Gladiator

Rating:
Summary: Almost perfect.
Review: Okay, let's get the facts straight: GLADIATOR is a really good movie that had been very overhyped. The background of the film was specatcular, though I do think they went a little overboard with the setting, and the special effects/sound effects were amazing, too. After all, when my parents rented this video (they had turned up the volume, of course), I could hear the sound perfectly and clearly all the way upstairs in my closed bedroom! Talk about excellent sound effects.

The acting was pretty supurb, too. Especially Russell Crowe. And I think he deserved the Oscar for Best Actor. Well...it's actually kind of hard to tell (especially that "affair" he had with actress Meg Ryan!). The action is awesome, too. But some of the Oscars I don't believe this film should have won. Sometimes, I believe the only reason this film won all those Oscars was because it was so overhyped and it hit big in the box office. But flat out, good film and definitely one that shouldn't be missed. I really enjoyed it and it gives accurate historical events and the setting and costumes make you feel like you've actually traveled back in time during the Roman Empire.

Still, this film doesn't top my list of favorite films of 2000. Some of the other 2000 films that I enjoyed a lot more were ALMOST FAMOUS, BILLY ELLIOT, and CAST AWAY. It would probably be in my honorable mentions list. But GLADIATOR is definitely worth your money and you definitely have got to see this film!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best films of the year!
Review: This was one film that I really enjoyed from start to finish. The DVD looks and sounds Fantastic if you have a Dolby Digital or DTS system. I have watched this movie at least ten times already. I really like the story of revenge against the Emperor. The coliseum looks great! Russel Crowe does such a superb job that I was quite happy when he won the Oscar for Best Actor. I really thought Ridley Scott would finally win an Oscar for Best Director, but again he gets the shaft. My friends come over all the time and this is the only movie they want to watch over and over. Of course this is more of a guy movie. My wife and her friends like it, but didn't love it. The second DVD has some really great deleted scenes that I thought should have been included. It is definitely worth buying.

Rating:
Summary: No ideas left in Hollywood
Review: The fact that this incredibly stupid story of a Roman general turned into slave turned into gladiator turned into a hero has been recognize as the best film made last year shows that Academy Awards are a nonsense. You don't need ideas to make a good film anymore -- all you need are special effects, good actors like Russel Crowe, and money, lots and lots of money.

Rating:
Summary: Take some of the "history" cum granum salis.
Review: To my detrement I did not see this on the big screen where I think it must have looked spectacular! The gladiatorial combats are a treat. I think that this must be one of the best representations of what it must have felt like to be a gladiator at the Colloseum. It had a profound effect on me and I was thinking about it for ages afterwards. In the scene where the gladiators are waiting to enter the ring, you can really feel the fear of these poor souls. It is comparable to the first scene of "Saving Private Ryan" where you really get inside the fear of the soldierd aboard the landing craft. But, even though there is some gore, it is not as "in your face" as in "Ryan". I do have some complaints about it though. In one scene Maximus is in germany and in the next he is in Spain, having evaded capture and having ridden the same horse all that way! Also in the last fight scene, why should the general (I forget his name) suddenly tell his men to sheath their swords and let Comodus die, after all, he has betrayed Maximus throughout by not supporting him. it doesn't ring at all true. Also, I was sorry to see that Hollywoods original departure from history is stil the norm for gladiator films. The thumbs up/down thing to indicate whether you want a downed gladiator to live or die is actually THE OPPOSITE WAY ROUND! Thumbs down means SHEATH your sword. That is where the 4 stars comes in. It is interesting, though, that they used Derek Jakobi, star of the 70's multi part I Claudius. Maybe it was somewhat of a tribute to him. Also, most of the actors are English, which makes sense because, on the whole, English actors really ARE actors. Some great filming though, and Ridley Scott's obsession with darkness and varying shades of orange is ever apparant. Worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: Strength and Honour - Gladiator on DVD
Review: Gladiator, Academy Award Winner for 2000 Best Picture. The story of a General's fall and rise to Arena champion in his pursuit of vengeance is powered by Russel Crowe's great performance and Ridley Scott's impressive direction. This 2 Disc set does the film justice. Another impressive effort from Dreamworks.

