Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, lousy video
Review: Enough's been said about this movie that I don't need to repeat it. Loved the movie, but unfortunately this video is not worth the money. (Not that I think any video is worth $112, but that's another subject!) It's a shoddy video transfer-I guess the powers that be were focused exclusively on the DVD release. Thanks guys, really appreciate that. The colours are muddy and off. Check the scenes w/Marcus Aurelius watching the battle in the very beginning. In the theatre, his cloak was a glorious Imperial Purple, but here it was a dull blue-green. I watched this video on 2 seperate TV/VCR set-ups, so it wasn't the equipment. Unfortunate that while the DVD gets all the extra footage and behind the scenes stuff, those of us purchasing the video get stuck w/sub-par quality. It can't ruin the movie, but it makes the viewing less enjoyable and leaves the consumer feeling ripped off. .
Rating: 
Summary: Destined to be a classic
Review: I took my girlfriend to see this movie, and it is an experience I shall never forget. The days of the Roman Empire were brought to life in full color and sound, and for a short time I was allowed the priviledge of living in one of the most exciting times in world history. I bore witness to a man engaged in an age-old struggle between good and evil, and when all the odds were seemingly against him, he eventually emerged victorious. My girlfriend also enjoyed the movie immensely, and she reflects upon it from time to time. It is now one of our treasured topics of discussion, and to be able to share such precious intellectual time with a loved one is priceless. "Gladiator" is destined to become a cinema classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Kubrick & Wyler Can Continue Sleeping RIP
Review: Jim (husband) and I were expecting this to be as good or better than Kubrick's "Spartacus" or Wyler's "Ben-Hur" with all of the advance fanfare this film received. We also love director Ridley Scott's "Bladerunner" and expected that he was up to the task of taking on those two ground breaking films with his "Gladiator." Unfortunately, this is yet another film where everyone involved got so carried away with the special effects, blood, gore and mayhem, that the other elements of film making were given short shrift. Russell Crowe's talent, stunningly seen in "The Insider," comes across at only one level here, as a war machine. There is no real character development other than motivation given for his having nothing to lose by going all out as a Gladiator. Phoenix, however, does a nice dissipated villain and shows lots of promise for future roles. We were ready to give this DVD two stars and then watched the second disk on the DVD, the one with all of the special features. There was fascinating material on this disk about the "how to" of the movie and about the history of Rome and gladiators, which we really enjoyed. Hence the grade of three stars instead of two stars.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS MOVIE AND THE DVD.
Review: I seen Gladiator once at the theater I love it!This is the best movie ever!.Ridley Scott is the best directed,Russell Crowe is a outstanding actor,and Joaquin Phoenix another outstanding actor too.I am awe at this movie I love it,kind of remind me of another Braveheart movie. Now for the good review on DVD,you know I love DVD so much,because of the sharp bright picture and the 5.1 digital surround sound.OK,the Gladiator DVD "one word,AWESOME!" when you pop this disc on your DVD player,you well love the picture,is so bright and clear.Every scene I watch has no grain what so ever,Dreamworks did a fabulous job.This disc as two digital surround sound,DTS ES and DOLBY DIGITAL.I've listen to the DTS and I must say the DTS sound is the best,I can hear the arrow flying around my room and the battle scene was totally awesome is like I'm in the middle of the action.I love it!! the disc 2,you get a bonus material.This is a great DVD and those people who have a vcr and wanted to buy it,is not avalible on vhs at the store yet,buy a DVD player and Gladiator on DVD,you won't be disappointed.I've haven't.
Rating:
Summary: Suprisingly Beautiful...
Review: After such flawed epics as Braveheart and Titanic, I resigned myself to the fact that this film's main entertainment would be Russell Crowe looking intense for 3 hours. By the time the credits rolled I found myself wide eyed, halfway through the film I found myself transfixed by a formaula plot as though I had seen this formula for the first time. I walked away from the theatre with a sense of tragedy and satisfaction. Other than Saving Private Ryan, this is first "movie for the masses" I've really enjoyed. This story doesn't claim to be anything original.. It's a good old fashioned tale with modern technique. It's a faux-Shakespearean historical fantasy that's meant for fun and entertainment. I don't see why some people are judging it so harshly. If you don't like it, it just didn't appeal to you. Fine. It's a revenge play... Hamlet in the arena if you will... but what makes it work so well are the talented cast, music and beautiful costumes/sets. It plays on your emotions without being sappy, it doesn't have to have any really annoying overblown message to succede. It looks so good it dazzles your eyes, a familiar story yet you wait excitedly to see how it works out. It's just great fun, not tedious and arrogant like Spartacus and Ben Hur. Every scene is forward and to the point, none of this nonsense that makes other movies of this length just too long. Russell steals the show... but Nielson and Phoenix run him a close second. Lucilla is really a postive female role without being exaggerated. I really appreciated this.
