Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal also star in the sequel that brings superb spectacle and storytelling in equal measure.

While many of the reviewers who got an early look at the follow-up to the 2001 best picture winner said it's largely a rehash, most of them were dazzled by its battles and epic scope.

Ridley Scott's sequel to the 2000 film puts the spectacular into spectacle and needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible, writes our reviewer.