Over-rated and over-bloated

Rating: 4/10 (30 November 2000)

A film in dire need of editing. It does improve after the first hour, probably is much better viewed on a big screen, and Russell Crowe is undeniably a hunk. But it must really be a year of terribly slim pickings if this laborious, hulking piece of work is considered to be serious Best Picture Oscar material. After seeing this, I now understand why the Western film critics are raving about the sleek, slim-lined and way cooler "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".