Elizabeth: The Golden Age

"Pound for pound, minute for minute, Elizabeth: The Golden Age could possibly contain more sustained church-bashing than any other film I can think of. How is it possible that this orgy of anti-Catholicism has been all but ignored by most critics?" Steven D. Greydanus, National Catholic Register

You know what they say... If something's controversial, chances are it's good.

And although Elizabeth: The Golden Age didn't register as anti-Catholic propaganda with me, it did prove to be a hugely entertaining historical adventure about one of the most thrilling chapters in English history.

The Golden Age

Made almost a decade after the academy award-winning Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age is a sumptuous sequel that's starkly different to it's predecessor.

The first film was introspective and largely character driven, chronicling the early reign of Queen Elizabeth. In contrast, The Golden Age takes place further into Elizabeth's reign - when it was not just conspiracy her nation faced - but outright invasion.

The plot of The Golden Age is suitably more epic, climaxing in an sumptuously rendered battle between the Spanish Armada and the embattled English fleet.

Elizabeth the Queen

The climax of the first film saw Elizabeth hack off her flaming red hair and become reborn as the 'Virgin Queen' of England. It's this cold, aloof and desperately lonely woman that we follow throughout The Golden Age - played with precision by a sublime Cate Blanchett.

Her portrayal of Elizabeth illustrates the conflict between Elizabeth the woman - intensely vain and vulnerable, living vicariously through her trusted lady-in-waiting Elizabeth Throckmorton - and Elizabeth the Queen - a magnificent, decisive and powerful leader who was the equal of any man.

Blanchett's portrayal is pitch perfect. Her Elizabeth is both sympathetic and terrifying - one minute alarmed at her crows-feet and fading beauty - the next leading a charge across the white cliffs of Dover to give her troops a stirring speech worthy of Churchill himself.

The rest of the cast is solid as well, with Geoffrey Rush reprising his role as Elizabeth's confident Sir Francis Walsingham - while Clive Owen is a slightly cocky Sir Walter Raleigh, winning Elizabeth's heart while simultaneously bedding her favourite lady-in-waiting (the delicious Abbie Cornish.)

The cinematography is sumptuous. Glorious English landmarks (such as Winchester Cathedral) stand in for seemingly mundane locations (like Elizabeth's bath-chamber and bedroom.) The costumes are magnificent, too - even more so than the first film. Careful attention to detail brings the Elizabethan era vividly to life on-screen.

The violent climax is thrilling - rendered almost like a painting-come-to-life through powerful CGI effects.

All in all, Elizabeth: The Golden Age is a real treat of a film. As with most historical dramas, the actual facts don't always match up with what happens in the script, but what historical liberties have been taken seem to have contributed to the overall look and feel of the film, rather than detracted from it.

As the credits rolled, I found myself thinking that I'd enjoyed The Golden Age far more than the original Elizabeth. It's rare than a sequel manages to prove better than the first film, but The Golden Age managed to do so by building on the first movie's solid foundations.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age is available on DVD now.

Don't Fake It!

I discovered this wonderful article by Lisa Falkenberg of the Houston Chronicle.

I have right to see red

By LISA FALKENBERG
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

The very sight of the dyed-haired redhead can still fire me up.

It's not that I don't acknowledge other people's pigment prerogatives.

I just think people shouldn't get to enjoy the spoils of red hair without first surviving the stigma: the adolescent name-calling, the stereotypes of being hot-tempered or devilish, the painful sunburns. There are stresses associated with these flaming tresses that the bottle-brewed variety can't possibly appreciate. It ain't easy being red. You have to earn it.

Full article here.

It's a very amusing article mentioning something I'd never considered before - the people who 'fake it' by dying their hair red.

Although ginger is a source of ridicule in the UK, French women love to dye their hair red. In fact, the flame-haired temptress is an international symbol of sexiness all over the world (except in stupid old England.)

Think of all those redheaded femme fatales in the Private Detective novels, or gorgeous redheads Dana Scully or Willow Rosenburg from X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

It's only the ignorant English who seem to have a problem with redheads. Even Lisa Falkenberg discovered that. I was rather ashamed of my countrymen when I read:

"Oi, Ginger!" I got a taste of this from some of the Brits I encountered while studying in Spain.

I find the hatred British people have for ginger hair particularly funny considering that so many women across the world actually dye their hair to become redheads.

I mentioned that red hair is popular in France. That's an understatement. It's enormous in France. The short, chic haircuts and the dyed red locks are a staple amongst 'women of a certain age' on the continent.

And elsewhere, women are turning auburn whenever they can. I mentioned Dana and Willow - two of television's most famous redheads. It's probably surprising to learn that both of them get it out of a bottle.

But why do women turn red? What is the allure of the Titian hair?

Well, redheaded woman are always seen as sexy. The Romans and Ancient Greeks saw red hair as a highly attractive quality (much like modern fascination with the blond.)

The term 'Titian' itself comes from Renaissance painter Tiziano Vecelli, who was famous for painting redheaded beauties. Before the days of fake tans and sunbeds, pale skin was the ultimate 'look' to go for and redheaded women were always naturally pale.

But sexy isn't just a look. It's also an attitude - and redheaded women are renowned for having plenty of that. The 'hot tempered' redhead is a positive stereotype. The flaming locks signify a woman who's fiery, passionate, impulsive and sensual. Read an old detective novel and the words used to describe the redheaded romantic interest are usually dripping with innuendo - words like 'smouldering.'

Red hair is also a symbol of strength. Think of famous redheads in the past - the terrifying Boudica - 'Ice Queen' of the Celts - had red curls that fell down her shoulders. Queen Elizabeth I, who rode to face the Spanish Armada at the head of the English army, was renowned for her beautiful red hair.

Women with red hair are seen as leaders - as symbols of strength and passion. They're seen as sexy, sassy, sensual and smart. Gentlemen might prefer blondes, but Bruce Springsteen sang: "you have not lived til you have had your tyres rotated by a red-headed woman."

Women dye their hair red because they want to be associated with these positive traits. And who can blame them? The only sad thing is that most fake-redheads are easy to spot. I've seen many women die their hair red - but I've never seen one who looks entirely convincing.

It's the pale skin. The freckles. The icy blue eyes. The entire 'ginger' package is difficult to emulate. Turning into a blond Playboy bunny only involves a slap of fake tan and some peroxide. Redhead women, however, are in a class of their own.

All hail the honest, home-grown, 100% natural redheaded woman...

Models - pictures sourced from Flickr, models featured: Feline, by .hi3photo, Jen Thornton taken by Chris Flook at Doubletree Studios, Sara by jaidecker.