Rating: 
Summary: Slow
Review: On watching Ridley Scott's recent motion picture, 'Gladiator', my mind is cast back to the days when, in the mid-80's, the idea of using a semi-naked woman to sell a computer game was met with hysteria and disgust. What am I talking about? 'Barbarian', that's what. Released way back in the mists of time (1987, I think), the game featured a Conan-esque man in a loincloth waving a sword at a series of increasingly-macho opponents, presumably out to steal Conan's loincloth, or his sword - he didn't seem to own much else, although I suspect that, being set in a fantasy universe, he probably had Herbs, 150 gold coins and a Wand of Seeing.It had some groovy moves, too - including the first 'fatality', a 'flying neck chop' which did EXACTLY what it said on the tin. I only managed to play it for about ten minutes on a friend's Amstrad CPC464, so I can't really comment further, except that I remember there was a sequel which, in 'Fist 2'-style, introduced flick-screen exploring and mystical, non-human opponents, and another game called 'Barbarian' by Psygnosis which had nothing to do with this Barbarian. I think the original was by Melbourne House. I'm not sure. Anyway, the poster featured The Man Who Would Be 'Wolf' from television's 'Gladiators' (at the time, 'It's a Knockout' was a recent memory), and Maria Whittaker, a Page 3 'stunna'. In the advert Wolf wore a skimpy pair of furry pants, which looked remarkably comfortable, whilst Maria, sitting at his knees, wore a fetching purple bikini outfit which looked remarkably uncomfortable. Wolf also held a huge sword, which was unfailingly referred to in the press as a 'mighty chopper'. At the time, Britain was a step from total socialism and Red Ken's Metal Legions ruled large tracts of the South-East of England, and this kind of rampant sexism was obviously unacceptable. Magazines were filled with feature ideas bemoaning the awfulness, whilst the game itself seemed to sell quite well. Things degenerated later on in the decade, with the adverts for 'Barbarian 2' featuring Maria Whittaker wearing a pair of metal plates (whilst holding her own 'mighty chopper'), and the adverts for contemporary whip-fest 'Vixen' starring less-chesty Page 3 'stunna' Corrine Russell in a leopard-skin bikini (with a whip). Possibly the finest, most influential example of this proto-'lad'ism was the advert for 'Psycho Pigs: UXB', in which two puffy-jacketed 'wide boys' contemplated a giant poster of a semi-naked lady holding a copy of the game in a strategic location. 'I know which one I'd rather play with', said one lad. 'Yes, but have you heard the reviews of Psycho Pigs: UXB?', said the other. I think it was the use of the term 'which one' that caused offence. As for 'Gladiator', il filme, it had some fancy, short fight sequences strung together with long, long boring bits in which people said things like 'You must follow your heart', 'Yes, I must follow my heart', 'Go on then, follow your heart', 'I would like to follow my heart, but...', 'No buts - your heart! you must follow it!', 'I understand', 'Good', CUT TO: INTERIOR: PALACE, 'Maximus has decided to follow his heart, your highness', 'I see', 'What do you plan to do about this, your highness', 'I plan to... CUT OUT his heart!', 'Brilliant, your highness - then he won't have anything to follow', 'Yes, I plan to CUT OUT his heart!' CUT TO: INTERIOR: STABLES, 'Are you sure you want to follow your heart?', and so on, but... very... slowly, with treacly music. Essentially, it was 'The 13th Warrior' with a bigger budget and more dialogue.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible
Review: I can't see how people actually like this film. It's VERY boring. They could have cut out about an hour and a half and it would have been much better. Roger Ebert got this one right...
Rating: 
Summary: Long Live Rome!
Review: I really tried not to read any reviews of Gladiator before going to see it. I believe nowadays anyone who loves movies should avoid the "critics". So much of what they write ends up on the poster as a nice slug for marketing. Anyway...this movie was excellent. I am now a devoted fan of Russell Crowe. He portrays the hero as a simple man. That's how most heroes see themselves anyway. But he is not the only one who gave an exceptional performance. I thought that Richard Harris was wonderful as the dying Marcus Aurelius, Oliver Reed moved me as Proximo the former gladiator still looking for his dreams in the younger Maximus, Connie Nielsen was powerful as the frightened yet strong willed Lucila and Joachim Phoenix made me just wanna "BOO" him on screen as the gutless Commodus! Great sublime villian. I'm glad that movies like "Titus" and "Gladiator" have come out. They show us how we once were as humans during the Golden Age of Rome. Now that we are in the Golden Age of the Internet can we avoid the inevitable fall of civilization? Who will become our "Maximus" or "Titus?"
