Rating: 
Summary: Truly epic driven by Ridley Scott's ingenious.
Review: An powerful empire,a new ruler,and a man worthy enough to change a dynasty,a slave who would become a gladiator, a man who become legendary to his people.Ridley Scott's epic so beautiful so intense , so gripping , and so dramatic that it can only be called truly epic.Academy Award nominee Russel Crow gives this Roman epic life in his role as Maximus the brave slave general who is betrayed by his empire for not complying with the wish of his new ruler Commodus (Joquin Pheonix) who has forced him self as the new ruler of Rome by killing the previous Ceaser for not giving Commodus rule over Rome.Commodus is a pitiful ruler that is calculating , benevolent , pathetic , hateful when Maximus refuses to take Commodus's hand in rule he finds that he pays the price when he looses everything dear to him and is forced into slavery to become a Gladiator , when he becomes a great Gladiator he is given the honor to fight in the colloseium when he becomes a hero amongst the people he is forced to give his identity as Maximus the general gaining the support from his men , he devises a plan to escape and join his soldiers to build an army to overthrow Commodus from power when Commodus finds out the plan of Maximus he gives the people of Rome a chance to see the great fall of the great Maximus by challenging him in one on one combat to the death , Maximus see's this as a chance to bring Rome out of chaos and give it the order and freedom it deserves for it's people in doing so he will risk his life to be the greatist hero Rome has ever known. Russel Crowe is an even more fitting potrayal of a Gladiator then even Kirk Douglas he gives his charachter more depth and a human side , it's evident that Crowe is one the best newcomers hollywood has ever seen he is very versitle in films and Gladiator only shows that to an even greater extent.Joqiun Pheonix is a great match for Crowe giving Commodus depth and making us feel pity the he is the way he is and his hatered for Maximus and his uprising. Ridley Scott has an imaginative veiw to detail as some of the set's are detailed to what Rome would have looked like in this time the costumes accurate and the cinimatography is astounding.This may be an action movie but this movie is worthy of it's predeccesors Sparticus , Ben Hur , Cleopatra they don't even near as get close to the vison of Rome the empire then in this movie.So people invest in a DVD player cause this one is well worth the money a truly epic film.
Rating:
Summary: Battle On, Maximus
Review: Directed by Ridley Scott (Alien), Gladiator is a powerful action-packed epic movie that ranks as one of the best movies of 2000. After years of loyal service to Rome, heroic Roman general Maximus (Russell Crowe) is awarded to become the next emperor of Rome but the emperor's jealous son (Joaquin Phoenix) betrays Maximus and sentences him to death. After escaping his execution, Maximus returns home and finds his family brutally murdered. Alone and broken, Maximus is enslaved and forced to the life of an arena gladiator. With his courage and skill, Maximus earns the admiration of the Roman public and rivals the authority of the new emperor. Gladiator is simply spectacular. Russell Crowe delivers a powerful performance as a larger-than-life hero. The story is breathtaking and the action sequence are excellent. The opening battle sequence is visually amazing and very intense. Gladiator DVD is definately a must-have DVD. The picture quality is sharp and crystal clear. The sound is dazzling and far superior than in the theaters. This DVD has so many special features (audio commentary, behind-the-scene footage, deleted scenes & theatrical trailers) that they had to make it a two-disc DVD. Overrall, I give Gladiator DVD an "A". One of the best DVDs ever.
Rating: 
Summary: Crowe and Scott save this barely above average flick
Review: The main problem with Gladiator is its limited script. It cannot really grasp anything, nor provide much of an intellectual dialogue. However, Scott who of course made Blade Runner, Alien, and Thelma and Louise crafts a film out of a skeleton of a film. Crowe is completely furfilling in a worthy succesor role to his oscar nominated performance.
