Welcome to Reel People. It’s a place where, you guessed it, real people like yourselves spout off on new movie releases. It works best if you - yes, we mean you - jump into the forum link below and tell us what you think of the movie, too.

This week, we’re watching Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

What I Liked: How does a queen present a strong front to her people with out losing who she is inside, all while enemies close in around her?  This is the engaging plot in the film Elizabeth The Golden Age.  Cate Blanchett returns in an Oscar worthy role as the famous Elizabeth queen of England.  She’s remarkable on the screen as she rules with pride and determination and yet shows uncertainty in herself.  Cate’s portrayal is not the only ac tor that will amaze you on the screen.  Geoffrey Rush once again will impress you on the big screen, this time as Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth’s adviser and keeper of the law of the land.  Samantha Morton will also dazzle you with her representation of Mary-Queen of Scots, who helps in the plan to assassinate Elizabeth, and place herself on the throne.  Along with the acting, Elizabeth The Golden Age will also leave you in awe with its elaborate sets and extravagant costumes.  The plot is filled with suspense and pulls you in as it you watch English history unfold.

What I Disliked: As with most epic films some of the scenes may drag on a bit too much.  The idea is to really get the audience caught in the emotion, but sometimes it gets over dramatic and artsy.

Would I Recommend?: If you are into strong dialog, dramatic epics, and/or the Elizabethan era this film is a definite must see.  But if you are more into action and less into art, skip the film if you must.  But if you take the chance to see it, i think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.  I know I was.

Score: 7 out of 10

- John T. McMillin

What I Liked: I am a fan of the old Hollywood epics like Gone With the Wind and this was reminescent of one of those movies.  Even though I knew the outcome as this is an historical movie, I was still looking forward to what was coming next.  The cinematography is worthy of an Oscar nomination, if not a win, along with the costumes.

What I Disliked: The movie is quite graphic and gory, even though probably historically accurate—be careful with children not in high school.

Would I Recommend?: If you’re a history buff, I would definitely recommend this movie.  If you’re not a history enthusiast, it may make you one.  This is one of few recent releases worth the ticket price!

Score: 9 out of 10

- Lauretta Groover

What I Liked: This film was visually spectacular: the costumes and makeup were lush and detailed, the sets were lavish and beautiful, and the cinematography was energetic and majestic.  The casting choices were perfect.  Cate Blanchett gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Queen Elizabeth I, infusing the queen’s sovereign haughtiness with a twinge of humanity and regretfulness.  In a shrewd political move, Elizabeth refused to give up her power by taking a husband, instead pouring her affection and maternal instincts into protecting her country and her people.  Both Geoffrey Rush as Sir Francis Walsingham and Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh were excellent, and Samantha Morton’s too-brief role as the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots was powerful.

What I Disliked: Do we really need another movie about Queen Elizabeth I?  No matter how beautiful a film is or how talented the actors are, there is no way to present this story from a fresh angle.  We all know the story, from having watched Helen Mirren, Bette Davis and others tackle this same role in countless films.  Director Shekhar Kapur strives to be different from those other films by downplaying the political and religious tensions and concentrating instead on the love triangle of Elizabeth, Raleigh and Bess, the queen’s lady-in-waiting, but that strategy makes the film seem one-sided and somewhat hollow.

Would I Recommend?: I would recommend this film as an enjoyable, two-hour escape from reality, but not as an accurate history lesson or as a film destined to become a classic.

Score: 7 out of 10

- Lisa Ciurro