Rating: 
Summary: Rome Returns
Review: Gladiator is a signal triumph, and as one well-versed in Late Roman and Byzantine history, I give it particularly high marks for what it succeeds in capturing about the period. Crowe comes across as a very believable betrayed general who energetically pursues his goal. Phoenix as Commodus turns in a splendid performance that actually makes the Emperor pitiable or sympathetic at times. This film truly marks a "Rome Return" for Ridley Scott succeeds in giving a contemporary pace to the ancient world for audiences too impatient to enjoy such classics as "Fall of Roman Empire" and "Ben-Hur". Scott is also to be congratulated for daring to portray another religion -- in this case both Artemis and Mithraism are referenced -- as the hero's faith, and avoid a Christian allusion for its own sake. As surfaced recently with U-571, the movie does not follow fact to the letter, but sometimes history is best told by fiction. Aurelius was not killed by his successor, but others were. Roman history has at least one example of everything seen in the movie, which form a brilliant amalgam. The armor of the legions captures their gritty variety, and the technical complexity of Rome's might is everywhere from the "headache tonics" to the army. I hope what was shown "inaccurately" will be overlooked and this film will encourage new Roman epics---ideally a film about Julian the Apostate, or the Byzantine Empire of Justinian!
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME movie
Review: AWESOME film. One of the best and most impressive hero movies EVER made. Awesome beginning, awesome middle and awesome ending.
Rating:
Summary: WARNING :::NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART..
Review: My Friends! A more wonderful movie is not imaginable!The stage arrangements of ancient Rome and German forests are outstanding..The actors are BRILLIANT ! And the sound effects-oooh- the sound effects!!!LISA GERRARD'S FANTASTIC and penetrating voice rings in the ears and recreates scenes from the movie again and again , long after you've seen it..Today, when there are no more heroes of courage and virtue , and no one dies any more for love or honor ,such movies is all that is left...UNFORGETABLE!!!A MASTERPIECE!!!!10000000 STARS!!!!BRAVO!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Wow!!!
Review: I usually don't like "sword and sandal" films, "spaghetti westerns," or films set in ancient Rome. But "Gladiator" bowled me over. The plot took an outstanding Roman general, Maximus (Russell Crowe), from the site of his greatest military victory, and made him persona non grata the minute the old emperor died and the new one, his son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) took over under dubious circumstances. Maximus was scheduled for execution by the insecure new emperor but escaped and headed for his villa in Spain, but it was too late--Roman troops had already crucified and burned his wife and child. Maximus suffered a nervous collapse and was sold into slavery. His struggle out of that and into "top billing" as a gladiator in Rome's Coliseum is best left to the movie, but I must say I was really bowled over by this flick. It had everything--an epic scope, great performances including Russell Crowe, the late Oliver Reed, and the ever-so-slithery Joaquin Phoenix as Emperor Commodus. Thanks to computer animation and lots of graphic design, we are put in the middle of a quite realistic 50,000-seat arena. The spectacles are fast, violent, bloody and (despite my every effort) intensely absorbing. And needless to say the scene when Maximus confronts Commodus, who had given him up for dead, is remarkable. This is just one wonderful flick!
Rating:
Summary: GREAT movie!!
Review: i saw this movie last weekend, and i must say that to get the full effect, you should see it on the big screen. this movie tells the epic story of maximus, an esteemed general in the roman army. it allows for gripping drama and at the same time posesses an action theme, filled with something new every minute. from the heartfelt speeches of maximus to the conceited anguish of commidus, this film captures every viewers interest. who wouldn't be fascinated by this man's life? "the general who became a slave, the slave who became a gladiator, the gladiator who defied an empire"- words that have come to define the movie and intrigue movie-goers across the nation. i personally didn't go for the gory fight scenes, impressive as they were. i thought that maximus' personal struggle with his life was more the center theme. his immense bravery and skilled fighting, along with his vivid awareness, get him through the toughest times in his life. i highly reccomend this movie to anyone who is even mildly interested in history, drama, or just good movies.
Rating:
Summary: GLADIATOR ROCKS~!
Review: Honestly, I was never intersted in Gladiator despite all of the promotions they were throwing. Come May 7 I decided to see it. And Russell Crowe delivers a superb performance, he plays Maximus perfectly. This isn't just a movie about men with swords, it's a beautiful, tragic story without ever losing that historical aspect. This movie is Oscar worthy~! SEE IT ASAP~!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Why mince words ...
Review: This is a spectacular movie ... great story ... great acting ... unimaginable cinematography ... great musical score. You will have chills down your spine ... you will shed tears ... you will have great fun! Stop reading and GO SEE IT!
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