We went to see Elizabeth: The Golden Age last weekend. It was somewhat weird watching this film in the capital of the former Spanish Empire, mainly because the film deals rather flamboyantly with the trashing (or do I mean thrashing) of the Spanish Armada by a handful of plucky English sailors and Sir Walter Raleigh. Actual historical truth states that Raleigh had nothing to do with it, and it was Charlie Drake who was the real hero. But this version was more interesting.
The other weird thing was that this was a V.O. (versión original) screening. So it's in English with Spanish subtitles. Except the lengthy scenes at the Spanish Court were not subtitled, because, obviously, we all understand Spanish, don't we?
Good movie though.
Incidentally, these V.O. theatres take their job seriously (I'm talking about Cinés Renoir and Golem): they produce A4-sized info sheets for the films they show. So you get cast and crew listings, synopsis, and other details. It also tells you the actual physical length of the film, for example 1967 metres! The films always start at exactly the advertised time, and the audiences turn off their phones and do not speak for the entire duration! How civilized.
If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride
5 days ago
3 comments:
"I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the stomach of a concrete elephant!"
Richard Curtis and Ben Elton have a lot to answer for. I now always think of the Tilbury speech as 'the one with the concrete elephant'.
Looking forward to the film, despite mixed reviews. It arrives in the Land of the Sand next week, doubtless to be watched by the entire membership of the Annoying Ring-Tone Owner's Club.
"The films always start at exactly the advertised time, and the audiences turn off their phones and do not speak for the entire duration"
Now all we need to do is persuade 50% of them to turn up before the film starts and it would be almost perfect.
I enjoyed it as a spectacle, but it was a shame that with as rich as that period of history was, they couldn't just stick to the facts. Kids nowadays are ignorant enough and prone to thinking that if it was in the movies it must be the truth. I envisage a whole generation of high school 'history' papers claiming that Raleigh (Elizabeth's lover, apparently) beat the Armada in one night. And that Mary of Scotland had a thick Scots burr. And Bess's #1 advisor had a brother among the Babington conspirators, who somehow managed to get close enough to actually take a pot shot. And that Walshingham had a packet of Mary's letters proving her guilt tht she had actually written. And and and. You get my drift. Sigh.
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