Rating: 
Summary: Gladiator is perfect
Review: Gladiator is awesome! After going to see it not too sure what I was in for I came out of the cinema amazed. Everything about the film is perfect, from the computer animated coliseum to Russel Crowe's oscar deserving perfomance, the film is simply gobsmacking. I gaurentee you if you see this film you will shiver with exitement every time Russel Crowe lifts up his sword. Go and see it now if you have not already.
Rating:
Summary: Gritty portrayal of a dimly-lit period of history
Review: What really made this picture for me was not the gladiatorial action, breath-taking and shocking as those sequences unquestionably were, but the opening sequence in which a Roman legion prepares to do battle with one of the numerous Germanic tribes which had migrated across the Danube river border threatening the integrity of Roman provincial borders. Under the imperial system, a Roman legionary signed on for 25 years. The conditions and discipline of army life were immensely hard, the business of warfare little more than butchery at the individual level. A competent general (Legatus) who had his mens' welfare at heart commanded respect, loyalty, even love and this was why, during certain periods of Roman history, legions felt considerably more respect for their generals than for the Senate or their Emperor. This sense of comradeship came through powerfully in the in the scene in which Crowe, as the fictional general Maximus Decimus, walks through the lines acknowledging the greetings of his men, and as the camera focuses on the experienced, bone-weary faces of the soldiers (a truly marvellous sequence where Maximus' quiet sense of command really shines through). The Roman army has mostly been portrayed by Hollywood as glamourously costumed toy soldiers or merely completely unrealistically, as in the recent remake of Cleopatra in which Timothy Dalton, as Caesar, repels an Egyptian assault on Alexandria with what appears to be no more than 30 or so legionaries! Compare too "Gladiator's" companion piece: the Fall of The Roman Empire, very much a movie of its era (which also deals with the contrasting reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus), in which the harshness and brutality of campaigning in Germania is glossed over by the limiting film-making styles of the time. In Gladiator we experience on a visceral level what it must have been like for the ordinary legionary, preparing to fight a barabarous, uncivilised horde - the gut wrenching terror of it (the scene in which the Hunnish leader reveals himself to challenge the Roman army grasping the severed head of a Roman tribune springs to mind here), a terror tempered only by the quiet assurance in the superiority of Roman military discipline and tactics. This 'Hobbesian' point about the nastiness and brutishness of life outside Roman borders is underscored by Maximus himself in his dialogue with Richard Harris' excellent and dignified Marcus Aurelius. Costumes were astonishly accurate, right down to the 'fashionable' neck scarves which legionaries wore to prevent their breastplates chafing their necks. The depiction of the Roman archers in their chain mail armour, as well as auxilliary cavalry and Praetorian Guard, was something special too for anyone interested in the military history of the period. I'm not sure the actual "thick-of-the-fighting" sequences worked for me, though I accept that Ridley Scott probably opted for a fast-cam which would depict the sheer confusion and "fog of battle". The actual battle was also too short and lacked pull-back camera angles which would set the fighting in its wider tactical and formation context. Nevertheless, a truly marvellous and ground-breaking depiction of (admittedly fictionalised) historical reality. I hope this movie generates a fresh interest in the period which has been disregarded by Hollywood for too long now.
Rating:
Summary: To Be Celebrated
Review: Gladiator was nothing short of a beautiful film. It had all the elements of a great story - an unforgetable hero, tragedy, love, drama. While some might this cliched, I think such an arguement is unfair and weak. If a film can breathe new life into old "chiches," then it's as good as original. I think Gladiator did just this. Russell Crowe was magnificent as Maximus and all the characters were well cast. The work was candy to the senses. The sets and locales were breathtaking and truly captured the glory of Rome. After I saw Gladiator, I immediately went out and bought the soundtrack and I have been listening to it all week. The movie was three hours long but I never noticed. Although I wouldn't consider myself the most high brow consumer of film, I think Gladiator had much more to offer then its obvious aesthetics. Cheers to a great movie!! I can't wait for its DVD release!
