This is the sequel to the film “Elizabeth” and does a beautiful job of dealing with another aspect of this famous queen. While the first film dealt with the young queen’s struggle for power, this film deals with her struggle with her sense of self. As a fan of historical dramas, this film does what few others are capable of-making you care about the characters. Cate Blanchett is phenomenal, surpassing her Oscar-winning performance in the previous film. Clive Owens also gives a great performance. The beautiful cinematography was also a very pleasant surprise.
This film was not Dove Family-Approved. Those familiar with the previous film will find that the violence has been stepped up, with many scenes of naval battle featuring bloody injured men as well as scenes of torture in the name of religious freedom. There is also the issue of sex outside of marriage and some strong language.