ELIZABETH - THE GOLDEN AGE

[operafantomet]

Yup, I went to see this movie yesterday. Here's my thoughts:

(PS: might be SPOILERS ahead....)

I understand Kapur's concept, and it might have worked. But his hangup for visual splendor really kills the story and emotional content.

First, the SYMBOLISM. Big, grand, ol'fashioned symbolism. Each time we saw the "Evil Catholic Plotters" they

Comments

[findabair]

Oh, you saw it yesterday as well? You could have come with us, then :)

I didn't dislike the film as much as you did apparently - I thought it was okay until the last part, when I was finally swept away by the splendour and symbolism and (very) grand music. And by Clive Owen's handsomeness :) But what on earth was the deal with the horses in the water?!

I totally agree that the red dye was overkill, so much that it was quite silly really - I kept expecting the red cloth to be relevant to the plot at some point, since it was shown so much!

[operafantomet]

It was in impulse visit, after sitting through two quite dull interviews at "Bok i sentrum". I glanced in the paper and noticed that "Elizabeth" would start in 10 minutes up in Vika.... So I ran up. Wouldn't have thought about it if you hadn't said you were going, but I felt it was a slightly short notice to call you

[findabair]

I quite agree that Cate Blanchett carried the whole thing; I was particularly amazed by her voice.

And the white horse as representing pure and innocent England escaping the clutches of evil under impossible odds - very good :))

[frualeydis]

That blue...thing..., what were they thinking? The bodice, the partlet, the sleeves, and the bow decoration in sequins?

/Eva

[frualeydis]

I don't even have a good answer to give you. I have a slightly... restrained relation to Alexandra Byrne's costume design (in general). I liked what she did in "Finding Neverland", but most other of her design has NOT impressed me.

If I were to guess what she was thinking with that costume.... Well, Elizabeth is probably meant to symbolize the sea (the sea and sailing is the theme of the scene). Byrne seldom make costume sketches, instead she gathers visions in the shape of cut-outs, fabrics and references*. Which might explain why her costumes are always such a mish-mash..... (*I have this info from the documentary of the POTO movie costumes, which she also designed).

But who decided that historical (correct) costumes can't be allegorical? I mean, it's not like we invented allegorical dressing in the 20. th century..... And that blue dress is really poorly made. It fits badly, and looks like a cheap Jane Austen costume from the 70's or something. There are more costumes like that in the Elizabeth movie, be warned....

[operafantomet]

The above post is me, I forgot to log in when replying.....