8/10
Tons of action, a genre highlight
23 March 2010
As a kid growing up in the sixties, sword and scandal epics ranked right up there with Tarzan, Frankenstein, King Kong, Shirley Temple and Batman. Occasionally I still watch. For the most part they haven't held up very well over the years but this one can certainly still hold its own. The story itself is fairly standard but the movie is so well paced and full of action that you're not likely to get bored. The cast is pretty darn good too with Richard Harrison standing in for Steve Reeves very nicely. The head villain is nasty, the gladiators are well played and the leading lady is very nice to look at...whoa! I agree with the other reviewers that this one is a keeper. The gladiator fights, of which there are many, are nicely done. There are also a couple of big battles that look good and even a chariot race. The bald actor that played the owner of the gladiators was a real treat, a very gnarly and quite believable actor. This one is recommended and it deserves and 8 for being one of the best of its particular genre. I also give a tip of the ole baseball cap to whomever designed the costumes, especially the gladiator helmets. Nice.
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