Gladiator

Rating:
Summary: okay
Review: this is a three star movie with a five star dvd. one of the biggest problems with the movie was the first battle. i was expecting braveheart quality but ended with a battle less entertaining than the one in dragonheart. the blurry camera and closeups made it impossible to tell what was happening. if you want to see a movie like this but better, see the last samurai or braveheart.

Rating:
Summary: Spectacular Roman Saga
Review: To begin with GLADIATOR directed by Ridley Scott adds yet another epic great to an already imressive rusume of hit movies from "THELMA & LOUISE", ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, LEGEND, 1492 etc ... and so too with Gladiator does Scott & Co. involved triumphantly deliver the moviegoer the good's transporting us successfully to the first grand (sand,sandal & toga) tale for over some thirty years. Forced into slavery by the corrupt and incestous heir to the throne, Roman General Maximus (Crowe)becomes a gladiator. His prowess in the arena will eventually lead him to Rome, the Colosseum and a vengeful showdown with the new emperor (Phoenix). A captivating cinema going experience with first-rate acting performances by all cast, superbly suited each to their respective parts Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielson, Derek Jacobi, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris & of course Russell Crowe the star of the show brings total believability to his title role. A slick big-budget hollywood extravaganza at it's very best filled in with glorius cinematography and effects work, stirring musical score and effective screenplay populated with acting pool talent ensemble and in my opinion Ridley Scott's latest and best directorial effort to date. GLADIATOR is epic movie story-telling brought thrillingly into the 21st century by a film-master. Plays well on video but doesn't compare to seeing it on the big-screen. A MUST SEE !

Rating:
Summary: ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!
Review: Russell Crowe was made for this movie! All I
have to say is that, this movie was very well
made. The acting all around is very good, and
if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor,
WATCH IT! YOU'LL LOVE IT! The dvd has very good
sound quality too, if you have a good home theatre
system, you'll rock the house with this disc! (DTS)

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful
Review: First off, I just have to say that this is a fabulous movie in every possible way: the screenplay, the acting, the action, and even the soundtrack are all top notch. It really doesn't get much better than this! I also want to respond to the review titled "pure hollywood" by king wolf, where the reviewer criticizes the scene where Maximus and Commodus battle in the Colosseum. This scene actually has historical significance! Commodus, whose character is fairly strictly based on the Roman emperor of the same name, did battle gladiators in the Colosseum as a way of showing off for the people of Rome. Although he wasn't killed this way, he was assassinated by an athlete! So, king wolf, if you were slack-jawed during that scene, it was for the wrong reason.

Rating:
Summary: pure hollywood
Review: The script for this thing is so bad it is almost beyond words. Pure Hollywood -- first, a transparent attempt to appeal to every demographic via tokenism; with utter contempt for history or common sense, the lead character's best pal is an African. And everybody in the flick has a British accent.
But get this: at the climax of the film, a Roman emperor goes down into the floor of the stadium and engages in single combat with the Crowe character to decide the destiny of Rome. I sat slack-jawed at this scene, in absolute awe at the level of tasteless stupidity of the writer, the director, the actors, the producers, the reviewers and any member of any audience anywhere who could take this seriously.
But not only did this atrocity against art get made, it won lots of awards. That tells you all you need to know about the movie industry: greedy fools pump cash out of complete morons. Go read a book instead, if your I.Q. is larger than your shoe size.

Rating:
Summary: Ridley Scott selfishly deleted his girlfriend's scenes
Review: You see less of Gianina Facio in this DVD than in theatre. Railly Scott selfishly deleted his girlfriend's scenes. The horribly murdered wife and son were an ever-lasting wound in the Roman general's mind. Now Facio's scenes were cut, you can hardly see the drives in Maximus' revenge.


Rating:
Summary: Best Film! What more to say!
Review: You should have seen this one on the big screen, but if you missed out get the DVD anyway. It's a very impressive film. The story is amazing, the action is awesome and the scenes are riveting.

I won't go into the story here, as its been done by other reviewers.
It is my favorite film of all time. Pure entertainment, with something for everybody. Although some people might find it a bit gory at places.

Despite what other reviewers think, I believe it is a film that older children will enjoy. Yes there is plenty of violence and hatred but at the core of the story is an honest man, Marcus Aurelies who believes in justice. Yes he wants revenge for the murder of his wife and child, but he also wants to help fulfill a dying man's wishes by delivering the Roman Empire into the hands of the senate. His hatred of Commodus is with good reason and he knows that Commodus will not make a good Caesar of the Roman Empire.

Finally I have two more points to make before I finish. The acting of both Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix was magnificent and indeed Russell Crowe well deserved his oscar. The cinematography is excellent, bringing you right back to the Roman Empire. At times you feel as if you are in the coliseum yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Makes you believe
Review: Is this simply a story of revenge? Is it just sword fighting and killing?
I've seen this film many times and it's never the action or the gore that moves me; it is always the story. It is always the emotional component that shines through.

A close friend of mine is an atheist. He doesn't believe in God, Heaven, Hell, or an afterlife. Nothing. He confided in me that the ending of this film always makes him weep. Knowing what I know about his beliefs, I asked him why. He twisted and turned and tried to get out of answering the question, but I kept after him. Eventually I let it go, but I never stopped thinking about it.

In my opinion, what my friend never wanted to admit to is this: In the end, this movie made him believe.
James Green, author of "If There's One Thing I've Learned."

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This is without a doubt one of Scott's best films. Crowe is a born star, and the cinematography is outstanding. The only historical film I enjoyed more than this is Braveheart.

Rating:
Summary: The Funniest Comedy I've seen in Years!!!!
Review: A delightful, care free romp through olden times. I laughed out loud several times. Definetly one for the whole family. A must see comedy! F