Rating: 
Summary: Don't you just love the Brooklyn accents?
Review: Garbage! Leave it to these new hollywood directors and very bad actors to try to made a serious movie. I'm sorry, but i found this movie very funny. It was totally unbelievable! It should have been titled "Hollywood goes to Rome." This was a joke! If you want to see a great epic and if you can find it, get "The sign of the Cross." It's a very early talky but a wonderful story and great acting for it's day. You think Hollywood would have learned something after all these years in the business. First and foremost Hollywood needs to get actors that can act and not talk with a New York accent.
Rating: 
Summary: excellent film
Review: This movie is great, I find that I don't notice how long it is because it is interesting all the way through. But, on repeat viewing that Ceasar character's wimpering in every scene for everybody to love him gets annoying. Pick a scene: Daddy love me, General love me (or else), sister love me, people love me, senate love me, little boy love me.....
Rating:
Summary: Another Skeptic with a 5 Star Review
Review: I didn't want to like Gladiator in the worst way. I hate Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe but almost immediately after the first battle sequence, I knew that Gladiator was something special. The action sequences are top-notch and rival Braveheart. The best fighting sequence is the first in the Roman Coliseum where Crowe and his horde of slaves turn the tables on their opponents. The only other time I've ever been so pumped up after a movie was Die Hard. The adrenaline rush is great in Gladiator and eventhough I hate to admit it, Russell Crowe does an outstanding job as Maximus. The film is long (over 2 hrs) but it flies by (the sure sign of a great movie) and it leaves you wanting more. This is one of the only commercial films that I can truly say deserved the Oscar for best picture. This is a definate must own for your DVD library. Highly Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: On par with Ben Hur and Brave Heart!
Review: A wonderfully intriguing and complex story. I agree with those who didn't see all there was to see the first time through. Indeed, it was after the third or fourth time through that I realized movie wasn't really about arena combat at all - The bloodthirsty gladiatorial combat is simply the backdrop against which are played the two major themes: saving Rome in accordance with the wishes of the dead Emperor Marcus Aurelius as well as saving to from the despotic clutches of his biological son, Commodus; and the second theme that develops as the now slave Maximus wants disparately to join his murdered wife and son in the hereafter.Crowe (Maximus) and Phoenix (Commodus) are set against each other and you get wound into the battle between good and evil, honor and betrayal, loyalty to an ideal and Commodus' despotic avarice born of jealousy and huge insecurities. Often overlooked in the critiques, but also very good is Connie Neilsen, the multi-lingual actress from Denmark who plays the part of Commodus' sister Lucilla. Her apparently long-dormant and now reborn affections for Maximus sets off Commodus, who vainly pursues an incestuous tryst with her throughout much of the movie. Rebuffed at almost every turn and correctly fearing that Lucilla has plotted against him, Commodus eventually dares to enter the arena to fight Maximus... A bit far fetched; however, according to the historians, the real Commodus would from time to time show his "bravery" by going down on the floor of the area to personally administer the final blow to an otherwise incapacitated gladiator - the real Commodus was apparently every bit the coward of the movie version. Great movie - Crowe, Phoenix and Neilsen give wonderful performances in this larger than life epic. Destined to be played again and again at my house. The sound track alone is worth the price.
Rating:
Summary: NOT A FAMILY MOVIE, BUT A DEFINITE MASTERPIECE
Review: Simply Incredible. I didn't know what to expect when I saw this in the theater, but I ended up paying closer attention to this movie than to any other I'd seen which exceeded 2 hours. This movie, although extremely violent, has an awesome story that is very inspiring. It's about someone who does things for the right reason. It's interesting how throughout the whole movie our Gladiator is really a person who would rather not kill, but does so because he has to. I lived in Italy for two years and never visualized Rome as it truly was before this movie. Although it's rated R for extreme violence and some incestuous overtures, the story is too good to not see.
Rating:
Summary: Great Film
Review: This movie is great. The acting is excellent and the storyline is great. This is the tale of a Roman general and his life after ceaser is killed. He is taken from riches to rags and forced to survive the impossible. The cinimotography is impecable
Rating:
Summary: Gladiator
Review: When I first saw this movie when it first came out of video, I didn't like it at all. I thought it was dumb and way overrated and thought that it did not deserve the Oscar for Best Picture at all. I waited until a couple weeks ago before I watched it for the 2nd time and when I was done, I loved it. I don't know what it was but I'm completely dazzled by that movie now. I guess a year ago I just didn't have an appreciation for it but now I do. It's a masterpiece and definitely deserved the Best Picture Oscar. I'd have to say my favorite thing about the movie is the directing. Ridley Scott has such an original way of directing. So original that you can tell by watching one of his movies that he's the director. Scott tells stories in his movies using a perfect mixture of emotions and scenery. But you'd have to see the movie and have a true appreciation for films to know what I'm talking about. A lot of viewers (myself included) are going to be really wowed by those fight scenes in the coliseum. They are the scenes that you remember most about the movie because they are suspenseful, creative, gross (in a good way), and well-directed. I personally am not grossed out by ANYTHING so I can't give a good idea of whether or not other people will be. But I guess I could say that you COULD be grossed out but that would only happen in a couple of scenes. The other big scene is the big fight scene in near the beginning. That sets the tone for how the characters act and who they are. Now, we come to Russell Crowe. I know he has a Hollywood reputation for being a 'bad boy' but that's not why I'm not crazy about his performance in this movie. In fact, out of his 3-in-a-row Best Actor Oscar nominations (2000 for 'The Insider', 2001 for 'Gladiator', 2002 for 'A Beautiful Mind') this is the one role that I didn't think he deserved to win for. It's not that his acting is bad, it's just that his acting in this movie is too subtle and not important enough for the movie. That's why I especially surprised to see him beat out Tom Hanks and Ed Harris for the Oscar last year when he should have taken it home the year before for 'The Insider'. But don't misunderstand. He's a great actor who just needs to brush up on his Hollywood social skills. So, in short, you should see this movie at least twice (but balance out the intervals) in case you're not crazy about it the first time that you see it.
