Ben Yawn

Rating: 2/10 (23 February 2005)

Letterbox format on 21 inch TV is probably not the best format for viewing this, but with the exception of one sea battle and one chariot race this is a lushly costumed, monotonously paced waste of celluloid. Nobody speaks rapidly. Few talk loudly or softly. From the five minute overture to the five minute background set up before the opening credits, everything reeks of "importance" without relief.
But, that chariot race was something. Most impressive is that it was done before the arrival of computer effects, which makes it that much more realistic. It also pretty much summed up the main plot driver. If only the movie ended with it, instead of continuing for another hour.