Rating: Summary: Hey, it's a GLADIATOR movie Review: Wish I'd seen it in the theater. Was farily bored watching it, even in DD. Cameron Crowe is good, but in the end it doesn't veer much from other Gladiator movies made long ago. Save your money and wait for Cast Away to come to DVD.
Rating: Summary: Disappointing ending Review: Although the film have a "Save Private Ryan" type of starting and run smoothly, its ending was disappointing. First, the film doesn't save the best duet for last. Second, spectators of the duet cheers everytime the gladiator wins his duet, but remain calm after his last duet. I personally prefer sigh after cheer for this scene.
Rating: Summary: Reason I got DVD Review: I got my DVD player just to get this film. A smart move I must say. I write this 4 days after the Oscar nominations. Great film, the box office hit Russell needed. Just did not like the story between the brother & sister characters. Could have done without that. Excellant extras!!
Rating: Summary: If I could I would give it -5 stars Review: This movie is absolute tripe -- total garbage. I absolutely cringed in embarassment listening to the eighth-grade level middle school acting of this film... to think that a person could spend three hours sitting at home and reading Marcus Aurelius or see this. There are so many pathetic things about this movie, that I will only focus on one. I was at one time an enormous Ridley Scott fan. I believed he was just the mac-daddy of film composition. No longer. When I watch his films now, but especially GLADIATOR, I remember Pauline Kael's quote about Paul Schrader's films from the early 80's looking like a collection of cheap album covers. I think similarly, watching Gladiator is like watching some half-witted art director indulge in his most sordid fantasies -- some of this film is so trashily designed it looks like a reject Stevie Nicks video. Totally anachronistic. As far as graphic design is concerned, a person need look no further than the opening credit sequence from Spartacus to see what a disaster Gladiator is. I think Spartacus is Kubrick's worst film (next to Eyes Wide Shut) but it absolutely snuffs this thing. The sad thing is that I actually liked 1492 when it came out-- sure it had a tin ear for dialogue-- but it also had some truly stunning photography, an amazing score, and vastly superior actors. I was also a lot younger then. Yet no one ever mentions this film. I know I am just jumping all over the place here but I am sooooo disappointed. Extremely depressing to watch.
Rating: Summary: A Stunning and Powerful Epic, but Not for the Highly Cynical Review: Don't be distracted by the nanny school of movie critics; this movie will take your breath away. Gladiator has it all (well, not quite--there's no sex): a truly powerful--and appealing--lead performance by Russell Crowe, stunning cinematography, the superbly paced direction that made Ridley Scott famous, and a moving soundtrack. Crowe's brute magnetism powers Maximus, a heroic figure that Crowe manages to make entirely believable. The supporting actors are strong as well, particularly Connie Nielson (although she does hit one slightly off note at the end of the movie). Folks, this movie is BIG; it's ambitious, and it succeeds. Gladiator isn't quite perfect: the special visual effects are a mixed bag, some fabulous, a few slightly hokey, and the performances from Oliver Reed and Joachin Phoenix, though generally impressive, are just a bit over the top. The necessities of keeping the movie a reasonable length (it ended up at about 2:20) meant the deletion of some scenes whose absence hurt the plot line. (You can see many of the deleted scenes on Disc II of the DVD set, and I think most of us would have elected to keep most of them in, even if it meant a 3 hour movie.) But the movie's strengths dwarf its few weakness, and the overall effect is undeniably powerful. Most movie critics are cynics, which predisposes them to dislike heroic epics. Gladiator is not cynical; Crowe's Maximus, like the real-life Maximus described by Marcus Aurelius in "The Meditations," is an example of strength, courage, and honor. Still, the propulsive force of Gladiator is so potent, it managed to win over a substantial body of critics. Note to parents: while I strongly recommend this movie to those mature enough for it (and it includes neither sex nor profanity, for those who care about such things), its violence will frighten young children.
Rating: Summary: Boring, boring, boring Review: The only thing this movie inspired in me was sleep. It was like watching a movie while being high on novacaine, a truly mind numbing experience. The whole experience was a terrific letdown after seeing the previews on television. I went to the theater thinking I was going to see an epic, and came home deadened and thanking God that there are other good movies to see. If all movies were this horrible, I'd never set foot in a theater again.
Rating: Summary: GLADIATOR Review: This movie is simply... PERFECT. Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix are oscar winners. This is rhe kind of movies you must see more than once. The more I see it the more I like it. The movie makes sense since the VERY BEGINNING till the end. The music is superbly heartfelt.This movie must be categorized as the best 21st Century Classic.
Rating: Summary: Best Picture 2000 and surefire Oscar contender! Review: I saw Gladiator the day it opened in theaters, and the second I came out of the theater I knew that it was the Best Picture of 2000, and it's certainly proved itself to be. Since that first viewing, I have seen it about 200 more times, and it only gets better with age. If you don't see it for the plot, direction, or Crowe's fantastic acting, see it for Joacquim Phoenix's brilliant breakout portrayal of the scheming Commodus. GLADIATOR IS THE BEST FILM OF 2000!
Rating: Summary: muy bien Review: I think some people get too hung up on the little details. I felt the overall feel of ancient Rome was conveyed well, and the "give me a break" type things people complain about don't effect the quality of the story. Making a period film probably isn't easy, and little slip ups (though i don't think they should even be called that) are hard to avoid. Gladiator isn't supposed to be a special on the Discovery channel. It's a MOVIE. Just enjoy the acting, stroryline, and try to appreciate the great sets instead of obsessing over stupid little things. Not to mention the musical score was well done, and the entire other DVD with the special features was a nice bonus.
Rating: Summary: Good from beginning to end. Review: Great acting, great direction from Ridley Scott (my favorite director) and very accurate battle scenes (Roman phalanx attacks, use of shields, armor and other equipment.) make this one a winner in my book.
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