The movie depicts early Roman barbarism, mingles it with attitudes of today. The very first sound. Chorus alone declaring a motif in major seconds. It's a dramatic idea, striking and tense. Percussion follows, soon full orchestra.
Rhythms seem to form while the major seconds hammer.
By keeping harmony sparse the results are less dissonant than imposing, attention getting. Goldenthal sets his stage. Highlights are many. This is one of the things Goldenthal does best. As in Interview With A Vampire.