Very possibly the greatest film ever made...

Rating: Null/10 (27 August 2005)

...WELL, maybe that's a slight stretch - but hey, I'm sure there were (and are) numerous good reasons for this movie's unprecedented success, like mainly: the invincible combination of two "hot" young actors; an established action/adventure director; a bloated budget that nevertheless served to show off some seriously cutting-edge sets, costumes, effects, etc; a classic love story set against one of the most tragic backdrops in early-twentieth-century history; and, of course, leading from all aforementioned reasons, the sheer curiosity from countless critics and moviegoers alike, to see just exactly what all the hype was about - which obviously paid off, making it the highest-grossing film worldwide (still! After nearly a decade!), and one of three tied record holders for the most Oscars won by a film.
Yes, I understand that box-office status does not necessarily reflect quality (though I think recent failed releases like "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo" prove otherwise); however, I'm of the opinion that maybe - just maybe - the massive mainstream viewing public got it right one time.