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The film suffers when compared to today's sword and sandal flicks, but still this is 1954 and in it's time, it was a great flick. Ending being very true to the story shows off Kirk's ability as an action star. Rousing fight scenes, epic storytelling, cinematography~costumes~and sets make for a thrilling telling of Homer's THE ODYSSEY. Was hoping Wolfgang Petersen would give us the ODYSSEY after he filmed TROY. Guess that was not to be: this might be a good candidate for a reboot. Would love to see something like this - it's been a long time and sword and sandals make good popcorn films. Someone pick up on this!!!!

First off: I would have enjoyed a lot more in a theatre. With no laughter or laugh track, the jokes HIT but they don't SPLATTER. Still, the buddy part is there due to the chemistry between Clooney & Pitt. The kid did a good job too, reminding me a lot of a teenage Martin Short. The story is good, the gags are intricate but well played. The subway scene took me in > The last time I fell for something like that was THE STING. In my mind, I play out a sequel or series: the doctor chick comes to the rescue and they go rogue fixers; get into a "fix" and the kid comes back and helps kinda like robin and 2 Batmen. You just can't get tired of Clooney and Pitt when they are doing comedy/drama.

This is for all the people who wrote bad reviews of this film. HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS FILM???? The whole point of the film is that Shakespeare was a hack who got most of his ideas from his contemporaries and events around him. You know it's not true, but Stoppards script is peppered with lines that Shakespeare uses in his R&J script. It's a farce and you just go along for the ride. Good example: a befuddle Geoffrey Rush and Joseph Fiennes are discussing => Rush: "The show must.... must .... must" Fiennes: "GO ON!" These lines are throughout and are Golden! Fiennes is good as Shakespeare; Paltrow is good as Viola (I wouldn't say it was Best Actress work but very good). Rush should have won an Oscar for his role-he is hilarious. The sets and costumes are very authentic and the music is appropriate and easy to listen to while the yarn unravels. The narrator of R&J has a stutter issue. If you take it seriously, it could be construed as offensive; but taken in context as the story unfolds, this is hilarious. Kudos to all involved. If you choose NOT to view this film it is your lose - go back to watching Smokey and the Bandit.