Rating: 
Summary: A Trimuphant Epic
Review: I saw this film on my 19th birthday, and felt a ticket to thisd movie was the best present my parents could've afforded to give me. The movie opens with a dramatic scene where the Romans are battling the Germanic tribes in a forest clearing. Right away, you get the feeling that this movie excels in every way. Maximus, played by Russel Crowe, turns out to be a powerful general played by a talented young actor. The dialogue in this movie is great, too. How much better can you get than "At my signal, unleash hell."? I thought so. Joaquin Phoenix plays an evil, yet arrogant wuss of an empire. It was interesting to see the villain be a wimp rather then some alpha male. The battle scenes were nicely done, and the cinematography throughout the film was brilliantly executed. When you see the gladiators in all their armored glory, you'll wonder why this movie didn't have an action figure license. This is a great film for fans of Rome. Also, take a look at the British drama, "I, Claudius." That gem of a miniseries provides good entertainment as well. Derek Jacobi, who I think played Gracchus or something in Gladiator plays the title role in "I, Claudius."
Rating: 
Summary: Connie Neilson steals every scene
Review: Danish actress Connie Neilson steals virtually every scene she appears in, yet rarely makes the lead credits for this high-impact film. With some re-write, this film could have become a blockbuster like Titanic which appealed to both men and women.
Rating:
Summary: Notable... Especially thanks to the talented Mr. Crowe
Review: I saw this movie not knowing what to expect... A remake of a classic is almost always a disappointment. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this Gladiator stands on its own two feet quite well. Russell Crowe is appropriately meloncholy, and you can really cheer for his battle to regain the dignity taken from him.This movie may seem long by minutes, but the time flies. You'll be at the edge of your seat wondering how the players will resolve their conflicts until the last bittersweet moment. Definitely one of the best written movies of the year. ONE NOTE: There are some scenes during the gladiator matches that may make some squeamish, thought the director and editor have kept the gore to a minimum.
Rating: 
Summary: The epic that wasn't
Review: The popularity of Gladiator forces one to consider the sanity of the population. Very depressing. There is nothing in Gladiator, nothing in this sadly overrated film that inspires, engages, or excites. It's as if the writers merely trasported Braveheart to Rome, but left the passion behind. The dialogue, by three writers (David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson) and God knows how many other uncredited script doctors, seems to have been stolen from all the worst parts of a couple of hundred recent movies. It is dull, utterly dull. Which well describes Russell Crowe's performance. He is too brooding, too restrained to invoke anger or sympathy. Big mistake. Where's William Wallace when you need him? The battles? Terrible. They are edited too quickly, and remove you from the battlefield; the blows are never felt. Even the Roman military tactics are false (calvary charge through a forest??). Emperor Commodus (Joaquine Phoenix) is never a threat. There is no presense nor power in his performance. Big Mistake. [Director] Scott scores high marks for the films beautiful photography, sets and costumes. But these do not determine a films worth. Even the end is laughably dishonest: instead of having Crowe suffer a glorious execution, he is made to fight the emperor himself. You have got to be kidding. And worse, the foolish writers imply that the greatness of Rome shall return. HA! HA! God, I hate this film.
Rating:
Summary: Father to a murdered son...husband to a murdered wife...
Review: I'm so glad Hollywood is moving towards releasing DVDs so soon after the movie is released. In fact, you could probably still catch this movie at your local 24 screen theater (It's currently November 14th, 2000), and it's worth the theatrical experience. At any rate, although the movie is fairly long, you'll be on the edge of your seat for the vast majority of the movie. Crowe does a great job of looking mean, hurt, and angry whenever he has to. True, it's a little graphic, but you've got to expect that. Buy this movie, then if it's not too late, go watch it in the theaters.
Rating:
Summary: I Came, I Saw, It Conquered
Review: This epic film starring Russell Crowe is a powerful and emotional experience. Though the film is quite long, you lose track of time while watching and it passes like seconds, leaving you wanting more. Not only is the film interesting, it is also beautiful. The director uses images like Maximus' (Crowe) hand running over stalks of golden wheat and red flower petals falling from above in the arena to create a deeper meaning in scenes. Though it never really recieved a lot of attention, it deserves acclaim. You certainly can't go wrong with a film that combines heroism, survival, blood, and beauty. A must see film!
