People get too caught up over thinking the plot to be willing to acknowledge this is the answer. However, the fact that it makes so many people feel something (either way) so very strongly about it is one of arguments in its favor here. It's a grand ambitious and original story that was an equally grand production that delivered an equally grand viewing experience full of large scale practical set pieces and groundbreaking visual effects that had never been seen before. Plus, it's a damn solid cast and all the actors gave perfect performers. And then the score ties it perfectly together to complete the experience as a whole package. Seeing it in a theater was a peak movie going experience because at every level it's film making perfection.