Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

The film's definitely more interested in composing beautiful visuals than a compelling story. At times, the scene composition actually gets in the way of the narrative: Spanish men, seen only in silhouette behind a giant flag, ready for war; an entourage moving down a hallway looks more like a smeary oil painting than people and stone; Elizabeth zooms down a hall in a poufy yellow gown and we watch from a vantage point about 50 feet directly above, reducing her to a flouncy yellow daub. Sure, it looks cool, but it also removes any forward movement from a story that really couldn't spare the momentum.

Story in a nutshell: Elizabeth is horny. Sir Walter Raleigh is earthy and sexy. Walter gets it on with Elizabeth's favorite lady-in-waiting. Elizabeth throws a hissy. Then Spain invades to put things in perspective for her. And lots of music swells lots of times.

And I fell asleep twice.

C-