The video transfer presented in anamorphic widescreen is extremely impressive. With vibrant colours to the bleak greys and blues of Rome this transfer never ceases to impress. The opening battle is also complemented by the earthy tones present in the transfer giving the film a gritty and realistic look.

The sound on the DVD is extremely impressive. The Dolby Digital track is very impressive. The clarity is there and it makes an impressive use of the surrounds. However the DTS-ES 6.1 Discrete soundtrack is amazing. I consider it reference quality. The sound is absolutely amazing. If you have a DTS capable amplifier don't even bother with the Dolby Digital Track.

The extras are not as plentiful as some other DVDs on the market yet they are of very good quality. The 3 documentaries are very interesting. There is an extensive deleted scenes section. As well as plenty of storyboards and trailers and TV Spots. The Spencer Treat Clark journal is actually quite interesting so give it a read. Lastly the commentary with Ridley Scott and the Cinematographer and Pietro Scalia is very interesting and entertaining.

A film that could be considered an epic has received a very worthy treatment on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: ...more powerful than the Emperor of Rome!
Review: Best Picture 2000... that should be enough. When I saw this movie in the theater, I was absolutely transfixed. I have never scene a more incredibly detailed, beautiful and exciting epic in my life. The moment the war began at the start of the film, I was glued to my seat. The visuals of Rome and the Colluseum were breathtaking. Russel Crowe...Best Actor 2000...he's the man. Joaquin Phoenix SHOULD have won Best Supporting Actor... I don't know what movie the judges were watching... Incredible cinematography, top notch acting and heart-stopping action wrapped into one beautiful package. This movie is one of the best you may ever see.

Rating:
Summary: This Movie Just Plain Out Kicked!
Review: WOW, this was a great one. The scenery was absoluty amazing. The Roman Collesium brought back to life! The fight scenes for all you action junkies were the best I've seen in a while! The plot was well made. Not enough can be said about this movie. One of the greatest of all time. It's your duty as a movie watcher to go out and see this one or pick it up on DVD! The DVD has great special interviews and a lot more good stuff. Hooray for Gladiator!

Rating:
Summary: A GLADIATOR OF A FILM
Review: Well. While I saw it last year, films such as Caesar and Cleopatra, Ben-Hur, Spartacus, Quo Vadis? and Cleopatra rolled in my head. But this was different. A real characterisation of a person who longed for a family reunion in Valhalla. And even better; the action/spectacular scenes never interfered with the story but served its purpose... It is a magical piece of work and a good swansong for Oliver Reed.

Rating:
Summary: An emotional trip. . .
Review: This movie struck an emotional chord with me that no other movie has before. Russell Crowe's magnetic performance anchors the spectacular action.

But this is not just an action flick. As a matter of fact, I hate action movies. I seriously despised Braveheart. I rented this movie expecting to hate it. By the time the ending credits rolled, I was shaking in my chair from the sheer emotional impact and the catharsis of it all.

Gladiator is an adrenaline rush from start to finish. It's simply wonderful. By the time I'd watched it three or four times, I started to notice how well-crafted everything is: the cinematography, the art direction, and most especially the musical score. But the first two times, it was a pure emotional experience. My #1 all-time favorite.

Rating:
Summary: RIGHTFULLY DESERVES ITS BEST PICTURE HONORS!
Review: This is without a doubt one of the greatest movies ever produced. Every scene of this movie provided the glue that kept you tight in your seat. Every aspect of the architectural lay out of Rome and the Coliseum were perfectly recreated. There is absolutely no flaws as every detail is perfectly depicted. This movie's script is the perfect story and as far as the acting goes, Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix were brilliant. Crowe, well deserved his Oscar and Phoenix should have won "Best Supporting Actor" in my opinion. By the closing scene of the movie I absolutely despised Phoenix, so his task as the evil emperor of Rome was succesfully completed. The DVD itself is full of special features as a second disc is included with the feature disc to better contain all of the extra footage. It is very interesting to take a glimpse at how Rome was recreated and how other things developed as well. In all you get an extremely great deal as Gladiator includes the amazing feature presentation followed up by special features on a second disc. This is a must for your DVD library, so I recommend that you purchase it in the nearest future.