Rating:
Summary: Like Rome must have been like!
Review: I'm a history teacher who has the pleasure of teaching about this time period. Though there are some fictional characters, etc., this film truely depicts what Rome looked liked and how it really felt to be there. The way that the gladiators trained and fought was really true to life. There was much more fighting with animals though, which was left out. I was hesitant to see this at the movies, because I thought it would be some cheezy depiction of over-glorified Roman life. Boy was I wrong. Though I can't show many clips to my 7th-grade class, the extra CD really gives good and accurate historical info for any history buff. SEE THE GRANDUER!
Rating:
Summary: Movie of the Year
Review: After a fairly disappointing summer, Gladiator has been released on DVD. After seeing the other summer "blockbusters", I was completly surprised by Gladiator. It combined a classic story (part vengance, part action) and incredible sets into an truely epic experience. In addition the acting is superb and the special effects seamless. The additions that the DVD include add to the value but the movie itself will remain timeless. Not since Ben Hurr has ancient Rome been depicated so perfectly.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie Ever
Review: This is simply the best movie ever. It captures the best parts of Braveheart and Saving Private Ryan and puts them together for an awesome movie. Gladiator had very good actors and really got me into the scene of the Roman Empire. There is also a great deal of drama, which usually bores me, but here it really enhanced the movie. After seeing the movie in the theater, and seeing it again (the second time was actually better) I have been looking forward to getting this movie every day. From the amazing opening battle to the heart-stopping end, Gladiator keeps you hooked the whole time and long after too.
Rating:
Summary: All I can say is .... WOW!
Review: I thought that this was one of the best, if not THE BEST, movies I have ever seen. My best friend had seen it before I had, and since it seemed that I never had time to go see it in the theatres, I decided to wait for the DVD. I was glad that I did. If I had seen it in the theatre, I would have missed all the extras. Thats one thing I do love about DVDs, are the "supplemental features". This one has them all. Russell Crowe was fantastic in this movie. Yes, L.A. Confidential made him known in Hollywood, but this is the movie that will make him a star. He shows a whole range of emotion, everything from remorse for not being able to save his wife and child, to wanting revenge on the evil emporer Commodus. He shows that he still loves Lucilla, and that he has the strength to overcome the obstacle of being a slave who was once the best General that Rome ever had. It was a bit gory, but not so much as Saving Private Ryan. I was surprised at how it helped shape the story. I did cry at the end, and I dont cry all that much at movies. This one really got to me, because I can only begin to imagine what this poor man went through. If you havent seen this movie, my suggestion to you is to call your local video store, and have them hold it for you. This will win many oscars come next year. I for one am glad to have seen it.
Rating:
Summary: Spartacus for a new age
Review: As a director Ridley Scott only excels when he has the strongest material to work from. The best of Scott's films whether it be the classic (but flawed) Blade Runner, The Duelist or Alien work when style matches content. The two combine to create a forceful work of art. Like Hitchcock (with whom Scott is often compared because of his painterly approach to film), Scott has continued to deliver a series of stunning films. Gladiator, inspite of the fact that many of its elements are warm overs from other films, works because at its core it deals with the complexities and the very human face of politics. The DVD transfer is simply stunning. The sound mix is among the best I've heard on a DVD (whether or not you listen to it in DTS or 5.1). Scott's comments are enlightening but even without them you can see why the scenes on disc two were cut. My only commplaint is with the way the DVD is sequenced. I would have preferred to see this without DTS (since it consumes so much disc space) and have the deleted scenes on the same disc. X-Men has the scenes set up so that they can be (with a slight pause) reintegrated into the film to give the viewer an idea of what the preview might have looked like. So, in essence, you get two versions of the film with the convience of the DVD format to choose. The extras are terrific (particularly the documentary stuff) although not essential. Highly recommended.
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