Gladiator

Rating:
Summary: An engaging Epic
Review: Though I wouldn't put this movie in with the all time list of epics, I would say it is a very good contemporary effort and sure to be enjoyed by those who have liked such movies as Braveheart, RobRoy & Patriot. One of the strongest attributes to the movie, besides the character of Russell Crowe, is the cinematography. Ridley Scott is a master at creating a unique ambience. The DTS track is especially powerful for those with Home theater and makes the movie seem that much more dramatic. Ididn't find the second disk of extra material to be that engaging and wouldn't highlight it as a selling point.

Rating:
Summary: 1 star is generous
Review: Maybe it was all the hype this movie received but I can not remember a movie that was worse than this one. I had to turn it off half way through to take a break before returning to the tripe. I was hoping that somewhere along the line it would get better. The only saving grace of this movie was Joaquin Phoenix. Russel Crowe's couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag. Only epic movie I have seen where I actually was hoping someone would kill the "hero" and put me out of my misery. With all the money that was spent on the movie I would have thought the computer generation would have at least been good, but even that was poor - the scene with the tigers was comical. As for the historical inaccuracies, using archers or saddles is minor, but a complete distortion of historical fact takes creative license too far. Did Scott bother to read any Roman hisory at all? First Aurelius - what the hell was Richard Harris doing in this movie - was not killed by his son Commodus, Aurelius had made Commodus co-emperor several years before he died, Commodus had his sister Lucilla executed after a failed assination attempt, and Commodus was strangled while taking a bath after a failed poisoning attempt by his mistress. The most amusing thing about the film was that with all the British, Irish, and Australian accents I started to think that the British Empire started long before it actually did. Overall, a thoroughly terrible movie. How this movie can be nominated for Best Picture is beyond me. If you want to see a great movie of this type go rent Spartacus or Ben Hur.

Rating:
Summary: Fulfills the promise of what a DVD should be
Review: I think that when rating a DVD, one should consider everything offered in addition to the movie itself. This one delivers.

First, the film is reasonably compelling and is certainly well-acted. But I suspect most of us have seen the film. Thus, what exactly is offered in addition to that?

There is a grand making-of documentary that shows how the action and CGI are melded together, what influences went into the script and set design, how set and shots were conceived, and what the director was seeking to accomplish.

There is also an incredibly interesting (perhaps since I'm a former music major) documentary on the composer, how he goes about creating films scores and the Gladiator score in particular, how the concepts of the film influence what he wants his music to communicate and how he managed to recruit a couple of hard-to-locate musicians for the pieces.

There are tons of other extras as well: Deleted scenes with optional commentary, a hour long documentary (actually educational!) about the real Roman gladiators, production notes (a very interesting read--it all started with a painting!), etc.

Not only is this a fun (not great; very good but not great) movie, you'll get the satisfaction of truly getting a sense for the whole creative process behind the film.

Rating:
Summary: One of the worst movies ever made
Review: I am astounded by the rave reviews I read of this film. I am flabbergasted that it has been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. My only explanation is that people who like this movie have never seen one before - yes I mean have never seen any other moving picture or television. Cliche after cliche - horrible acting - every scene stolen from another film or 19th century painting - every storyline stolen from every salacious thing you ever read about Roman History. A travesty. I can not say enough bad things about this movie.

Rating:
Summary: A DVD well worth the purchase
Review: I received a DVD player for Christmas and the 2 Disc Gladiator DVD as well. This disc is what I envisioned when I finally determined it was time for a DVD player. Sure DVDs have better picture and sound and you can see the film more as it was intended and try to replicate the theater experience. As a movie buff, the reason I wanted a DVD player was for background information on the movies I loved. I think it is obvious that this is a great movie, with Oscar nominations galore, but what makes the DVD so special is all the extras. Along with commentary on the movie, film trailers, and film ads there are numerous little clips cut from the movie during editing, an hour long documentary on gladiators, pictures of the storyboard for the movie and so much more. You could truly enjoy & explore all the other features on these discs for a long time to come. You wouldn't have enough time for it all in just a rental.

