There's no denying that Cate Blanchett is one of the most engaging actresses in the business. No matter what film she's in, she commands attention. In the nine years since Elizabeth, Blanchett has become a fearless on-screen force (including her recent fictionalized portrayal of Bob Dylan), amassing 26 credits since her first royal stint as Elizabeth I. Given the huge gap between the original and sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age came as somewhat of a surprise in 2007. Not that we didn't expect a sequel, but nine years later? Given the upward trajectory of Blanchett's career, the timing of The Golden Age felt a bit awkward. Elizabeth: The Golden Age came and went without the attention and magic that surrounded the original. It's clear that Blanchett's passion and love for Queen Elizabeth I led her to the sequel at a time in her career when she didn't have to go back in time. If anything, the choice to revisit Elizabeth offers insight into Blanchett the person.

This time out, a tormented Elizabeth finds herself caught between the pressures of being a Queen and the subsequent loneliness that keeps her at arm's length from average relationships and normal interaction. When famous explorer Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen) returns from an expedition to the New World, Elizabeth is soon captivated by his charm. As Elizabeth begins to find romantic comfort in Raleigh, war breaks out with Spain and the Virgin Queen is forced to confront not only the power of the Catholic Church, her inner demons, Mary Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton), the rise of Spain, but an unexpected relationship between her own aide (Abbie Cornish) and Walter Raleigh. Trust us, as the sequel reveals, it's not easy being a Queen.

Although the extras provide just over 40 minutes of decent entertainment value via a talkative and energetic feature commentary from director Shekhar Kapur, deleted scenes, and four behind-the-scenes segments covering everything from location and production design to set interviews and CGI, the best feature by far is the stunning 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Given the rich intensity of the presentation that brings the entire period to life in a way not seen in other epics, the quality of transfer itself makes for a vibrant, eye-popping period trip. There's not a detail that can't be seen, including the most subtle aspects of wardrobe, set-design, and make-up. As great as the visuals are, though, the overall execution is also the film's Achilles Heel, which leads me to...

There's no doubt that Elizabeth: The Golden Age looks fantastic on DVD. However, the film's flamboyant and ambitious artistic style combined with its sleek, contemporary presentation overshadows the entire film. It's a bizarre set of circumstances. While director Shekhar Kapur gives fans a beautiful tapestry of interwoven colors, effects, and period designs, the overly-indulgent artistic style largely compromises the authenticity of the era. At several points along the way, the visuals take you out of the film. The only comparison that immediately comes to mind is the awkward tone that came from Metallica's Until It Sleeps video. It certainly looked good, but the video's lavish, mainstream style felt out-of-place given the band's darker legacy. In the case of The Golden Age, the contemporary visuals feel much too modern for the period.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age isn't the worst movie of 2007. In fact, it's one of the better looking films of last year. Cate Blanchett delivers another solid performance, but the film largely suffers from its own visual identity. While the first film worked on an thematic level of youth and vulnerability, The Golden Age is a visual feast of turmoil, angst, isolation, and betrayal. What the film lacks in drama, it certainly makes up for in intensity and visual scope. Like I said, it's not easy being a Queen.