Rating:
Summary: Best movie i've seen in quite awhile!!
Review: This movie simply kicks arse. Don't believe some of the reviews from the likes of Roger Ebert. This movie is a spectacular piece of work. The special effects, particularly a fly by shot over the Colosseum made my jaw drop, it was that good. This is just a big movie, if there is such a thing. Everything is on such a grand scale. From the opening battle, to the gladiator fights in the Colosseum, Gladiator inspires wonder and imagination. I have now seen this movie a few times, and it gets better everytime i see it. If you haven't gone to a movie in awhile, what are you waiting for, GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!
Rating:
Summary: Crowe and Phoenix shine in this new film by Ridley Scott
Review: Most times when studios go out to produce a movie of this size and grandeur the most important parts of the movie, mainly the plot and the acting, are lost to the fight scenes and the special effects. What makes this movie rise above all other action/drama film is that it has both a strong story and cast as well as very complex and beautifully shot battle sequences. And not to mention stellar performances by leads Russell Crowe (The Insider), Joaquin Phoenix (8MM), Connie Nielsen (Mission to Mars), and Oliver Reed (Funny Bones) who passed away during the filming of Gladiator. Having defeated the last hoard of Barbarians, sealing the lands for the Roman Empire, General Maximus (Crowe) had proven himself to be loyal to Rome and to its Caesar, Marcus Aurelius (wonderfully played by Richard Harris). As a result, the dying Aurelius plans to hand over the Empire to Maximus rather than his corupt son Commodus (Phoenix). Upon finding out that his father has named Maximus the sucessor to the throne in place of himself, Commodus becomes angered by his father's decission and takes matters into his own hands. Knowing that Maximus is a threat to him, Commodus places him under arrest and orders his guards to execute him in secrecy. Narrowly escaping death, Maximus rushes home to try to save his family from a similar fate, only to arrive after his son and wife have already been murdered by Commodus' troops. With nothing left to live for and no where left to go, Maxiums eventually finds himself a slave to a former Gladiator named Proximo (Reed). Having gained his freedom long ago, he now purchases slaves to fight in the battle arena, betting for his experienced fighters and against his worthless fighters in order to make a profit. However, when Maxiums, feuled by rage and a need for vengance, easily defeats all whom he encounters, surpassing all other fighters in every way, Proximo realizes that there is something different about this man the other slaves call "The Spaniard". And when Commodus, the new Caesar, initiates the Gladiator games in commemoration of his late father, Maximus, who Commodus believes is dead, is determind to go Rome, where the games are being held, and take revenge on the man who took everything away from him. Connie Nielsen who playes Lucilla, Commodus's sister, is the sole female character in this male dominated film. However, she holds up very well with Phoenix and Crowe during their numerous dialogues and shows great talent in each scene as both sister to the Caesar and mother to her eight year old child Lucius (Spencer Treat Clarck). Djimon Hunsou (Amistad) also appears in the film as a fellow slave/Gladiator who becomes friends with Crowe, helping him complete his goal of taking his revenge on Commodus. And Director Ridley Scott, most well known for his Sci-fi/fantasy flick Blade Runner, has brought Rome and all it's spectacle, glory, and gore to the big screen in a way that puts it along side classics like Ben Hur and Sparticus. It has quality, quantity, and a uniqueness to it that makes it worth the $9.50 price for addmission. All in all, this movie reigns supreme in my book. Visually stunning, wonderfully acted, beautifully shot, and superbly directed. If people want to see how a great action/drama movie is made, then this is the movie you gotta see. Revuman: Live by the sword, die by the sword, but eat first...peace!
