All the elements are in place for a first class return: director, star Cate Blanchett, co-star Geoffrey Rush, writer Michael Hirst, and the addition of Clive Owen as Sir Walter.

But, for all Kapur’s sweeping camera moves and attention to detail this is as beautiful but lifeless as the frocks hanging in Queen Liz’s cupboard.

With a story of nations warring over religion and Englishmen sent into bloody conflict, there should be much to chew on.

But, events are paraded not dramatized and character development barely gets a look in. King Philip II (Molla), head of the then largest superpower, is a puffed-up peacock and Rush as royal advisor Francis Walsingham, so memorable from the first movie, is sidelined.

Too much running time is awarded to Elizabeth’s desire to ride Raleigh's burner, and his secret affair with one of her handmaidens (Cornish) is froth where thick intrigue should be brewing.

Ultimately, a curious film that is too long and not long enough, Rhys Ifans’ half-baked Jesuit fanatic is indication of how much story hit the cutting room floor.

The film’s trump cards are Blanchett and Samantha Morton as the two queens. Modern and forward-thinking yet superstitious and vulnerable, Blanchett wears the role like a favourite cardy, and Morton’s, scheming, proud Scottish monarch, Glaswegian accent and all, keeps the film afloat when it threatens to capsize under its own importance.

The climactic sea battle, as the Spanish armada advances on England is the denouement Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End was missing, but sidelines Sir Francis Drake in favour of the dashing Raleigh, nicely summing up the film: all flash, very little bang.

Rob Daniel