A B.O. & Oscar winner!

Rating: Null/10 (25 March 2001)

Although much of the plot was lifted from 1966's THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, enough of a new twist was put into the script to make this film refreshing. Crowe's Oscar was well-deserved, as he gives a magnificent performance as the general who craves vengenance against the emperor of the mightiest nation on the face of the planet. Phoenix does a wonderful turn as the emperor, & is frightening, to say the least. Oliver Reed, who died during the filming, gives one final, great performance.
This is a return to the epics that were almost commonplace during the 1950s & early 1960s, but seem to be a novelty in today's day & age. Hopefully, its success will start a trend towards more of them.