I, too, didn't care for the movie. I didn't mind it. A strong, mediocre piece. With the heavy amount of "sex appeal" in the marketing, I think critics were surprised that it wasn't just another one of "those" movies... hence the higher ratings.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle