Good story....but badly presented

Rating: 4/10 (19 June 2006)

I have no problem with the morals presented in this movie. I am thrilled to learn it is an accurate representation of times and events, but there is no excuse for a movie that can't keep one's attention and is so convoluted that one doesn't actually care that much how it all turns out. Too long, too slow. The challenge for a movie maker is to create art within a framework that makes it flow to the viewer seamlessly and engagingly. I don't think Stone accomplished it this time. The scenes were disjointed and seemed to assume that the viewer knew ancient history well enough to infer a great deal. For someone coming in with limited knowledge of the time, I found myself lost. Plus Angelina Jolie as Farrell's mom? Please.