Rating: 
Summary: Quem vidistis, TutorPuella? or What did you see TutorGal?
Review: Well, I don't THINK I saw the same movie everybody else did! "Gladiator" won all these Academy Awards and accolades, and my heavens, I really don't know why. I'll have to check what else was up for the Oscar for an insight into that decision. Russell Crowe stars as the victorious Roman general even Marcus Aurelius wants to succeed him as ruler of Rome. But Marcus A. makes the really stupid mistake of telling his biological son his plans in private, so guess what happens to him? Suffice it to say that the son quickly becomes the new emperor. The general survives a death plot only to find himself enslaved and sold to a gladiator trainer played by Oliver Reed. When we hear that the new emperor is terribly fond of Coloseum games, we can put two and two together to figure out the rest of the plot. Bad Things? The cutting was so confusing, I didn't know what was happening! Major problem. Another problem was the so-called acting of Russell Crowe. This is best actor? More like walk-thru acting to me. He was far better in "A Beautiful Mind".
Best Thing? Joaquin Phoenix as the villainous young emperor. He really stands out in the picture. Seems to me he's been studying his Laurence Olivier tapes, especially "Spartacus" and "Wuthering Heights". The most obvious predecessor to this movie is Kirk Douglas' "Spartacus". There, a gladiator army takes on the legions of Rome with some success before their tragic downfall. Even has a gladiator school, though Peter Ustinov's is a more interesting place. Other familiar scenes of gladiators who won't follow "thumb" in the arena, allowing their vanquished foes to live also derive from "Spartacus". I further contend that the makers of this movie were ripping off--now don't laugh at me--the Kevin Sorbo "Hercules" TV movies. Look at the one where Hercules has to journey to the underworld and his wife gets killed. You'll find it strangely reminiscent of a lot of this movie, especially the music and Elysium depictions of his wife in the afterlife. But frankly, "Hercules" is more entertaining than "Gladiator", and of course so is "Spartacus". So, after all the hoopla I'm really taken aback to see how unimpressed I was by "Gladiator". "Gladiam" that I saw it for free at a church social, rather than having had to shell out my own dough.
Rating:
Summary: Emotional punch after punch alongside heart-pumping action!
Review: The General who became a Slave, The Slave wbo became a Gladiator,
The Gladiator who defied an Empire. Do I need say more? Academy Award winning Gladiator is probably one of the most amazing movies I have ever seen. It is currently my top favorite movie and I watch it all the time. A purely WOW movie! 'Maximus Decimus Meridius. Commander of the armies of the North. General of the Felix Legion. Father to a murdered son. Husband to a murdered wife. And he will have his vengance. In this life or the next.'
I won't tell you anymore, cause I may ruin it and you need to experience this movie for yourself. Gladiator won Best Picture, Best Costume, Best Sound, Best Effects, Visual Effects and, we can't forget, Best Actor all of which are very well deserved.
Russell Crowe gives a powerful, realistic and amazing performance that much deserves the award he received.
Joaquin Phoenix also gave an excellent performance as Commodus, the evil, selfish, heartless and wimpy emperor. Oh yes, I can't forget the rest of the cast which all gave amazing performances.
The music alone is one reason to get this movie. It provides us with powerful amazing scores for the fights and triumphs. And with sad but moving scores for the sad, heart-wrenching times.
Just plain awesome music. Should have gotten an award for it.
The fight scenes and the opening battle scene are very gory but something to marvel at. The direction and special effects are stunning. The three fights in the Coliseum are my favorites.
The cinematography is not to be overlooked either. One scene when the small caravan rides through the desert is amazing. And especially the scenes of Rome and the Coliseum are just stunning. They are so realistic; it takes your breath away. Gladiator should have at least gotten a nomination for Best Cinematography. Gladiator is an amazing movie. A gory but awesome, interesting look at the Roman empire. A definite tear-jerker. You WILL need a box of kleenex!
In some parts Gladiator gets slightly hard to follow so I recommend that you see it twice.
This is a movie that should be one everyone's movie shelf. It has everything. Action, drama and even a pinch of romance.
Go out and buy it now! Dazziling, sad, touching, awesome, spectacular, magnificent, extraordinary and truly stunning are all words leading up to say one thing. GLADIATOR!
Rating:
Summary: Classic film of epic proportions
Review: Gladiator definitely deserved to win the Oscar. The film is magnificently put together from beginning to end. The drama and action compliment eachother quite well in this film, which is often hard to find in recent movies. The fight scenes are amazing, but are made even more amazing because of the drama and emotions that flow beneath the action. Russel Crowe is amazing in this film and definitely grabs the audience and brings them into this ancient civilization. Great on DVD as well, sound is impressive as well as the picture.
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