Rating: 
Summary: Awesome
Review: I thought this was an awesome movie. Russell Crowe is a great actor and does a great job of portraying his part as the best gladiator. I did like the ending. I will have to go back to the theater soon to see this movie!
Rating:
Summary: A gripping spectacle
Review: Gladiator manages to combine the best parts of a great action movie while at the same time maintaining a gripping historical fiction story line. Russell Crowe, who was also great in The Insider, plays an entirely different role as Maximus. His character is convincing as both a soldier and a slave. The other members of the cast are wonderful as well, Joaquin Phoenix being the deranged Commodus, a character that is very creepy at times. Phoenix manages to protray convincingly the unhinged, unloved, emperor. (Who still manages to garner some sympathy from the audience, an amazing feat in the role IMHO) Oliver Reed steals some of the show as well, as Proxima, the freed gladiator turned "entertainer". His character portrays both empathy and a blase attitude towards the life of a gladiator. The final main character is Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, the sister of Commodus. She also manages to play her role convincingly as a secret supporter of Maximus. Especially good is the interaction between her and Commodus in his "busy little bee" speech, quite possibly the strangest and most dramatic moment in the movie. Go see this movie, you will be entertained. (If anyone knowsm is the lady who sings in this movie the same who sung in The Insider, it sounds similar, and what language is she singing in, arabic?)
Rating:
Summary: A Great Epic Told
Review: In summary: A Great Epic Don't be swayed by the so-so review given by USA Today and other few film critcs. One must see this movie to realize its fullest - Great acting, intense action, a story with richness and symbolisms that remind one of the classics, and stunning special effect that left my jaws hanged open for many occasions and made me wondered: how do they do that? First the acting - Russel Crowe continues his superb performance that we first took notice starting in LA Confidential. In the Gladiator his Maximus commands the movie with such intensity and emotion that literally draw the audiences into the world within the movie. I cannot imagine anyone else who can replace him as the heroic Maximus. Other supporting casts Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed - deserve the highest praise as well. Second - The action sequences - whether in the battlefield or the Collasium - are spectacular. Though they are violent - they "get the point across" without becoming grotesque. Third - The Story - it's true that there are moments in the movie that one may recall the moments in Ben Hur, Spartacus, or Brave Heart - however the Gladiator can hold its own. Full of details from Maximus picking up dirt prior to his fights, the dreamy wheat fields, or Maximus's expression of inner self-hatred after his first coliseum massacre - these contributes greatly to the story lines. There are times during the movie that I wonders "why is this conversation taking so long" - now looking back they merely make the story even more rich and clearly differenciate it from the typical Hollywood Hack'n-kill action movies. Fourth - Special Effects - One has to see the Coliseum in this movie to fully realize how much glory it must had been back in the Roman times. The aerial shots of the Coliseum and recreation of the street of Rome are breathtaking. In addition, the firing of flaming arrows in the opening battle left me at awe of the awesome power of the Roman army. Yes there are many areas of this movie that MAY be improved (part of it come from the story line itself, part of it come from the artistic style of the director - you either like it or hate it) but if you sum up all the virtues it is easily a masterpiece. A must see for the summer and years to come.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies of the year!
Review: When I saw the movie for the first time I thought that I wouldn't like it. On the outside it looks like the clasic good vs evil, but the movie grew on me as I watched it. The action seens were tight along side with "Braveheart" and "The Matrix." The characters grow on you, and you feel as if your with Maximus as he goes through battle. IF YOU CAN SEE THIS MOVIE DO SO NOW!!!!!!'
Rating:
Summary: Simply irresistable
Review: well this movie has to be one of the all time greats, not just that the acting was supernatural but the emotions and heartwarming about it. the story is quite intelligent and demanding not only in those circumstances but to see russell Crowe get up there and produce one of his talents is very unforgetable, which means that he can do that and on the other hand he does what other actors dream of. i think Ralph Moeller is great and fortunately hoops'''' i wont spoil it. dont miss this title....
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie, and A Whole Lot of Fun!
Review: I felt like a little kid while watching this movie. It was so much fun. It is a rare movie that I can escape into, and just enjoy the spectacle. This happens to be one of those movies. Watching the opening battle scene I actually felt giddy. Russell Crowe gives a stand-out performance as Maximus. This film proves that Mr. Crowe can play any kind of role and make it convincing. Each character he plays is vastly different from the ones he has played before. If that is not the sign of a true star than I don't know what is. Joaquin Phoenix is very scary and creepy as the Emperor Commodus. Connie Nielsen is great as Commodus' sister. She is the lone woman in this all boys film, and she holds her own magnificently. The rest of the cast are equaly amazing in their parts. As a word of warning this film does contain a great deal of violence, as any good gladiator movie should, so if you are not into decapitations and rivers of blood, you should probably stay away. However, if you are like me and can't get enough of this great thrill ride then by all means enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy spectacle
Review: Movies like Gladiator are why I look forward to the summer movie season. It looks great, has good acting, and has enough story to keep the audience involved. Some of the computer animation looks a little fake, but it is breathtaking nonetheless, and the striking cinematography proves once again that Ridley Scott is astoundingly talented with visuals. Russell Crowe showed that he could be an amazingly realistic character actor with The Insider and here he shows that he is a true movie star with screen presence to be reckoned with. The supporting cast is also accomplished, especially Joaquin Pheonix, who made a monsterous villan sympathetic. The story is not particularly deep, but it moves along at a quick pace and is does not insult the audience. All things considered, Gladiator has set a high standard for movies this summer.
Rating:
Summary: A Truly Epic Event
Review: This is not just a movie, it's an event! Russell Crowe shines as the tough, yet tender title character. The cinematography is gorgeous and the music is fitting and regal. The story is full of action and thoroughly entertaining. I hardly noticed that I had spent over two and a half hours in the theatre. Joaquin Phoenix gives a fine performance as well, as the evil, cowardly, whining Emperor who literally steals his seat on the throne. You can not help but have distaste for the character. This is sure to become a major blockbuster and might just put Russell Crowe way up on the A list of actors where he belongs.
Rating: 
Summary: Really good, but...
Review: The movie is clearly a 3 act play. First, it starts with an amazing battle scene, supposedly in Germania. Ridley Scott seems to have studied at length "Saving Private Ryan". The battle is confused, the screen is blurred, you're not too sure whether that guy in the background is a barbarian or a Roman, and so on... Overall, a nice scene. The preparation for the battle and the scenes following the battle are also great contrasts... The second part of the movie is when Russel Crowe has been sold as a slave and is a gladiator. Those were the most interesting scenes to me. The gladiator's psychology (has lost everything, lives for the glory of the circus, etc) is rather fascinating. It's also interesting to see the diversity of the Roman empire. The third part is when things start disintegrating. R. Scott did an amazing job of re-creating Rome & the circus - and doesn't leverage it at all. There's nearly nothing to show what was really the life of the average Roman, etc. In addition, the story looses a lot of credibility there. And cliches are numerous (we don't need to see the bread distribution - we got the Bread & Games idea, thanks.) Overall, 2 great parts in a 3 parts story; Russel Crowe is perfectly at ease in his role but lacks depth because he's so taciturn; GREAT combat scenes, esp. in the circus. The third part is not what it could have been: the story is really weak there and the images lack grandeur... Note that the movie is violent (with such a subject...) but not gratuitously so.
Rating: 
Summary: The best combats scenes for today...
Review: If you are patient enough to survive many long and bad dialogs you can really enjoy beautiful battle scenes and some of a landscape... The story as a drama is very poor as well as a parallel to the real historic names and events. The performance is mediocre.
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