Superb

Rating: 9/10 (29 June 2000)

This film seems to divide people - those who think it is brilliant example of populist film-making, and those who are looking for Citizen Kane with swords, and end up disappointed. I am firmly in the former camp, and think that those in the latter are forgetting that this film stems from a line of films praised for their scale, imagery, and audacity (Fall of the Roman Empire, Spartacus, Cleopatra...), not for their genre-breaking content.
This film has all the components - a stunning lead performance by Russell Crowe, fantastic support (particularly Joaquin Phoenix, Oliver Reed, and Richard Harris), visuals to die for, fantastic action scenes, and a romantic storyline that is perfectly handled. If you accept it on those terms, you can't fail but to enjoy every minute.