Unremarkable, shallow epic

Rating: 5/10 (24 September 2004)

Why this passable but completely forgettable film has apparently garnered a reputation as a classic in the last decade is beyond me. There's really not much to write home about here.
There's no complexity or levels or anything, just good vs. evil, fight fight fight, freedom freedom freedom. Gibson, of course, is as limited an actor as he's ever been. His corny pre-battle speeches have become wildly popular, to the point where you might be fooled into thinking they constitute great moments in cinema, but in actuality they're somewhere above Bill Pullman in "Independence Day" and below Al Pacino in "Any Given Sunday" on the scale of dramatic pep talks. And in case you're wondering, no, that's not a prestigious slot to be in.
I'm not trying to say it's unwatchable like "The Patriot" or anything--it's OK. Probably about as good as, say, "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." But I don't think anyone who's seen a real epic with real actors would consider it anything special. This is a classic example of how the Oscars can inflate the reputation of undeserving movies in weak years (see also, "Gladiator, The").