Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Cast
Review: I have been a fan of R Crowe since 1992, he was great in LA Confidential and the Insider but this is his movie. The scenery,dialogue, action sequences, to me were wonderful. The soundtrack fit the movie. The supporting cast could not have been better. I've seen it twice and hope to see it again. This is Russell Crowes year and no actor of his generation deserves it more.
Rating: 
Summary: Great entertainment
Review: Overall I really enjoyed Gladiator. The story was a bit light and some of the scenes were drawn out, but it has enough to keep you interested. Beyond this, the special effects really keep your attention. It is amazing to see Rome brought to life. Top this off with a very good sound track and you have a movie that provides solid entertainment value.On the downside, I question the authenticity of much of what is shown in the film. Did the Colleseum really look as it does in the movie or did Hollywood spiff it up a bit for film? Regardless of this, the film is definitely worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: Braveheart in a Toga
Review: Actually, I liked this one better than the Mel Gibson epic, to which "Gladsiator" owes some of the opening battle scenes, in terns of style. The action is not as gory as I expected (good), and the cinemetography is startlingly good. It looks at times as if the horizon is convex, in moments when the hero, Maximus, is losing conciousness, dreaming, etc. The stoty-line is good, true to the larger flow of Roman history, and intense enough to warrent the viewre's full attention for the entire 2 1/2 hours. I was impressed with the level of detail. Everything looked authentic. The ambiance of Rome was, naturally, facistic. The standards, eagles, banners, and other regalia of Imperial Rome had the almost-gaudy look of 1920s Italy or early-30s Germany. True to period, but chilling nonetheless. The Coleseum scenes are exquisite, and worth the price of admission. Most of all, I like the historical 'what if?' What if the Stoic philosopher-king had been succeeded by someone other than his worthless son? Why would Marcus Aurelius have chosen Commodus, when he was the fifth 'Good Emperor' chosen by adoption, on the basis of merit? Ever since reading Gibbon's "Decline and Fall" as a teenager, this question has facinated me, as did this movie. -Lloyd A. Conway
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies I have ever seen!
Review: I most impressive thing about this movie is the computer effects, to show Rome in the early days was incredible. The 180 degree shot was the most impressive of all. Russell Crowe is a great actor, I have been impressed with him since Virtuosity With Denzel Washington, He has done nothing but good movies since. And in Gladiator he carries the movie himself, his performance is outstanding. The only downfall of the movie is Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus the new Empiror of Rome. He plays him as a crying baby of a man. The violence and fights are great. The army battles are not as large as Braveheart or as bloody, but that works well for this film. I can only say that you should good see this movie. It has great action, great acting and a great story. A must see.
Rating:
Summary: Historically, dramatically and visually.
Review: Historically, this is one of those rare films in the modern era that actually manages to retain accuracy while providing a great story. While I don't mind a little bending of the facts, I truly admire a movie that manages to entertain the masses while still providing a real glimpse into what life would have really been like during that time period. Especially refreshing to the accurate and painstakingsly recreated battle scenes was the cinematography. The color and "stop-shot" frames during the battle scenes made the battle more interesting to watch and not just a chaotic mass of bodies and weapons. The costume design was impressive as well as accurate.... Ridley Scott is the absolute master of the portrayal of an individual's struggle against an epic backdrop. Gladiator, like 1492, seizes the soul of a person as well as their heartstrings... Simply because he knows how to tell a story that reaches within the emotions and desires within all of us. Both movies ended leaving the viewer sympathizing deeply what that individual's accomplishments meant again the greater scope of life. The epic did not go overboard and make the "hero" seem unreal and just a fiction. At no point during the movie can you ever question the love Maximus had for his family and Emperor Marcus Aurelius while he rallies the crowds and people against the emperor. He is constanly thinking of them throughout the film and his love and devotion for his murdered wife is something which does not fade even in the presence of his long ago lover Lucilla. Oliver Reed and Richard Harris are powerful presences on the screen... They bring the true essence of acting in an epic to a realistic portrayal which we can all relate to. The expressive eyes of these two men relate more than the words of the script... This movie was the "whisper" of the dream that was Rome as well as the "whisper" of a dream that a historical movie can rise above just making people feel it existed in "history". It makes us want to bring that fire to our own lives! The soundtrack was excellent. It exuded sensuality, love, power, and battle without being a typically trumpety and brash battle soundtrack. Also, an outstanding memory from this film is the calm confidence with which Russell Crowe defeats those who stand against him. He has an icy but human determination which gives him the sense of being invincible. It is this confidence that makes us admire him as he turns his back to Commodus and then reveals his identity. Gladiator represents the great dream that has existed within men and countries since the beginning... Who will help me carry this great man?
