Rating: 
Summary: Best Film of the Year
Review: I was lucky enough to read the script for this before the film was even shot and I was excited about it before it even came out. I was simply amazed at how beautiful this film came out. The photography was breath-taking and Russell Crowe was perfectly cast. This is no-doubt the film he'll be remembered for as this one did for him what Titanic did for Leonardo DiCaprio. The real star of Gladiator however was Joaquin Phoenix. He was one of those villains that makes you almost want to root for the bad guy. This film was a breath of fresh air. See it as soon as you can unless you can't stomach violence. Hollywood proved it still can combine entertainment with art if it really wants to bad enough.
Rating:
Summary: "Are You Not Entertained?"
Review: Gladiator has to be one of the best movies in a long time. The acting was fantastic. I particularly enjoyed New Zealander Russell Crowe in the role of Maximus, Connie Nielson as Lucilla, and Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus. The story was fast paced, gripping and moving, and the portrayal of the Roman Empire and its people was magnificent. The gladiatorial scenes were stunningly realistic, although extremely gory and shocking.
This movie fully deserved the Oscars it won. Anyone 13 and over will most definately be entertained.
Rating: 
Summary: I couldn't get into this one
Review: This movie didn't do anything for me. I thought the acting was 'wooden' and the plot simplistic. I do enjoy action movies, but this one didn't fit into that category imho. I did like a few of the fight scenes, but they weren't enought to win me over.
Rating:
Summary: A film for movie-lovers
Review: Since it won the Oscar it has become fashionable for the pretentious to knock this film.
These are the usual reasons:
A) It was the choice of the people as Best Picture in numerous polls...not least the really important one...at the tills. Oh but if the plebs like it ergo it must be dismissed as a 'popcorn movie'. To be really good a film must be depressing and cynical, preferably sub-titled, and have no discernable plot.
B) It was a historical story that didn't stick slavishly to the actual events but tried instead to project the spirit of the times. (Like Macbeth and Hamlet funnily enough. I wonder if these critics level that same criticism at Will Shapkespeare..No? How inconsistent.)
C) Its fun to show how clever you are by trying to pick holes in the historical details of costume and custom. After all it shows you are cleverer than all the experts who worked on the film!!
Like Ridley said...we don't have much to go on but hearsay and propaganda. The BBC did a documentary recently when they took two history profs from Oxford Uni to watch Gladiator. They expected (hoped!) that it would prove the point that Hollywood mangles history. Actually they liked it...said it was good at its details and captured the essence of the times. Besides..here is the News...Its a Movie!
D) The Script. Well, it has that old-fashioned thing called a hero. And grand words and speeches. (What Epic doesn't!) Well, hell I've seen the President and Prime Minister come out with some grand speeches over the last few months. The times demanded it. What was Maximus supposed to do to rally his troops? Talk about the price of beer? Or indulge in some freudian nonsense about 'feelings'.
E) The acting. Well they didn't have nervous breakdowns did they? or rant and rave on a desert Island? Or talk you through the recesses of their inner souls? In fact the actors, notably Crowe, used the power of expression to convey more than words..and did it with subtlety.
Subtlety? In a Popcorn flick? Nah...must be that they just can't act.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: This is right up there with the best of them as far as action and thrill is concerned plus a good story. This is on par with Braveheart. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Quite Sub-Par
Review: I cannot seem to get over the fact that Russel Crowe won an Oscar for this! He swung a sword around for 2 hours, come on! If you want to see the Best Actor of 2000, i'll refer you to Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls). Crowe's character reached no emotional level whatsoever. We saw his wife & kid through 40 seconds of silent flashbacks, tell me why we should sympathize with his grieving?? Well photographed, well choreographed, but the rest--Craptacular.
Rating:
Summary: L A M E ! ! !
Review: I can't decide if this is more of a rip-off of SPARTACUS or BRAVEHEART. With all the hoopla made over this film I was VERY DISAPPOINTED. The acting is one dimensional, the story is not original (but drawn out and plain boring) and when you watch this film see if you really care about Crowes character. The answer will be NO. I gave it 2 stars because it was mildly entertaining. However NOT oscarworthy!!! Do yourself a favor. For the real story see SPARTACUS instead. Or if you want some real acting look for Paul Newman.
Rating:
Summary: 5 star movie 5 star DVD
Review: I LOVE this movie. It's powerful, action packed, and well...it just rocks. Great directing by ridley scott (legend, bladerunner, G.I jane, thelma & louise, Alien...), great acting by Russel Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Richard Harris. Great costumes, AWSOME score by Hans Zimmer, (i have the cd). This movie has everything: action, revenge, gore, romance, great CGI... well worth buying.
You might have heard some discouraging remarks such as Gladiator not being historically acurate, but it isn't supposed to be. It's FICTION... its BASED on history, yes, but so is Braveheart...which is pretty unacurate, and you don't see people chasing down randal wallace with torches... (braveheart is a great movie too though).
Now not only is the movie great, but the two-disk DVD is awsome. over 10 deleted scenes, 2 long featurettes, feature length commentary, great interactive menus, and a great addition to anyones DVD collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Always something falling from the Sky
Review: Has there been a Ridley Scott film with out something falling from the sky? Rain or Snow I think it's always there at some point in the movie. I loved Gladiator, I've watched it 3 times now and I still love it. I love the "Ridleyscape". Everything looks so great in this film that you could watch it without sound and it would still be fascinating!
Rating:
Summary: Great Action
Review: While the plot is thin and the historical perspective is off, the action in this film is superb. The openning battle is probably one of the best depictions of Roman warfare ever filmed. Be advised, young children should not be allowed to view this film as it is very graphic.
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