Cleopatra - 4 stars out of 10

Cleopatra - 4 stars out of 10

"Cleopatra" is certainly an epic film, more so because of its 4-hour running time and Hollywood infamy than anything else. It has some great moments (as one would hope in a film of this length), but it is just impractical to sit and watch. As indicated by its 4 visually-related Oscar wins, Cleopatra's main draw is its scenery and costuming. I cannot even fathom what it must have been like to watch Cleopatra’s entrance to Rome when this film premiered in 1963. "Visually stunning" would have been an understatement, though compared to today's high definition lifestyle, it falls to "impressive." Elizabeth Taylor is beautiful, adding to the visual appeal. Unfortunately, everything else about this film makes it an unlikely pick for a Friday night date movie, including average performances by good actors and its inclusion on many lists of the world's longest movies. It is a good story chronicling 18 years of Cleopatra's reign (and tragic end); unfortunately, it feels as if it takes 18 years to watch this entire film.