Rating:
Summary: Strength and Honor
Review: This is a remake of the embarassing 1992 Gladiator, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. Ridley Scott deserves his own series of games to honor him for making us forget that previous dreadful embarassment. Russel Crowe (in the Gooding Jr role) is terrific as General Maximus. His fine acting chops are supplemented well by his James T. Kirk-like build. Connie Nielsen, Richard Harris, and Ollie Reed are more than entertaining, and the special effects are nicely done. The supplemental material on the DVD (with a nice behind the scenes documentary, and cutting room footage) is worth the price. The best thing about the DVD? You can fast forward past all those painful to watch Joaquin Phoenix scenes. Whew!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie of 2000, Period
Review: I didn't know what to expect when I went to see Gladiator in the theater. Spartacus? Braveheart invades Rome? No story and lots of blood? Well, I was right about the blood and wrong about everything else. Ridley Scott's epic vision of a wronged and enslaved Roman general, of political corruption, of revenge and honor is a prime example of what a good movie ought to be. Russel Crowe (L.A. Confidential, The Insider) plays Maximus, the Roman Empire's greatest general, who is betrayed by the dead emperor's son (played by the film's only flaw, Joaqin Phoenix) is first enslaved, then by becoming a gladiator he gradually works his way back to Rome to find his family murdered, which only throws salt on his wounds. The story of injustice righted is highlighted by spectacular action sequences that are extremely violent and realistic (which is what initially kept bringing people back to see the film in theaters) but the story is involving (thanks to Russel Crowe's brilliant performance) enough to warrant repeated viewings. All in all Gladiator is the best movie of 2000, period. Nothing released this year will match the beauty and grand scale of this film. So if you like good movies make sure you get your copy of this wonderful film. Expect plenty of Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations (and wins) for this film, for direction, acting, cinematography, and special effects no other film has delivered the goods in such a spectacular package this year.
Rating:
Summary: What the X-Men DVD should be.
Review: Gladtior is one of the best DVD's of the year. The amazing transfer is one of the best on the market. The sound quailty and picture make you feel as if you're in the theater again. The first disc is the feature and the detailed commentary by Ridley Scott. While the second disc is tv spots, trailers , documentary's and my personla favorite delted scenes. The dvd has over thirty mintues of delted scenes. This DVD's gives good character devloepment unlike the X-Men dvd. The seven minute montage is also a wonder. I would put this DVD on your Christmas wish list followed by The Patriot, U-571, Pitch Black , The Perfect Storm , Titan A.E. and then X-Men.
Rating:
Summary: Yummy
Review: Probably the best thing about this film is that it turn you on yourself. Once you get into the movie and the fight scenes and start rooting for Maximus you realize that we haven't evolved all that much since Roman times. Yeah we don't get to chop each other up in public but we're still all turned on by the same things. And the politics of the Roman empire have an erie resemblance to the politics of the US. With WWF/WCW and professional sports so popular these days you can see how we're not far off. So on one hand the film is entertaining. On the other hand by buying this film you're endorsing the downfall of Rome, which in some twisted way will be a similar to our own fate. History is yummy like that, it has a tendency to repeat itself.
Rating:
Summary: "My name is Gladiator......" A must see film
Review: I'll be honest, at the cinemas I avoided watching this film when it was first released because I am not into historic epical films. But soon my friends talked me into watching the film. This film I would recommend to anyone, if like me you watch a lot of movies or even just casual movie goer you'd be stupid to miss this film. Russel Crowe in one of his best performances. I bet Mel Gibson and Arnold Shwarzeneger feel stupid for turning down the part of Russel Crowe (I heard they were offered the part). I was surprised at the less talk and more action in this film, a lot of edge of seat fights and great performances all round. It is my best film of the year 2000. The dvd will be a treat with 2 disc edition, which every dvd collector should have in their collection.
Rating:
Summary: An epic like no other
Review: I worked for the most well-known entertainment company in the world, so I'm very familiar with the "formula" used in epics such as "Gladiator." Yet even with the knowledge of how it would follow the peaks and valleys of a pre-determined storyline, it was still an amazing movie. I watched it 3 times in the first week of its release (in the theaters) and I bought several copies of the DVD for family and friends. Watch this movie uninterrupted, without distraction, and on the biggest screen you can access. Among the best movies of all time...
Rating:
Summary: Maximus, Maximus, Maximus....
Review: Simply phenomenal. I saw it 5 times in the theater (huge screen, great surround sound). Russell Crowe grabs you by the throat in the opening scene, and doesn't let go until Lucilla has him carried out of the coliseum. Phoenix is fabulous, Nielsen is beautiful, and a fine actress. I can't wait for the video.
|