Rating:
Summary: Visualy Attractive
Review: This was a good movie in many ways. I liked the story line, something new, the date. I like historical movies. The action was fast paced, and fun. The grapics. IE the tigers, was awesome. Though I watched this very very sick one day, I didn't fall asleep, so that was good. But the hype all built up on this movie was it's downfall. It didn't live up to the hype. The acting was spectaculiar. *I can't spell that but hey,* The emporer was my favorite,and the ending was a surprise. If anyone wanted to watch this movie, I'd say go ahead, but don't suspect all what was hyped up abou it. But it was still a good movie.

Rating:
Summary: Good until a typical ending
Review: I am a big fan of anything dreamworks does, and I thought that this was a good movie for the most part. this was the best movie that I have seen Crowe in, next to maybe Mystery, Alaska. I thought thta Joaquin Phoenix was an exceptional villian. The only thing that makes me give it 3 stars is two things, this movie was somewhat predictable, and the ending. This has been a ending that has been used in most of the big films in the past little while. Braveheart, Sabing Private Ryan, as well as the Crow have used the same, or similiar endings. I personally feel that it is a little old. Other than that it was a good movie.

Rating:
Summary: Will Win Best Picture
Review: The DVD sound and picture quality are out of this world. If you have seen the movie you will not be disappointed in this DVD.There is extras footage that was not seen in the movie and the Directors explaination for the cuts. I enjoyed the movie. A bit violent but it shouldn't stop you from getting the DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Gladiator Slays It's Critics
Review: As I'm writing this Gladiator's nominated for twelve Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and already critics are crying foul. This from a movie that upon it's May release opened to three and four star reviews across the board (or at least for the most part anyway). I assume the reasoning behind this is that a movie with such commerical appeal can't possibily be the best picture of the year. And while I favor Traffic to walk away with the top prize, Gladiator would be a more than worthy recipient.* It would be especially refreshing given the Miramax stranglehold that's pushed such mediocre films as The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love to Oscar status. I'm not saying this movie's not without it's faults, just that in the context of an epic of this size they're so miniscule that they seem almost nonexistent.

Russell Crowe, fresh off his career best performance in The Isider, stars as Maximus, a Roman general whose influence over his men threatens the ascension to the throne of emperor-in-waiting, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). So Commodus does the natural thing, in Roman times anyway, killing his father and sending Maximus out to pasture to be killed as well. But Maximus escapes death only to discover his family slain and himself confound to slavery. After his capture he's sold to an ex-gladiator in search of fresh meat to be wrung through the proverbial shredder. And upon their intial battle Maximus, known as "The Spaniard" to his fellow slaves, shows that he has some life. He and a handful of others scathe off death merely to find themselves fighting for their lives once again, this time in front of a blood thirsty crowd at the Roman Coliseum.

Motivating him is the opportunity to stand in front of the emperor and claim vengeance in his family's name. Standing in his way ia an ex-flame (Connie Nielsen) who also happens to be the emperor's sister. She persuades him to use his celebrity (as gladiator's were in those days) to attempt to root out the corruption in the Senate and turn the reins of power back over to the people in the form of a Republic. Grand aspirations for a general turned slave turned gladiator, but Crowe's magnetic, larger-than-life performance sells us on the plausibility.

It's true, this is a sword and scandal picture and it's violent themes are undeniable but to liken it to the World Wrestling Federation (as one particularly highly regarded critic did) is asinine. It's story is just as strong as it's action, which is at times so dizzying that it seems more graphic than it actually is. The characters are strong, independent and propel the plot. This is not a popcorn flick or a guilty pleasure that you should feel embarrassed for liking. It's a profound film with subtle, meaningful messages that can at times be overlooked because of all the eye-candy congesting the screen.

This is a recurring theme for Ridley Scott, whose film credits include Alien and Hannibal. But in Gladiator he's found his most mature material to date and, besides, it's kind of hard to hold that against him when you see the grandeur of the world in which he's created, and in which we inhabit for it's two and a half hour running time.

Still, despite it's length, it breezes by faster than many of the ninety minute dogs we've been subjected to over the summer of 2000. Now admittedly it was a bad year for movies, but that's not to suggest Gladiator wins by default. It's a superlative achievement and I'm sure it would have been recognized as such in any year, no matter how competitive.

I can only hope that this is a start of a promising trend in Hollywood, a substance-based summer blockbuster that can connect with it's audience without having to skimp on the plot.

* since recanted, see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Rating:
Summary: Can you say BEST?
Review: This has to be one of the best movies ever created. The acting is out of this world. The scenery is outstanding! I can watch this movie on repeat.