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Summary: ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATS
Review: I tell you now, this film is going to be a BIG contender at this year's Academy Awards. The beauty of this film is its ability to move you. The acting, the scenery, the story.... It is rare that this kindof film come out of the hollywood woodwork. And with the advent of DVDs this is a keeper. This could also double as a reference disc for when you want to showoff your home system. The visuals and audio are tops! I SAY GET IT! Just because this is one of those film you will always want to see over and over again.
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Summary: GLADIATOR
Review: THIS MOVIE SHOULD AND WILL WIN THE BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR. AWESOME IS THE ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.
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Summary: This film sets a new standard for period films.
Review: This is, without a doubt, one of the most historically accurate films of all time. I noticed some of you didn't like this movie. The #1 complaint seems to be historical accuracy. Someone described the tiger scene as comical. Define "comical." Do you not think that they did stuff like that in the Colosseum? As a historian by degree, I think you'd be mentally and psychologically shocked by some of the atrocities that were done in the Colosseum! True, Commodus did NOT actually kill his father, but what some of you don't seem to realize is that the number 1 rule of filmmaking is to ENTERTAIN, not educate. This is especially true with period films (films that take place long ago). Although some characters were actual figures, "Gladiator" is NOT a true story. Here's a common-sense rule of life: don't get your history from cinema! For the rest who enjoyed this film, I don't think we should be surprised that "Gladiator" is nominated for 12 Oscars, including Best Picture.
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Summary: Great DVD ^^
Review: I thought the movie was excellent, and I probably couldn't add anything new to what others have already said about it. It is a well thought-out action movie (yes, it really is technically an action movie, as one would say Fugitive is an action movie) with great acting (particularly from Jaoquin Pheonix), add an honor theme, great scenes, and a thrilling plot, and you get a movie that feels like an epic and is a wee bit more than an "action movie." As I'd say, and lots of Hong Kong movies realize this, action shouldn't feel like action more than an extension of character, which I think works here. Movie sure seem to know how to make the Maximus character seem heroic. As for the DVD itself, I'd have to say this is a very excellently composed DVD. It has lots of great extras such as extra videos and interviews and storyboards. The audio and video quality is quite excellent. One of those rare DVDs where I felt I got more cool stuff than I paid for. ^^
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Summary: Can the your chic attitudes
Review: A lot of people have come down hard on Gladiator because its has been succesful, for that chic modish reason that if it succesful, it has to be pap. They then go over every scene with a knife looking for errors. The amusing thing is that they find many errors that are not errors at all. Firstly, the archers. Though it is correct that the legions did not use archers, the legions were only half the Roman army. The other half were the support units of archers and cavalry that backed up the heavy footmen of the legions. Roman cavalry swords were indeed used to slash, unlike the infantry swords. The romans did have saddles, but what they did not have were stirrups. The movies avoided shots of the horsemen's feet, so they would avoid that inaccuracy. Except for truncating Commodus reign and the idea that Aurelius wished to restore the Republic, this was a very accurate movie. To enjoy this movie you have to be uncynical and not automatically disbeleiving of anyone with noble motives. Then you can enjoy the first rate writing, wonderful costuming and sets, killer soundtrack, and well done action sequences. This is a supurbly crafted movie about a noble hero, no more and not a bit less. For an action movie, it also has a message that can be hard to get: You are not told at the end whether or not the Republic was restored. Historically, it was not, but that last scene is speaking to us in the present: saving something that is good is not done by large impersonal forces, but by a few good people willing to strive and sacrafice.
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Summary: The extras make it worth while!
Review: I purchased a DVD Player over the summer and I have been pleased with the movies that I have seen on DVD. I must admit, however, that my favorite part of the DVD experience is all of the extra material on special editions. When I watch a DVD that has no featurette, no outakes, no deleted scenes, no interviews, I think to myself "What's the point of putting the movie on DVD?" With that said, Gladiator is one of the best DVD's I have viewed. I purchased the DVD for the movie, not knowing what kind of extras were on it, and I was very pleased with the product. I am a music fan, so I enjoyed the focus on the music on the second disc. There are a couple of deleted scenes with the late Oliver Reed that are worth watching. There is so much on the DVD, that I have not yet been able to see all of the extras, which makes me anticipate the next time that I am able to watch it. It is given that the movie is good, (whether it deserves recieve the next "Best Picture" Oscar, can be debated), but rent or buy the DVD for it's extras as well.
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Summary: One for the home collection
Review: This is a good movie that does a great job with the special effects and creation of fighting in the roman colliseum. There are points when the movie drags, but if you bought a dvd player for the picture and sound (why elso would you?) You must have this on DVD.
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Summary: Another OK Movie of 2000
Review: I don't really understand why people like this movie so much, maybe its the fighting, maybe its the hype. But anyway for me the acting, cinomatography, and etc. was perfect depicting ancient Rome. The thing I have problem with is the screenplay. It just doens't flow right. The part of Ceaser's Death almost made me fall sleep not to mention I still don't get it. And after Ceaser died the story is only about a man fighting well as a gladiator-which is very predictable. The only thing that saved this movie from my boring list is its twist ending (not telling you what it is). But overall this movie is only ok because some scenes like the beginning and last scene are excellent but many of them in between are pointless.
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Summary: Tremendously Powerful Film
Review: Living in the overseas, I bought this DVD for all the hype that surrounded its theatrical release, and I was pleasantly astonished. The protagonist is your basic paladin-type filled with honor and truthfulness, which led to his problems. The villain is very well realized to a point that I wished that the protag. would destroy him in grand fashion. He is THAT despicable! Every character had his/her strength... I didn't care too much for the always-weeping sister to the antagonist, but that's just a minor problem. The fights were very enjoyable (pardon me for using the term "enjoyable" for people being slaughtered) and believable. The sound is magnificent on a 5.1 system.
Rating:
Summary: A great film
Review: When I first heard that Russel Crowe was playing a gladiator in his new movie,I was a bit disappointed because I didn't think it would be anything original,and that he only did it for the money it would bring.Obviously I was wrong.. Probably this movie will for a long time be compared with Braveheart,since both are epic movies about historical heroes,but I don't think it is fair to say that the Gladiator imitates Braveheart. It's the story of a Roman general,Maximus,who is very much appreciated and loved by both his soldiers and the emperor.The emperor's son though,doesn't share those feelings and when he learns that the emperor likes Maximus to replace him,instead of his son,he decides to get rid of both Maximus and his family.Maximus manages to escape,but can not save his son and wife from death.He is capured by the merchants and is sold to a gladitator trainer.From then on,it is :"the general who became a slave.the slave who became a gladiator.And the gladiator who defied an empire." Russel Crowe is amazing.He adds so much to the character he is playing,an ideal human figure,a Roman soldier who is all about honor.Joaquin Phoenix is also veru successfull in the role of the villain,so to speak.The music is also great,I highly recommend the soundtrack. There is no reason not to like this movie.Although the level of gore is a bit high,it is inevitable I guess for a movie about gladiators. The dvd extras were very good,and the picture and sound quality are among the best I have ever experienced. Don't hire it,buy it.How can you regret it ???
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