Gladiator

Rating:
Summary: Help with DTS sound...!
Review: Outstanding film but had a bit of trouble accessing the DTS sound-my equipment is working fine and is fully compatible... Dolby 5.1 is spectacular-If anyone had trouble with their DTS sound on Gladiator, please drop me an email at [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Strength and Honor
Review: Russell Crowe does an admirable job portraying Maximus, a general serving Marcus Aurelus, one of the last Ceasar's in Rome sometime around 180 A.D. Maximus is betrayed and ultimately ends up as a gladiator. A gladiator was a slave who was required to fight to the death against other such slaves. Sometimes it was possible to win your freedom.

The overiding message of the film is that maintaining the virtues of strength and honor sometimes requires sacrifice and may ultimately lead to death. There is much graphic violence and I suggest you guard your mind because the movie presents a worldview full of ancestor worship, and 'all roads lead to heaven' philosophy. If you are searching for Truth you will not find it here. Also, I commend the producers for making a movie without even the briefest of nudity or unneeded sex scenes.

For a movie extolling the virtues of strength and honor as well as being full of adventure I highly recommend this film. No movie, including this one is worth over ... so I would wait for the price to drop and rent it until that day.

'The Gladiator' deserves a ten out of twelve on my rating scale and will soon, when the price drops, have a place on my top ten shelf.

Semper fi & agape, Ed D.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!
Review: I rented the DVD because someone else was interested in watching the movie. I could not have been more thoroughly entertained! It was as though I was in a movie theatre in my own living room. Gladiator combines the Epic film of the past with the sensibilities and technology of the present. Gladiator had the ability to meld every human emotional theme imaginable through sight and sound and keep me riveted to the screen for the whole 2 1/2 hours. The Battle scenes are nothing short of Amazing. The ensemble acting is Superb. The additional footage and special features on the 2nd disc are just as compelling as the movie itself. If you already own Gladiator, purchase it for a friend. You could not go wrong! Thankyou

Rating:
Summary: WoW! The best DVD since Matrix
Review: The sound/picture on this DVD is INCREDIBLE on my 5.1 Dolby surround sound system/Sony 36" Wega. The recreation of the Carthage battle and the scene with the tigers are enough for me to recommend this DVD to anyone. Predictions: Russell Crowe wins Oscar for best actor. Movie should also win best picture and director, too.

Rating:
Summary: Gladiator
Review: Superb, all round good film...based on a true situation that was so very typical of this era and time of mankind. Now and again, there was a slight graphical editing by the computing team, but that was a minor problem. Well worthy of my purchase. Very much look forward to seeing more of Russel Crowe and Ridley Scotts films in the future. The music score is awesome.

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Summary: I'd like to see some real passion along with the violence
Review: The theme is familiar. Good guy sold into slavery as gladiator in ancient Rome. I was weaned on these movies as a child -- Ben Hur, Sparticus, Samson Delilah. These epics still echo in my memories. And I hold similar films to a very high standard. Alas, though, the director of Gladiator is no Cecil B. DeMille or Stanley Kubuck. The Gladiator doesn't even get on the playing field against those giants.

That said, the Gladiator does have some good points. Richard Harris as the dying Caesar is wonderful, and Oliver Reed as the gladiator slave dealer is great. This last film of his is a great legacy to his talent as I understand he died during its filming.

Russell Crowe, cast as the hero Maximus is all machismo and righteous anger. Undoubtedly this role will spark his career. It might have been the weak script or it might have been his one-dimensional portrayal, but I just couldn't get into his character. I wanted to care and I didn't, which is a shame because it is his performance which was supposed to carry the story.

Joaquin Phoenix as the villain does a better job. As the embodiment of evil, he is easy to hate. The female lead, Connie Nielsen, while attractive, also played her role with a constant angry tone, which limited her appeal.

The action scenes were done with the best of computer graphics. There's blood and gore and heads being lopped off. Some of the scenes are done well, such as when Maximus turns the gladiators into an army and they fight against several teams of chariot fighters. Other scenes, such as the opening one where the Roman army is conquering an enemy, are so confused that I rarely knew who the participants were.

Basically the film is 2-1/2 hours of action, with some long talky scenes in between. Mostly, it held my interest. But I couldn't help thinking of the good old days before computer graphics, when the epics were fueled with star power and great directing. I'd like to see some real passion along with the violence. But perhaps I'm just getting too jaded.

However, not all movies have to be all things to all people, and the Gladiator does succeed as pure entertainment. There's good guys and bad guys and lots of battles. There's a feeling of history and ancient Rome. And its a way to escape from our own personal stresses. I can recommend it on that level. And I'm personally glad I saw it myself.

Rating:
Summary: Defective DVD
Review: I did not buy this from Amazon.com but I must say that this DVD is defective. I have already gone through 2 of them and they have severe video problems. It wasn't my DVD players fault. I wouldn't suggest buying this until they recall them and fix them.

Rating:
Summary: Maybe it was all the hype . . .
Review: Thwarted numerous times from seeing this in the theatre, I happily scooped up "Gladiator" when it came out on video. The reviews were uniformly good, friends who had seen it rated it a solid thumbs up, and I'm a huge Russell Crowe fan, so I settled in with my popcorn, ready to enjoy.

And . . . I liked it. I didn't love it. Visually, it's a very striking film, although at times Ridley Scott lays on the effects a little too thick. The performances, most notably by Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, are good, although Connie Nielsen's presence in this otherwise male-dominated drama seems to be superfluous (her costumes are great, though). But what keeps this in my mind from becoming the masterpiece some claim is the screenplay--or lack thereof. Crowe said in an interview that they essentially started shooting with no script, and it shows. The dialogue is often stilted, despite some good lines ("At my signal, unleash hell" is already a catch phrase of sorts), and the plot turns can be seen coming for miles. As for the history, well, Hollywood's never been a fountain of accuracy, and they certainly aren't going to start with "Gladiator." Crowe looks tremendous in a breastplate and tunic, by the way.

Many have put "Gladiator" on the same level as "Braveheart". I will too, but for a different reason--like "Braveheart", "Gladiator" is a very heavy-handed historical drama that came out in a kind of a down year for good films. Not that "Gladiator" isn't entertaining--it is, most definitely--but it isn't Oscar-caliber filmmaking. That doesn't mean it won't get some Oscar nods when the time comes, though. Enjoy it, but don't elevate it to something it's not.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie and Great DVD
Review: If I were a voting member of the academy Gladiator would get my best picture Oscar and Russell Crowe would also win for best actor. This film is compelling and well acted and it has enough violence to keep you interested if you are not into great performance and writing. This is a great film.

The DVD collection too is awesome. There is a great deal of extra material and it even comes with a second disc to hold some of it. If you like the art of filmmaking then you should get this DVD set to learn about the making of such an epic film. All in all the quality of the film and DVD materials make this DVD a bargain at any price.

Rating:
Summary: A hidden nugget
Review: On the second disc, with the bonus material, go to the page with the theatrical trailers. There's a picture of Marcus Aurelius. Move your selection buttons around and you can highlight the eagle on Marcus' armor. Press play. I won't spoil it by saying what you'll find.