Submitted by Jon O., Jan 22, 2008 15:46

Mr. Giddins never fails to bring new insights, thorough research, and a fresh, well-informed perspective to the table in his excellent reviews, and this one is no exception. El Cid made a deep impression on me as a kid in the '60s--though viewed on my parents' small screen b&w TV--and has since become my favorite epic film, as well as my favorite work by Anthony Mann. In this era of gray, gloomy, plotless, CGI animated, mock-epic trilogies, it's refreshing to once again see how masterfully it was done once upon a time: with real people, real locations, and real color, leaving the viewer with a very real feeling of overwhelming awe.

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