action movie, contrived, but nonetheless enjoyable

Rating: Null/10 (12 December 2003)

Expecting this to be a totally new concept ignores recent history. Like many a car-chase movie it owes it plot to a derivation of previous work.
It moves at a reasonable pace, the costumes are magnificent and the battle scenes are thankfully cinematic rather than tactical (see Napoleon at Waterloo).
Somehow, Mr. Cruise seems out of place. Perhaps it's his perfect teeth -- rather odd for a drunkard from the 1800s.
All in all it's entertainment, but not one that I'd let impressionable children see.