So I finally got around to seeing it at one of the last theaters showing it in my area, and I agree with folks calling it ridiculous. It was entertaining enough, I don’t regret going to see it, but I don’t think I’ll ever get the urge to rewatch it.

Denzel Washington seemed to be having a great time and was fun to watch in his variety of extravagant outfits. There were several actors that just seemed wasted for how little screen time/plot relevance they got, Derek Jacobi, Rory McCann, Peter Mensah, even Pedro Pascal. But for me it was the repeated continuity errors and confusing character motivations that strained disbelief.

Like, I’ll roll with you that a fleet of Roman warships have siege towers and trebuchets; but if two characters fall off of the city wall into deep water, then suddenly they’re on a shallow beach, then you’ve lost me. Likewise, when Lucius’ stated goal the entire film is “I’m gonna kill that guy,” and he finally gets his opportunity, Acacius pleading that he’s loved Lucius’ mother (which is not new information, and he didn’t seem to give a shit earlier), somehow changes his mind? There’s a number of other “but why would they do that?” moments, but that’s the most egregious.