Just because something is said seriously doesn't mean it's profound. That's the main problem with this largely bloated and pretentious enterprise. The dialogue feels as though it's been translated from another language by someone lacking any sense of irony. Most of the actors are trapped by their roles - and, I suppose, their director - into speaking as if they were in a samurai movie, only without the cultural backup to make this ritualistic approach believable.

Free of this criticism are Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart and the great, greatly missed Heath Ledger. This excellent trio, along with the visual effects team, make it possible to stay to the end.