Rating: 
Summary: Simple story...Yet an exhilarating feel to it!
Review: The plot has been done. Man seeks revenge after a struggle of power leaves his family dead. Man becomes a gladiator to prove himself and to seek justice. Man kills villain yet man dies and is given a full hero's treatment. But this movie does it in a sweepingly enchanting way. You can picture yourself almost in the period that the film is placed in (there are enough historical inaccuracies to fill a booklet but it has the feel of the times more than the actual details). It at some point becomes entertainment that satisfies our hunger for pure bloody action(as the games did during Pax Romana), but it turns back to the tragedy of Maximus and focuses on his seeking of justice for his family and waiting to be reunited with them. It had a much overused story but shows it in a powerful, convincing way.
Rating: 
Summary: The historical epic is back
Review: "Gladiator" is the huge scale, cast of thousands movie that Hollywood used to make under directors like Cecil B. DeMill. Ridley Scott (the perfect choise to resurect his career) directed this wonderful throw back to big budget adventure with a huge heart. It tells of Imperial Roman era General Maximus (what a name, huh) played by Russell Crow. It starts in Gaul (pre-historic Britian) where Maximus is fighting the Celtic barbarians. The emporor's two children arrive, and in short order, the ambitious son, Comodus (another descriptive name), played pretty creepily by Jaquean Phinox, kills the father, assumes the title, and blames Maximus for the crime. Maximus is sold into slavery and becomes a gladiator. He is fueled by a drive to gain revenge for his wife and son's cruel murder. This has everything; love story, huge fight, inner conflict, and tackles a few issues like duty to state. I can not over state how great this movie is. This is destined to be a classic along side "Ben-Hur" or "The Ten Commandments".
Rating:
Summary: An Epic
Review: Gladiator is a film that shines from the first frame to the last, with it's amazing performances, breathtaking cinematography and outstanding direction.The film is about a Roman General, named Maximus (played wondefully by Russell Crowe) who is betrayed by a corrupt prince, who murdered his family; and comes to Rome as a Gladiator to seek revenge. Russell Crowe is brilliant in this film. He wraps himself in this character and makes it his own, which gives the viewers a sense of compassion towards this being and understands the pain and anger that he has. Joaquin Phoenix is great in being the villian of the film; this is a role that I haven't seen him in before and his acting capabilities just shine and proves that he's an actor that has many tricks up his sleeve. Director Ridley Scott, is fantastic in showing us the grand scale of The Roman Empire, with his glorious battle scenes and the magnificent scale of the Art Direction that is found with the Roman Statues and Architecture. Scott establishes that he's a director with incredible vision and oustanding declaration for what he wants to present. Everything in this film is presented on a grand scale, which makes it's Oscar win for Best Picture the more deserving, since, it's a film that shows the true meaning of human emotion and a cinematic experience that can only be expressed in one word: Epic
Rating: 
Summary: Hollywood vs. History
Review: When asked, the screenwriter of GLADIATOR says he was unaware of an ealier film, THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (1964), although both stories are book-ended the same. To the story-tellers of both films, it was apparently not important to reveal that Emperor Marcus Aurelius actually wanted his only surviving son, Commodus, to take the throne (thereby breaking the tradition of picking and adopting the best man to rule the Empire). Also, Commodus reuled 11 years (from 180 to 191ce), although GLAIDATOR gives the impression that it was closer to 5. Commodus' sister telles Maximus in the beginning that she has a son nearly 8 years old; later, her son meets Maximus in Rome, shortly before Commodus' death. In reality, this child should be a man of 19, although he is depicted as closer to 13. In the end, however, what bothers me most about GLADIATOR's script is that the tale is unfinished. It begins in a specific year (180), and gives extensive details of the northern campaign, plus the Emperor's imagined death. It then gives pages and pages of discussions on "what is Rome?" and how can the "idea that is Rome" be saved from the curelty of the Emperors? Will Rome remain an Empire or revert back to a Republic? A senator (Derek Jacobi) is introduced to show that the Senate is against Commodus. This Sentator is finally jailed for treason and then freed - but to what end? With Commodus dead, and Maximus dead, where is the rest of the story? What happens next? What happens to the senator, Commodus' sister or, especially, her son, the supposed heir to the throne? He's old enough to succeed (historically, that is). Does he take the throne or not? Who is the next Emperor? At least the 1964 film (with the most rediculous ending in Hollywood history) answers that question, with the throne being offered to the highest bidder among Rome's millionaires. The DVD presents the film in a lovely picture and sound transfer. Ridley Scott's film is beautifully mounted, and took enormous pains to present equisite details of ancient Roman life. The acting by Crowe and Reed is especially outstanding. But without a proper ending, in my opinion, the movie fails to satisfy a certain emotion need.
Rating:
Summary: GENERAL + SLAVE + GLADIATOR = HERO?
Review: A great Hollywood Production, it has action, entertainment and drama and comes with 2 discs, the first is the film, the second is behind the scenes , trailers, directors cut`s and a lot of extra goodies. The movie itself is worth buying and even if American films doesn`t entertain me annymore, this is one American film i can think of watching again. The story is quite good and the battle choreography is very nice.
Had more American films been like the Gladiator, I would watch them all. Good entertainment for the money, really, who doesn`t love swordfights? Great movie, but not excellent, thats why I gave it 4 Stars.
Rating:
Summary: amazing
Review: the action sequences int hsi movie are great and the story line is easy to follow and also very interesting this is an American classic
Rating:
Summary: its one of those movies
Review: this is one of those movies that when it ends you sit there and think about it and how amazingly good it was. most movies you leave the theater with your friends and forget the movie 5 minutes later because there are more important things there like girls and food. anybody who gave this movie under 4 stars was probably sidetracked when they saw it or was some history teacher that cant stand innaccurate movies. and theres always the people that are obsessed with chickens and whatnot who should be ignored anyways. this movie just seems like its on a different level than all the movies being pumped out today for cash.
Rating:
Summary: One good film (although it's historically inaccurate)
Review: This is a good film. Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Richard Harris, and Djimon Hounsou were superb in this movie. They are the basis of this movie. Some people say that this is a boring movie, but people who say that obviously are brain-dead and have no real taste in movies, and wouldn't know a good movie if they saw it. The only problem I have with this film is that it's historically inaccurate. But other than that, it deserved all the awards it received. And it won quite a few.
Rating: 
Summary: There was a complete lack of chicken representation
Review: I was completely appaled by the complete lack of chicken representation in this movie. I believe as a representative of the chicken minority that i have the right to speak out about this oppression against our fowl friends. I dream of the day where a chicken may rise above the barriers set in place by the producing tyrants and movie making industry. VIVA LA POLLO!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie
Review: Best movie period. Love, drama, Rome, Maximus, fighting. You will love the scene in the Coloseum when the emperor asks who the gladiator is. Great opening battle. Nice ending. Acting is good.
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