Story: lame pulp. Agreed 100% with the "bad" NYT review (and loved the title of the one: "Far Side of Credibility") The series of books and the film are the testosterone equivalent of historical romance novels. Satisfying to history buffs? I think not.

Russell Crowe was as dire as he always is--his on-screen ego seems to grow with every film he makes, overtaking the character. Maybe he should be given some sort of military honor for playing the same cardboard warrior stereotype in film after film.

I was dragged to see this, with the promise that it would be at least as entertaining a film as the deliciously ironic "Pirates of the Caribbean" was. I have to say, of the two, I found "Pirates" to be the more likely candidate for historic authenticity.