her throne and an inspiration for England’s Catholics, some of whom might have liked to depose the Protestant Elizabeth. From the exterior, there was Spain’s Catholic King Philip, who threatened to expand his empire.
The movie doesn’t delve deeply into the politics of the religious war going on inside England, an admittedly complicated subject, but a large chunk is given over to the plotting against the throne. I found some of that confusing, filled with characters of whom I lost track. More successful, on the whole, is the recounting of Elizabeth and her friendship/flirtation with roguish, but loyal Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen). Still, there was something disconcerting about watching the course of the first movie play in reverse. There, she becomes a woman. Here, she is already a queen, as Blanchett’s fierce voice and regal presence makes clear from her first scene, but reverts into girlish self-doubt in the presence of Raleigh. (Despite makeup, Blanchett does look a tad youthful for a woman who was in her fifties during the events portrayed.) I don’t know about the true relationship of these figures, but I preferred the more assertive, self-assured ruler of the start. Does even the Virgin Queen fall into a pitable state in the presence of overwhelming masculinity?
Only the threat of the Spanish Armada, it seems, can rouse Elizabeth to leadership. This is still worth seeing if you enjoy historical dramas. But despite the return of screenwriter Michael Hirst and director Shekhar Kapur, like most sequels it impresses less than its forebear.
IMDB link
reviewed 10/11/07
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