Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding Feature with Everything (love, hate, action)
Review: Where to start? This one comes out of the gate swinging. If you thought the archers' scene in "Robin Hood Prince of Theives" was a good one, you'll love how this movie opens up although it's a couple of shades darker. From there it gets interesting on a drama level, although the action only subsides for a few minutes.The heart of this movie is the jouney of a man named Maximus - a Roman General betrayed by a young (and quite mad) emperor and captured as a slave after being wounded. As a slave he is forced to fight for his survival in the games. As he did in his previous life, Maximus becomes a leader. As a leader, but still a slave, Maximus now threatens the emperor who as time wears on threatens to destroy Rome from the inside with is growing madness. The acting performances are absolutely superb, as is the story. I had never seen Joaquin Phoenix before in anything, but his asking price should have doubled or better after this film. Although Russell Crowe's performance is also exemplory, it was Joaquin playing the part of a man on the edge that had me glued to the screen, but I'm partial to really bad guys when they're played well and the screenwriters did an excellent job of making Commodus a man to be feared by interplaying what you see coming with what you don't. Richard Harris' brief role is also a memorable performance. The cinematagraphy is splendid as is Hans Zimmer's musical score. The movie is long, but worth sitting through. An important point here is that this movie involves a lot of blood, death, and strictly adult themes. Don't let young children near this one. The DVD extras are plentiful, including a commentary. It's a two-disc set with deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes looks, and trailers as well as others.
Rating:
Summary: best film i've ever seen.
Review: How do people diss this movie? honestly, this is the best movie of all time for me. russel crowe is simply outstanding in this. The plot is clever, and Ridley Scott pulled it of astoundingly. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat almost the entire film. Please, buy this.
Rating: 
Summary: History in the Making
Review: This story is set in ancient Rome around 180 A.D. Marcus Aurelius is the aging emperor and Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a great general who has won many battles. Marcus (Richard Harris) loves him like a son and more than his own son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Marcus intends to make Maximus emperor to be but Commodus kills Marcus before this be known. He works to destroy Maximus, but Maximus escapes and rides swiftly to his home where he finds his wife and son murdered. Overcome with grief and exhaustion, he lies unconcious on the ground and is later taken by slave traders and sold to a former gladiator (Oliver Reed) and must fight in the arena as a gladiator if he wants to live. He lives only for revenge, to one day kill Commodus. Maximus and his pack of gladiators become well known and come to Rome to fight in the Coliseum. They defy incredible odds and utterly destroy a horde of gladiators in chariots. Maximus becomes the crowd's favorite. They chant his name in the arena. The scenes in the arena with the gladiators are quite grisly but are some of the best scenes in the movie. Marcus's daughter loves Maximus and plots to destroy Commodus. Commodus is an evil man with evil deeds to his credit. He lusts after his sister and has spies to keep him well informed. Maximus gets his chance at revenge, Commodus doesn't want to make him a martyr.
Rating:
Summary: In The Eye of The Beholder
Review: As both a LOVER of this movie (It's probably my favorite ever) and a degreed historian, I can say Hollywood, though far from perfect, got some things right in this movie. Particularly the Emperor's interest in gladiators. A fact rather easily verified. The Emperor Commodus was obsessed with gladiators. Had a private arena in his palace. Regularly appeared in public as a gladiator. And took part in public fights with other gladiators, albeit they were essentially unarmed whereas he was not. Arrogance is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.
Rating:
Summary: Gratuitous violence and unnecessary shots
Review: Russell Crowe in another role - he is boffed up, but still brings the same doggedness and humanity to this roles. It is good to see him in a role where his character is competent. Gladiator is the story of one General Maximus, whom the Caesar wants to appoint instead of his own son. As the son, Commodus, kills his father, Maximus is threatened by death as he refuses to follow him. He is captured and becomes a gladiator, with only one purpose - revenge. If anything, Gladiator is a clever fable against democracy and the masses, who are represented by the throngs of Rome who seek "bread and games". They can be made to cheer for the death of thousands and thousands - like people today cheer at movies depicting the War on Drugs, and foreign wars. They can be pacified by bread and games, while corrupt individuals manipulate the power around them to gain material riches, and the Republic (the rule of law, the US Constitution) is crumbling. Unfortunately it is also a story about gladiators, and therefore about plentiful gratuitous violence. I'm afraid I can't stomach that, but if you can, then you must see Gladiator (that is, if you missed it the first time). It is yet another movie that teaches basic lessons of life that are yet to be learned by most people, because we now value blissfull ignorance more than being civilized.
Rating:
Summary: One of My Top 10 Favorite Movies Ever!
