Yesterday I went to see: "Elizabeth: the Golden Age". The movie was so-so. What made the trip to the theater worthwhile was getting to look at Clive Owen as Sir Walter Raleigh. He looked the best I've seen him, and he always looks good. Just look at that photo up there. The longish hair and the mustache and the little beard look terrific on him.
Elizabeth was close to deified in the movie. She blessed babies and that sort of thing. I don't know if these are the true feelings of the English about their royalty, but then I've never really understood the Brits and their royalty.
The movie was so loud. I do wish the cineplexes would turn down the sound. I did get a free large popcorn and drink in appreciation for all the money I spent on the trips I made there with my grandchildren during the summer. No wonder Americans are obese. They were so huge that no normal person could finish either one.
I have no feelings for royalty. I would rather be a citizen than a subject. I think that monarchy upholds the class system and frankly it produces pampered people even if one or two take what they see as their duty seriously.
ReplyDeleteOf course, my belief in electing a Head of State faces the problem of what if we elected a Shrub or a few years ago deified the Blessed Margaret. Awful thoughts but it would be our faults and not an accident of geneology.
As for Elizabeth 1 she was a ruthless, unprincipled bloodstained tinpot dictator. Why people fought for a woman who cared little for them remains one of life's enduring mysteries.
Sadly I am probably in a minority as most Brits seem to feel they need a nanny. It's something to do with inadequate potty training.
Turbulent Cleric, I'm taking my cues from the MadPriest, who seems to like the monarchy, and from a woman I met in England, who took umbrage when I made the rather mild observation that I wondered what the queen carried in her large handbags.
ReplyDeleteShe said, "Well! She carries the same thing other women carry in their handbags." And here - innocent that I am - I'm thinking that she has people to do that for her. After this exchange, I kept to my own counsel on the monarchy while I was in England.
So. Now I know that there is another side, although you admit to being in the minority.
I'd swap Bush for Elizabeth II in a heartbeat.
Yes. Your mum (or your nanny!) probably ruined you.
"As for Elizabeth 1 she was a ruthless, unprincipled bloodstained tinpot dictator." Bullcrap, TC. Cliché-ridden BC to boot.
ReplyDelete"Why people fought for a woman who cared little for them ..." ...when they could have laid down their arms and enjoyed the Inquisition instead? Excellent point, TC. And no, before an issue is raised, the Inquisition is not the invention of later protestant propagandists - used by them, unquestionably, but not their invention. Remember (or have you heard of?) the 300+ folks burned alive by Elizabeth's elder sister Mary in a short, three year period.
There have been a few decent biographies of Elizabeth in recent years - why not stop by your public library and read one?
It's amazing how a powerless monarch can raise the temperature of these proceedings.
ReplyDeleteAnd, Ormonde, I thought this post was about eye candy.
ReplyDeleteHave at it, fellas.
Hmmm - i loves me some clive owen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and I could not agree more about the portions. Disgusting.
We have (my husband's daughter) an 11 year old who is compelled by what she sees as the sheer glory of it, to order the ginormous size of everything. He does it for her and they share, but it grosses me out at many levels.
I'm all in favor historical parallels, Mimi, especially in the age in which we live, but projecting Thatcher the Milk-Snatcher on to the Virgin Queen is pushing it.
ReplyDeleteFran, I never buy the large size of anything at the movies, because even the small sizes are so expensive. I put a small water bottle in my purse and generally don't buy a drink at all.
ReplyDeleteThey sent me a survey to fill out, and I will most certainly complain about the loud volume of the sound system.
Lapin, I ain't gettin' in this one.
we hardly ever go to movies. interesting side conversation re: the monarchy.
ReplyDeleteand it's the portions AND the price of movie treats.
I filled out their survey and complained about the loud sound system. They asked me how much I had spent at the concession stand, and I had to say $0 because my drink and popcorn were free. All they got out of me was $6 for the senior discount movie ticket.
ReplyDeleteSo, back to Clive. Yes, yummy. Much better than popcorn. Or monarchies, for that matter.
ReplyDeleteLJ, he was gorgeous in this movie. And he wore the clothes of the times so well.
ReplyDeleteMrs Bird
ReplyDeleteIf you want to understand the English understanding of royalty, read the Bible.
Sounds like a tragic sequel to 1998's truly stunning Elizabeth, made all the more tragic in its sad attempt to supplant the blindingly hot Joseph Fiennes with the merely cute Clive Owen.
ReplyDeleteLapinbizzare: "She was a ruthless, unprincipled, bloodstained, tinpot dictator."
ReplyDeleteAnd she spoke so highly of you!
Another Brit's view of the monarchy: Brenda's fine but that family!
D.P.
Oh yeah, Clive Owen_almost forgot.
ReplyDeleteA wooden actor with an Essex-boy accent. Eye candy? I just don't see it.
Jealous, me? The very idea.
I do have to concede that the beard suits, but other than that, no.
D.P. (A hunky goatee-bearded man with an international female following)
MadPriest, the Bible?
ReplyDeleteQFC, I can look at Joseph Feinnes with pleasure, too, but you gotta understand that Clive Owen got me through a pretty dull movie.
DP, it was the Turbulent Cleric who said that, not Lapin.
And I do think you're jealous. Although, if that's a real likeness of you, you're kinda cute yourself.
There now, didn't I make your day?
I stand corrected. Sorry lapin.
ReplyDeleteGee Mimi, I'm blushing.
D.P.
Easy mistake to make, DP. I've made worse in my time.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I did not connect Elizabth 1 with Thatcher. Thatcher was mentioned as the dark side of Republicans in a paragraph that was about today and not about Elizabeth 1. Mimi had raise dthe issue of the British way of seeing monarchy.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, people have long fought for those who do not care about them . The list is almost unending. Elizabth's brilliance if she had it was in the matter of personal survival.
Thirdly, I am aware of the Inquisition. I am also aware that Elizabeth's treatment of thos who followed the "old religion" was not without cruelty. For example, a saintly waom named Margaret Clitheroe was one of those who were pressed to death.
As for the Virgin thing, I have always thought of her as a bit of a prick tease.
BTW my bookshelf does contain good books about Elizabeth and her doings.
And finally, I seem to recall that Samuel was not wholehearted about introducing the monarchy in Israel.
TC, I've always thought of Elizabeth as a tease, too. Of course, I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteMind you that could be a rather endearing characteristic!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
ReplyDelete