Kind of like with the Last Duel, it wasn't really what I was expecting, yet I enjoyed it all the same. Sure, I wanted more time on the history and I wanted the battles to be more realistic than just armies fighting exactly the same way as each other, but those are personal preferences and quibbles with Hollywood-ing, which, to be fair, they kind of had to do. I loved the characterization, the depiction of the grossly dysfunctional relationship, and Phoenix was masterful in the role. I enjoyed the movie. Not something with much re-watchability, and not even close to a patch on Gladiator, but well worth the price of admission.