Unfortunately a GREAT disappointment

Rating: Null/10 (21 February 2004)

I had never watched this film but heard so much about it so naturally I was thrilled to find it on DVD a few weeks ago. I am sorry to say that I was sadly disappointed - I found it much too long, rather boring and much too self-important and pompous. I have seen far better films about Christ, take for instance the Scorsese film, "The Last Temptation of Christ" with Willem Dafoe and Barbara Hershey OR the great and overlooked Canadian masterpiece, "Jesus de Montreal" with Lothaire Bluteau which leaves an everlasting impression on your mind.
Given that, I must admit that the horse race scene is great and very exciting - it of course features the 4 real stars of the film, Antares, Altair, Rigel and Aldebaran, those 4 MAGNIFICENT Arabian (?) stallions as well as their master, the Sheikh Ilderim, played by the late Hugh Griffith with just the right amount of self irony. The scene where the sheikh calls his "mistresses" to say good night and in stroll those magnificent playful beauties is simply fantastic.......the highlight of the film.

6 out of 10 - 4 for the most beautiful creatures, 1 for their master, the sheikh and finally 1 for the efforts of the rest of the cast.