SSteinberg.SoftArts%MIT-MULTICS@sri-unix.UUCP (10/26/83)
Well, I finally saw it and feel that it was unfairly maligned by the reviewers. When compared with other flicks in its genre it wasn't half bad. I mean, the dialog was at least as good as in the Fall of Pompeii and the special effects were better than that hokey volcano. It didn't quite stand up to The Robe but it was at least as good as the two or three sequels and in spite of Kubrick's reputation it was even better (and faster moving) than Spartacus. I was lead to expect much worse. All told, an excellent Roman/gladiator B-movie with the added novelty of an unusual setting and non-Christian religion.