The other thing that makes this film better than its rivals in the genre is that it doesn t bother with much explication. Small details go unexplained, on the assumption that the audience either brings the requisite knowledge or that they will catch on. But if you don t, you re out of luck if you expect the filmmakers to tell you. Call it a Merchant Ivory film for the bloodlusty. This is unfortunate, but it could explain the very divergent word of mouth about the film.
Many people seem to think that it is wildly unrealistic.
Many who believe that the film is implausible do not realize how bizarre and grand ancient Rome actually was. The original Coliseum, in fact, did seat 50,000 people, and the incredible gladiatorial traps and pitfalls depicted in the film actually pale in comparison to some of the contraptions used in the real Coliseum.