Gladiator

Rating:
Summary: Extreme politics versus ethics
Review: An interesting film on the Roman empire, but in fact on any political system. A Roman general is victorious against Germania, and the emperor decides to give him his power, thus depriving his own son of the throne, in order for this general to reinstate the Senate into supreme power, hence to reinstate the Republic in Rome. The son of the emperor kills his father in due time to be crowned the new emperor, and then orders the death of the general, and his family. But the soldiers decide not to kill him. He is sold as a slave and he becomes a gladiator who will eventually trap the emperor (the son of course) into a one-on-one fight in the Coliseum. He wins and thus is able to seize power and to give it back to the Senate, just before dying. What happens next is pure speculation. The film is interesting because it mixes personal levels and political levels. Love is present due to the general's love for his family, his destroyed family, and for the old emperor's daughter. This love motivates him into obeying the late emperor and avenging his death as well as the deaths of his wife and son. It shows that a man has to resist any suicidiary trend or desire, no matter how low he falls, because with mental strength one can always come back and impose justice, no matter how hard he may suffer, but also no matter how hard it may be on his friends and relatives, because people in power are ready to kill anyone to retain their power. That is the Roman context. But have things really changed ? Maybe the killing, the destroying of political obstacles for the powerful is no longer essentially performed in blood but rather in social and economic terms. An interesting reflexion on politics and its « shortcomings » or « drawbacks ». Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

Rating:
Summary: The Best Has Come!
Review: This action packed thriling movie will have you at the edge of your sit. It's a movie for everyone it's not just all bloody action there's a little love in it and a great plot to it. Russel Crowe shows that he really is the best actor. And Russel Crowe isn't the only amazing actor in this Jauquin Phoenix has done a two thumbs up roll and his done the best I have ever seen him do! Gladiator really does prove that it's a four star movie!

Rating:
Summary: why galdiator was so fun to watch
Review: gladiator was such a great movie because it was very historicaly accurate and the person who thought of casting russell crowe should be given a medal. i personally know alot about the roman empire and the battle scene is very accurate and the whole set up of the roman senate and the want for complete senate controll.

Rating:
Summary: Wow - Joaquin is hot.
Review: When I watched this movie, I thought it was going to be a mindless action romp. I was proved wrong. Despite the graphic violence (I had to close my eyes on some parts), it was definitely an amazing movie. It was so beautifully filmed and acted. The characters seemed slightly odd to our standards. That just gave the feel that this really was more than one thousand years ago and almost a completely different world. Even though the fighting was gory, it was always well choreographed. Russel Crowe did a fabulous job as a brave and honorable fighter (he's awesome!), as did everyone. I definitely suggest this movie, despite the bloodiness (if that's a word). I know I haven't told much about the plot, but there really isn't a very complicated one.

P.S. As the emperor, Joaquin Phoenix is great. He's a pretty sick guy but still gorgeous.

Rating:
Summary: Maximus-DVD'us
Review: Russell Crowe's finest moment. This heartbreaking epic will take you through a range of emotions. From the glorious panoramas of Rome, the bloodiness of battle, and the heartwarming feelings of devotion a man has towards his family and country. Stand up and cheer for this Gladiator!

Rating:
Summary: Best Movie Ever!!!!
Review: Ppl!! this is the best movie ever!! U must see it! It is so interesting and there is a lot of action. You must see this amazing movie! Ciao!

Rating:
Summary: Gladiator Rocks
Review: Gladiator in my opinion, is the greatest movie of all time! Russel Crowe has his best performance ever as Maximus Decimus Meridius. Joaquin Phoenix also has a greatly evil performance as Commodus, a corrupt and vile Roman Emporer. Other performances are great (Oliver Reed as Proximo, Harris as Marcus Aurelius, and Connie Nielson as Lucilla) but greatest thing about Gladiator is it's action sequences. This Movie Rocks!!!!! Need I Say More!

Rating:
Summary: Has some promise but just boring!
Review: After I read the reviews I was expecting action and tons of it or a little gore. Now im not going to lie there are some great parts but very few. In my opinion this movie was just basically boring but if you like long droning conversations and drama where it shouldn't be then this is a must see!

Rating:
Summary: Not as much pomp and a lot more circumstance
Review: What do you do when everything that could be done in a gladiator movie has been done? You can never be another, "Ben-Hur" (1959) B000056BP4 (a movie made in its time, for its time, and an untouchable classic)

This gladiator movie is for today's audience and may someday become a classic. Instead of having a splashy image like John Wayne, Russell Crowe has to blend in with the movie and the story. He must be ruthless and compassionate almost at the same time.

Of course if you just concentrate on Russell Crowe, you will miss many other great actors, the least of which is Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus. You can see him again as Brother Cadfael in "A Morbid Taste for Bones" ASIN: 1569384266. Just place the ASIN number in the search engine.

Although there is quite a substantial amount of displayed hemoglobin, this is not the main purpose of the movie. And I guarantee that you will be glued to the set with out even realizing it.

Rating:
Summary: Overrated schlock
Review: Gladiator is an attractive looking film that almost collapses under the weight of its own self-importance. It is supposed to be the grand return to ... well, to what exactly? To epic sandal/toga films of yor like Spartacus? To William Wallace via the Roman Empire? It's hard to say, although you can almost hear the pitch meeting: "It'll be Braveheart, but with chariots and latin." Indeed, Gladiator can't quite shake comparisons to it's older, better, Scottish brother. In the post-Braveheart world of "thoughtful" action films, Gladiator seems stuck in a rut - not enough action to satisfy your blood lust and not enough drama to sustain the story, or your interest.

Ridley Scott has always been known for amazing visuals and underdeveloped everything else, and Gladiator is no exception. I recently saw an interview where Scott brushes off this criticism, noting that we go to SEE movies, his unspoken conclusion apparently being that matters of plot and character development are inconvenient, if not wholly unnecessary, if the pictures are pretty.

Well, they ARE pretty ... sort of. Treading ground now very familiar thanks to the likes of Braveheart and Saving Private Ryan, Scott makes you feel as if you are a part of every battle ... perhaps TOO much a part of the battle. Shots are often so close to the action and cut so quickly that you can't tell what's going on. Computer animation, although often easy to discern, help give you an idea of the outsized scale of the architecture of the time. Where Scott seriously missteps is in annoyingly sophmoric dream sequences cribbed from any number of nameless music video directors.

The plot is a gussied up revenge story with a convincing Russell Crowe as our Wronged Hero. He is very angry because his family and boss were murdered on the orders of the EEEEvil Commodus, ridiculously overacted by Joaquin Phoenix. Commodus is so comically cardboard-cutout evil that I waited for Phoenix to sprout horns and a pitchfork. Connie Nielsen plays Commodus' sister and does what she can with what little she has. The other characters needn't be mentioned, except to say the parts were thin and the actors who play them shouldn't be held accountable.

This movie could have been much lighter on its feet. With a half hour of drama trimmed off it could have been sold as a straight-ahead action film. Or it could have gone the opposite route, added an extra half hour of plot and character development, and become a truly epic drama worthy of all the misplaced accolades it has received in its current form. Unfortunately, it's neither. And it is a testament to how poor movies have become and how warped the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Science's evaluation process is that this film achieved Oscar status.