Our cruise ship diverted to Eilat (Israel) in January during the political unrest in Egypt. We ended up on a tour of Masada which still has the ramp (diminished by 2,000 years of erosion)that the Romans built to assault the fortress, as well as the remnants of their encampments.
We decided to buy the DVD on returning home and found it very enjoyable.
As the first reviewer says, some poetic licence has presumably been made for Silva's character - as Roman generals were not known for their goodwill gestures towards the enemy, especially after such a demanding campaign as the suppression of the Jewish revolt.
Peter O'Toole is excellent (as always) and the late Anthony Quayle is also first class as the seige engineer.
Watch out for some well known Brit actors in supporting roles - including a brief appearance of Gregor Fisher in his pre Rab C. Nesbitt string vest days