Rating: 
Summary: Hail creativity!
Review: I remember my father taking me to see Ben Hur when I was a young boy of ten. What a breathtaking experience that was. And a turning point in life that led to an eventual career in the film industry itself. I believe I repeated this personal history, last night, by taking my own son to see Gladiator. What spectacle! I say no more except a sincere thankyou to Mr Ridley Scott, the superb cast, and all those many professionals who worked on this film. A film that I will treasure for many years...and an experience that just might influence another small boy for a whole lifetime! Who knows...
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable
Review: This is by far the best movie of the year, and is with out a doubt one of the best films in the last 5 years. The whole film is incredable, and shouldnt be missed.
Rating:
Summary: But....
Review: Gladiator is a spectacular film, I was in two minds after I saw it first, but on a second and third viewing it shines out (for me) as a masterpiece of film making. But..., don't take it as history. Marcus Aurelius was not a Warrior emporor, Rome had been at peace for a whole century when he died. The Germans had learnt a thing or two about fighting the romans from Julius and Augustus Ceasars day, and would never have stood around chanting as the artillary got going. In reality Commodus regularly fought in the arena hundreds of times. As in the film, his victims were secretly wounded, but their weapons were made to be non lethal. He was far worse than the film character, and murded so many of the Imperial retainers that a group decided its him or us, and had him strangled in a drugged sleep. Still I agree with the positive reviews here, and Cinema is about story telling not history. Though Gladiator has a simple plot, its so well done, so beautifully shot, so well acted, and the score is stunning. It has some flaws, such as 'the soil is black, black as my wifes hair'. My dear Maximus, her hairs not black!
Rating: 
Summary: GOOD MOVIE, A LACK OF RESONANCE
Review: Literate, interesting, but not about much. Let's get the grievances out of the way first. The history, portentously presented, owes little to verisimilitude, and the characters, to a fault, are presented one-dimensionally. Its worst sin is its derivative visuals. Ridley Scott has been crowned as an innovator. Here - with the exception of an Elysium motif - he copies chronically from Copolla's Dracula. The early set-up battle scene in Germania is a direct lift from Dracula's prelude - from the expressionist splashes to the cutting style - and much of the color-timing is mimicked. The story - well, it is the chesnut of battleworn integrity enduring, but herein is the movie's redemption. Russel Crowe is a subtle actor, an actor who understands panoramic lenses and the beats of restless contemporary cinema. In a sword-and-sandals epic of the sixties he would have been a spear-carrier. Here, monolithic and powerful, he hogs the camera, and the audience. Richard Harris is, well, old Dickie again. Actors of a certain age, usually Oscar-nominated and closet-cowed, speak in a whisper. Harris' whisper is awesome. He plays the usual sub-God character, stirring to effort only in the line codas. Crowe, on the other hand, is constant in his virility and his cause. We live in the Age of Springer and Oprah, the new Circus Maximus. In context, Crowe's Promethean power is spot-on. I didn't like this half as much as I should have. Wouldn't it be stirring, eventful even, to see this kind of budget spent on a story of humbler humanity, of life in the bathhouses or building sites of Rome, where lives of unheard desperation put paid to the glories? But we have yet to evolve to historical subtleties. Ethnicity is still an arcade game to Hollywood. In the parable of the hare and the tortoise, we still have our money on the hare.
Rating: 
Summary: Good idea but too violent
Review: Gladiator could have been one of the best movies of the year. The story about a roman general who seeks revenge for the murder of his family is entertaining and suspensful. But the director tried to appeal the new generation which likes violence in movies which is not necessary. This movie could have been a masterpiece/
Rating:
Summary: Bravo!
Review: I've always been a fan of the sand and sandal epics. When I read about this movie last year I knew I would have to see it. I've seen it twice now and I like it. Yes the movie does play with the historical facts somewhat, but it's one of the few productions I've ever seen that actually portrays the Roman psychology. You don't have any anachronisms with the characters spouting modern concepts and beliefs. The hero Maximus is most definitely a Stoic in his outlooks concerning devotion to duty, honor, and loyalty to family, friends, and Rome. This isn't a modern man like Kirk Douglas was in Spartacus ( one of my favorites though ). Maximus is every inch a Roman. Gladiator also lacks the hypocriscy that so many of the earlier Hollywood productions had. In this film Rome isn't judged to be evil for loving the games. The games are simply part of the society as slavery and that's all there is to it. At the beginning there is a spectacular battle sequence with Maximus commanding Roman forces against the Germans. Though he respects and perhaps even understands the barbarians unwillingness to give into Roman rule it dosen't stop him from destroying them. He is tired of war and his endless duty - he wants to return home. But he still serves and will do so until he is no longer needed.This isn't an individual who is full of self-doubt. He's a Roman and he serves Rome. I found this story to be rather refreshing in that respect. To conclude I found the special effects to be very impressive, the battle and the arena sequences breathtaking and the performances uniformly excellent. If you haven' then go see this movie. I am eagerly awaiting it's video release.
Rating:
Summary: Top of the Spree
Review: Russell Crowe gets 5 Stars. This film depends completly on us believing in his character. It depends on us committing to letting him guide us through this epic tale. I'm a fan of Ridley Scott's but all the special effects in the world couldn't save this picture without Russell Crowe's Maximus. He makes us believe. The script is pretty simple but Mr. Crowe's face speaks everything. Emotions that can been seen on the screen don't need to be translated, wherever you are in the world they will be understood. There have been articles written about the liklyhood of Academy Award nominations and how they doubt Mr. Crowe will be nominated because of his action/hero status. If that is the case Russell Crowe has elevated that category. When Dreamworks decided to make this film it was as a summer blockbuster/tentpole pitcure. They got so much more than they ever dreamed of. Let's just see what the end of the year brings.
Rating:
Summary: Why Women Dig This Film
Review: So, yesterday I decided to go see Gladiator again, because I just couldn't let another day go by without seeing Russell Crowe again, all salty goodness in his little blue frock. And I have decided that not only is this film great because of Russell Crowe cleaving men in twain in a little leather skirt, but, in fact, all films could only be improved with the addition of Russell Crowe cleaving men in twain in a little leather skirt. Musicals, romantic comedies, cartoons, Merchant/Ivory films, everything. I think it should be the rule, just one little scene per film, muscles bulging, sword-wielding, sweaty-bearded, covered in blood, leather miniskirt, that's all I ask. I think that I'm being pretty reasonable.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning and Beautiful.
Review: Gladiator is glorious. This is definitely Scott's finest film. It is an attempt to recreate an era of human history that I must say has not been adequately done before. From the insanity of battle captured on a steady-cam, to the incredible lighting, make-up, and costume coordination, this film is remarkable. I'm also not aware of any film which so eloquently portrayed the beliefs and cultures of Rome. I rank this just below, or perhaps even equal to, Dark City.
Rating:
Summary: The Sand and Sandal Epic returns!
Review: A truly spectacular epic akin to the grand old Hollywood epics. It's good to see the return of this genere. This movie is a visual feast with beautiful costumes, spectacular battle sequences, a stirring soundtrack, and a tragic hero who you care for even though you know he's doomed. This isn't Shakespeare nor is it I, Claudius. This is big scale Imperial Rome with a tale of honor, betrayal, vengance, and redemption. I was so impressed that I spent the money and saw it twice. When it comes out on video I'll buy it. As an added plus the movie has Derek Jacobi (I, Claudius), Oliver Reed, and Richard Harris. All three of them are excellent, but never forget that they are in a big-budget drama. I didn't expect to have my mind put into overdrive by this movie, but I did expect to be entertained. I wasn't dissapointed. Excellent movie.
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