Rating:
Summary: Great action with an undercurrent of gloom
Review: This was a good, good movie, but more than that, it was a fantastic movie experience. Some of the acting and editing seemed forced to me, and predictable, but the movie really took me away. As in books, a good story overcomes most deficiencies, and this movie was a great story (although hardly original). Crowe was superb, I thought. His accent seemed misplaced (he was a Spaniard?), but his brooding and inner-torture was convincing. He is a very versatile and talented actor. The fight scenes, while bloody and horrifying, were very well done as well. As Crowe and his band of gladiators waited to do battle in the Colessium, I found my heart racing with nervousness and anticipation - a great effect! Additionally, although no big fan of excessive blood and gore, I thought that the amount found in the fight scenes was acceptable due to the nature of the movie. It would have been strange to see a bunch of guys fighting with swords, to the death, without the stuff. Pheonix was also superb as the young Emporer. What a convincing lunatic! A large part of the success of this movie hinges on the premise that the veiwer grow to hate Commodus, which I certainly did. I began to root heavily for Maximus, and couldn't wait to see how he exacted his revenge upon the cowardly Emporer. Phoenix did a great job of making me hate his character. Underneath all of the fighting and plots and sub-plots was a dark and heavy gloom. You sense that, in the end, Maximus is doomed. In fact, you know that all of Rome is doomed and that the culture is in fact dying. Maximus appears to be one of the last people with a noble idea of Rome, and you just sense that he alone won't be enough. I love stories with this flavor, that is, a world that is moving on and is becoming something less than it was. Gladiator has this theme as a strong undercurrent and it makes the movie much more than just a fight movie. At the end of the movie, I was both pleased and sad, another wonderful emotional effect of the movie. Go see this movie.
Rating:
Summary: terrific summer movie, and Russell Crowe, too!
Review: Being a middle-aged female, I don't suppose that I fit the profile of someone who would like this movie--well, guess what? This middle-aged female thought that "Gladiator" was very entertaining and very well done! Yes, there's a lot of blood & guts, and yes, there are a couple of holes in the plot which are pretty major (such as, exactly how does Maximus fall into the hands of the slavers?). Still, the movie holds your attention for all 2 1/2 hours, and the set design is wonderful (as is usual in Ridley Scott's films such as "Alien" and "Blade Runner"). The acting is excellent by all the leads--it was great, although a bit melancholy to see Oliver Reed chew the scenery as only he could do. And then, there's Russell Crowe--I've been a fan of his ever since I saw his great performance in "L.A. Confidential". (He was ROBBED by not even getting an Oscar nomination for that!)In "Gladiator" he does a superb job of getting into the character of Maximus. I couldn't belive this was the same man who played Jeffrey Wigand in "The Insider". Maybe next year, he'll get his Oscar!
Rating:
Summary: The real deal..
Review: Russell Crowe's acting was so moving, his range so unbelievable, that I *literally* believed he was Maximus. I felt his triumph, his weariness, his sadness, his revenge, his love. At the end, I cried, and couldn't stop crying. Add to one of the most amazing acting performances I have *ever* witnessed, a soundtrack that fit perfectly, and you have a movie that kept me and my emotions in my seat, unable to look away from the screen for the entire 2 1/2 hours. It's rare that a movie also ends the way I think it *should*... This one surprisingly did, and didn't leave me wanting for more. It fulfilled everything that I could have possibly expected. Go see this movie. Enjoy the movie. Lose yourself in the movie. Don't critique it. Just enjoy it. Lose yourself in it. Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Ridley Scott, and the rest, my hat off to all of you.
Rating:
Summary: A movie that truly entertains
Review: From the opening battle scenes you knew that the movie was definitely going to meet your expectations. Russell Crowe proved once again that he is truly an exceptional actor and can play any role from street hoodlum in romper stomper to a great general in gladiator. The digital effects were very good, although at times not convincing but certainly gave this viewer an insight into what the spectacle that Rome and those days long gone must have been like. The supporting cast was fabulous, I cannot wait till this movie is released on DVD so I can watch it again
Rating: 
Summary: Very entertaining..just don't expect Braveheart
Review: This was a really entertaining film, though it begins a tad slowly. All of the acting was fantastic and despite the heavy violence, it wasn't exactly gorey. Don't expect chills or tears at the end, it's not that "epic"....just really good fun.
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