Rating:
Summary: Woohoo!
Review: I could not wait for Gladiator to come out, being a HUGE fan of Russell Crowe since I saw L.A. Confidential. I dragged a friend of mine with me to watch it because she had never seen one of his movies. Neither of us were dissappointed. The movie captivated me from the beginning action sequence. From there the movie just got better and better. This movie is definatley a movie for both sexes too: for the men you have the obvious action, and for the women you have well, Russell Crowe. Ridley Scott does a fantastic job directing this movie, bring ancient Rome back, forever immortalizing it. Joaquin Pheonix is great in this movie, playing the perfect bad guy. I hated his character just as much as Maximus does. The graphics of this movie are awesome, i can just see the Collisseum in all it glory and feel the awe the citiznes must have felt just looking at the city. As a person who took Latin and study Roman history, and watching tons of movies about this time period, I can honestly say that this by far teh best of out of all of them.
Rating:
Summary: I am the Gladiator!
Review: This movie is wonderful and informative too! I do not see any where why the rating is R when there is sleezy sexual content being passes as PG-13. The worst in this movie could possibly by the fight with the tigers? I think that is a shame for trying to keep a true history away from the minors is a complete shame! I am a 15 year old and feel this is a great movie while being informative at the same time. Be sure to share this wonderful work with your child as my father did with me! I am sure your son or daughter would appreciate it.
Rating:
Summary: An Awesome Film
Review: I saw this film the day it opened and knew as soon as the credits rolled that I must and had to see it again.(which I did, 4 times in all) The costums, the music, the computer graphics in recreating ancient Rome were spectacular. The acting in it also was sensational. Aussie, Russel Crowe proved himself to be an outstanding actor, and Ridley Scott an amazing epic movie director. For anyone who has not seen this movie. YOU MUST. It should not be missed.
Rating:
Summary: 'Unleash Hell'
Review: This movie is nothing short of magnificent. It captures both 'the glory that was Rome' as well as the relationship between a fighting commander and his troops, both used to hardship and victory, and attempting to finish the job and go home. This is also undoubtedly the best movie I have ever seen. It is reminiscent of the spectacles of the late 50s and early 60s, such as Ben Hur, El Cid, and 55 Days at Peking, but much more intense and certainly more realistic. The characters are greater than life, such as Maximus (Russell Crowe), the Roman general who was like a son to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (masterfully played by veteran Irish actor Richard Harris, whose facial expressions tell more than his diaglogue), and who was betrayed by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), Marcus' feckless son, who 'was not a moral man.' Director Ridley Scott has captured many things in this film: the timeless relationship between veteran soldiers and their commanders, Rome in its last spurt of greatness, evil and corruption of the Roman upper classes, the seeming hopelessness of good being overcome by evil, innocence of the young, and the recurring theme that evil will fluorish if good men do nothing. Lavishly filmed, and with better special effects than either Titanic or last year's Star Wars Episode One, it shows the Rome that may have been, with all the dirt, grit, and corruption that never showed up in the other epic films about Rome and its Empire. Music is also superb, and undoubtedly brings out the violent action of the film, from rousing fighting in the Coliseum to savage combat on the Danube frontier between the indomitable Legions and the German barbarians. Lastly, this was Oliver Reed's last film. Remembered for his portrayal of the one of the Three Musketeers in the mid-70s and in the film Oliver, he is superb here, dying of a heart attack while the movie was being filmed. The final product is a tribute both to him and his ability in front of the camera. This is a film for the ages. It covers valor, cowardice, loyalty, love, hate, betrayal, and brings it in a story that is enthralling, exciting, and relevant to modern times. The Director and cast, and the rest that contributed are to be congratulated. If Scott, Crowe, the movie itself, cinematography and music are not awarded with Oscars by the Academy this year, it will be a great injustice. I saw it five times on the big screen and enjoyed it every time. Quite simply, it is superb.
|