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie Of 2000, Period
Review: After watching Gladiator and being engulfed in it's beautiful scenery, exhilirating battle scenes, fantastic acting, and rousing music, I am sure that there won't be a better movie than Gladiator this year. It's the reiging champion, nothing else comes close, Gladiator is number one.
Rating:
Summary: Olympics with a twist!!!
Review: I saw this movie a few days ago and it would have to be one of the best movies I have seen this year. The killing scenes are GREAT and everything looks so real. Sure, the movie goes for 3 hours, but how else could it have so much gore, blood, and action if it was shorter???? This movie is recommended to all those who find movies like titanic and American Beauty boring. One word of warning: Don't watch this movie after eating!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely awesome!
Review: A terrific and spectacular throwback to older historical epics such as BEN HUR and THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, but here with new SFX technology recreating Rome as it might have looked in 180 AD in all its glorious detail, notably in the Coliseum gladiatorial combat scenes! Truly breathtaking. Russell Crowe(ROMPER STOMPER) plays General Maximus, a soldier who defies his emperors and is imprisoned. He is eventually forced to fight as a gladiator to avenge the deaths of his wife and child, who were slain by the emperor Commodus who killed his father to rule the empire. The battle scenes, in the film's introduction where Roman soldiers attack Germanic barbarians are very graphic, as are the Coliseum arena death matches! The performances are great all round - Connie Nielsen is also woth a mention as Lucilla, Commodus's sister - was this the same role played by Sophia Loren in THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE in 1964? Oliver Reed and Richard Harris also appear, along with Derek Jacobi. Stunning setpieces and costumes add to the spectacle. A true epic that is definitely not to be missed!
Rating:
Summary: Wow! What a movie!
Review: You got to see this movie in the theater! The battle in the beginning of the movie is just marbelous, wow! it's if you're really in it. All the flying burning arrows, the big burning balls from the catapults, it is all so cool to see. When I watched that particular part of the movie, I had to think of the movie Braveheart cause of its cool battles. And further more, it's very cool if Maximus walkes into the coloseum. It's if you're really standing next to him and see the public go wild. I only wonder if the coloseum was really so big as in Rome itself, were I was. And I don't think so. But maybe it is. One thing that I didn't like was the ending. The emperor fought Maximus. That's just ridiculous in my opinion. He just had to kill him in first place when he had the chance. That's why it doesn't get 5 stars of me but 4. I rather want to give 4 1/2 but that isn't possible. But besides of that, it is a great movie!!! And you got to see it, if you didn't yet!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT....
Review: I am the type of person that is picky about the movies that I see. I will say one thing about this movie..EXCELLENT!!! Russell Crowe does a magnificent job as the Roman General Maximus. Plus, Joaquin Phoenix does a splendid job as Commodus (the emperor). The movie does not disappoint you because the action begins from the movie starts to when it ends. I recommend this movie to everybody. Of all the summer movies this one will do fabulous because of the acting, the scenery and most especially the costumes. Kudos to the director (Ridley Scott) and to everybody who worked on this film to make it the way it was made.
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