Spartacus is a classic sandal and sword epic from the classical heyday of the genre, and it lives up to the reputation set by similar films like Ben-Hur. The settings are expansive and lavish, the crowds are massive and the battles are historic and scope. This setting really underscores what's at stake as we see Spartacus reluctantly leading the slave revolt and the frenzied senators in Rome trying to respond to the threat. At the same time, the story of Spartacus' wife adds a personal touch and makes the stakes work on an emotional level as well. The cut parts of the film are quite apparent in some places like the implied intrigue in the Roman Senate, but we see enough to figure out the hints of what's going on behind the scenes. The dedication of the other slaves to Spartacus' cause is authentic and more compelling than the man himself, as it's the entire movement that's the star of the show. Despite its advantages, there are a few things that let the film down a little: a lack of obvious influence from Kubrick, old fashioned accents and some hokey painted backgrounds.
Review of Spartacus
