In observance of the 15-day period of mourning for Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, entertainment venues have been asked to curtail their activities. As I understand it, this mainly effects nightclubs and places that put on live shows. It does not appear to effect cinemas. In any case, there is only big opening this week.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age opened in sneak previews last week at the Lido, and now it's moved to a wider release. This is the sequel to Shekhur Kapur's 1998 film that helped Cate Blanchett establish herself as a sought-after leading lady.

Reviewers of The Golden Age are for the most part underwhelmed, and criticize the film for being a big pageant for colorful costumes and crazy wigs, and for being historically inaccurate. However others praise the film as being a great showcase for Blanchett.

There's a fantastic supporting cast as well, with Geoffrey Rush reprising his role as spymaster Sir Francis Walshingham. Clive Owen portrays a ruggedly rakish Sir Walter Raleigh, who provides a love interest of sorts for the queen. Samantha Morton plays Mary, Queen of Scots, whom the Spanish seek to install on the English throne. And Abbie Cornish plays a lady in waiting to Elizabeth, through whom the Virgin Queen lives vicariously as the young woman engages in romance with Sir Walter.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age has a 33% (rotten) rating at Rotten Tomatoes, but it's likely that moviegoers who love costume epics and/or want to watch Cate Blanchett chew up the big screen, then this is one to enjoy.

Myself, I enjoy watching Cate Blanchett at work, and I'm holding out hope that the unusual biographical film, I'm Not There, which features Blanchett among six different actors portraying Bob Dylan, will come to the big screen in Bangkok.

Also opening

• The Alps - This documentary tracks a mountaineer's quest to conquer the Eiger, the same peak that killed his father. At Krungsri IMAX, Siam Paragon.