A rare gem for the masses

Rating: 10/10 (16 January 2001)

This movie was particularly enjoyable because although it is subtitled, it is still playing to packed houses in the U.S. The performances were amazing and stood equally alongside the flawless special effects and action sequences. The best part about this movie was that it had the awe-inspiring look and feel of a classic Hollywood epic, i.e. Lawrence of Arabia, The Ten Commandments (and latter day attempts such as Braveheart and Gladiator) without the typical Hollywood storyline and predictable ending. You could almost feel the emotions yourself of all the main characters, from elation to sadness to being juxtaposed about decisions. This film is actually better than the hype, which in itself makes it stand out as one of the year's best if not the last ten years. This movie is for anyone and has all the elements of an instant classic.