Review: Gladiator is Ridley Scott's very successful attempt at portraying the life of of a gladiator. It is definitely one of my top ten favorite films, because of its excellent character development, excellent storyline, and excellent portrayal of the time period and of the life gladiators lived. Gladiator is the story of a Roman general who, in the beginning of the film, is leading his army of soldiers against a stronghold. It is the last stronghold they must take over before they achieve total victory in the war. Maximus (Russell Crowe) who is the Roman general survives the battle, leading his forces to victory. The emperor, Marcus Aurelius, who presides over the battle commends Maximus for his abilities as a general. A little later on he chooses Maximus to succeed him as emperor instead of his son (Joaquin Phoenix). When he learns that his father has chosen Maximus instead of him to succeed as emperor, he kills his father, then tells the people he died of natural causes. When Maximus refuses to acknowledge him as emperor, he orders Maximus to be killed. Maximus narrowly escapes from the executioners with his life and makes his way to his homeland, where he finds that his wife and small son have been murdered by the new emperor's agents. He is then captured by citizens of Zucchabar and taken to Zucchabar to be sold as a slave he, along with several other slaves, is purchased and forced to live the life of an arena gladiator. The rest of the movie portrays Maximus the gladiator struggling to stay alive as he battles professional fighters, barbarian hordes, and tigers, determined to win his freedom. The film's climax comes when Maximus battles against the emperor himself . . . Gladiator is a film which should not be missed by anyone. The excellent character development, plot construction, and choreography makes it one of the best films ever made (in my opinion). 5 stars
Rating:
Summary: Epic moviemaking and lush visuals
Review: Ridley Scott did a great job casting Russell Crowe in this lushly scored and shot epic about a Roman General who is spurned by his childhood friend and captured as a slave. The character is wonderfuly developed and a great pleasure to watch. As far as family friendly this would be best enjoyed by families with older children. Some of the scenes would be far to violent for little eyes.
Rating: 
Summary: Fake Just like Hollywood
Review: Historical hokum is what this movie is all about. Crowe's character was made up along with the whole story. Any man or woman that knows anything about Roman history should be offended by this movie. I guess the producers and directors thought by showing you good costumes and battle scenes assumed they could trick you into not thinking for yourself. The sad part is they probably were successfull with a minute exception of viewers.The movies finale speaks for the entire film. A roman emperor doing battle with the gladiator in the colliseum. The absurdity of portraying something like this shows Hollywood's true arrogance. The real shame is that the same type of movie could have been just as or even more entertaining based on historical reality.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite as good as Braveheart
Review: Russel Crowe may be more manly than mel gibson, but this epic movie just didn't tickly my fancy as much as other comparable movies.
Rating: 
Summary: See ya later, Gladiator
Review: Boring, typical, overrated, uninspired Hollywood tripe. Spectacular action sequences, decent cinematography and brilliant performance (by none other than Phoenix) marred by EXTREME lack of substance, and a truly hokey and predictable script. Scott's frantic direction can't save this utter waste of film. Not for a second. As far as I'm concerned, this movie just caters to the random and puerile 15 year old. Did anyone care about Maximus? I sure didn't. Robbie the Robot has more life and emotion than this guy! Crowe's performance is dull and destitute, and quite frankly, makes the whole project destitute with his dull and empty presence. He's like paper-mache up there. Yeah, I know Maximus' world takes a tragic turn for the worst, but COME ON! He's a paper-cut-out for the entire movie! Very annoying. What's worse is he actually got an Oscar for it. Yikes! Who knew wooden acting was awarded so shamelessly? Yeah, I liked the hyper, ultra-violent action scenes. The movie had the potential to be a great action film. Thus the reason it gets 2 stars. Well, not the only reason... this abysmal failure of a movie has somewhat of another saving grace. Yep, Joaquin Phoenix's abrasive performance as the villain, Commodus. He's too good for this tedious mess. It's just too bad his brilliance can't correct the errors that litter the rest of this tedious insult. In the end, Gladiator is completely void of any intelligence, originality, and soul. People bawled at the end. I didn't. How could I? I didn't feel for Maximus. He was a dry, sour and ridiculous character. He's extremely hollow. So is the script! I can't understand why so many people commend this...So many awards for such a weak little meaningless, forgettable movie. So, in summation, this inferior pile of wretchedness is literally clubbed to death with more cliches than you can shake a stick at. And to tell you the truth, I laughed at the end. It's THAT [weak]. A movie that struggles for 2 hours to build up this intense level of emotion and drama, and failing so miserably. Makes me chuckle. Recycled piece of boring regurgitated Hollywood junk.
| 
