Nothing quite like it

Some of this notorious debacle is quite engrossing - the extraordinary sets and costumes, the occasional semi-literate line or two, superb photography and one of Alex North's lushest scores - but not for 4 bum-numbing hours. It would help if there was anything close to onscreen chemistry between Taylor and Burton (they obviously saved that for after the cameras stopped rolling) but Burton is clearly very unhappy about running around in a short skirt and Taylor seems to be concentrating more on keeping her numerous headdresses on. Harrison is actually quite commanding as Julius Caesar and is much missed when he's gone and some of it is worth seeing just for an example of sheer Hollywood budget-busting excess. But not for 4 bum-numbing hours.