Spartacus

Rating:
Summary: Warning for quality buffs...
Review: I love this film and it was one of my first choices when deciding what to purchase for my new DVD collection. Here is a warning: the quality of the video is dismal on this version of the DVD. When reading the other reviews I had to check my version to make sure it was the right one. First of all the DVD encoding is jittery and interspersed with coding artifacts throughout the film. The quality is similar to a movie taped from TV onto a well worn VHS tape. The poor encoding is immediately noticeable when compared to my other DVD purchases like Ben Hur or Gone with the Wind. In addition, this DVD is not a two disk set. My two star rating is purely based on the reproduction quality since I still consider this one of the greatest movies ever made.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Kubrick Film Ever
Review: The movie Spartacus amazed me, not because of the visuals or that Kirk Douglas stars, but that it is a Stanley Kubrick film. I don't consider him a genious, but definately a great director. There are a few graphic scenes in it that were very realistic, this is kind of rare for 1960. Unfortunately this movie did not recieve the best picture Oscar, that went to The Apartment that year starring Jack Lemmon. On an even better note, The Criterion Collection's release of this film is great, containing much more than the original Universal release. This Criterion DVD takes you much beyond the movie including deleted scenes, making of, storyboards and many more things that probably took a long time for them to track down. This is definately in my top 25 of all time.

Rating:
Summary: Great Epic
Review: Spartacus is one of those rare films that somehow manage to readh you on a level beyond a simple few hours of entertainment. The film is very loosely based on a novel by Howard Fast (which if it had not been banned probably would have not recieved any great attention because it is really a second rate piece of literature) and the very few historical sources (a brief mention by Sullust aand the most detailed account in Plutarch's life of Crassus-both of which are very enjoyable to read). It seems to me that all of the contraversy around Spartacus, regarding its communist and homosexual undertones obscure the fact that the story Spartacus as presented in the film is extremely enjoyable. There is a nice interplay in this film between, action-adventure, roamnce and human drama all carried of by a masterful director (Kubrick) and an extraodinary cast. The sets, acting (less Tony Curtis who is pretty bad) and cinematography are all outstanding making this film as wonderful an experience forty years after its relaease as it was in 1960.

For those who point out its lack of historical accurcy as a fault I can only say that in this respect it far surpasses many of its contemporaries-ex Ben Hur (Macedonians vs Romans in first centry AD-hmmm). Kubrick is very careful about small details, even if he is dealing with a largely unhistorical plotline, He has at least made a good attempt at making the plotiical and military institutions of the late Republic period of Rome rather accurate.
Gone were the days when the Roman republic was viewed as the good guys in the Mediterainian-the corruption and decline of the Romans depicted in this film matches well withe the flavor
of our sorce documents if the actual persons and events to not.
We will probably never really know much about the real Spartacus or Crassus. Their "true" stories are lost to us in time-how much of the few sorce documents are not tainted by pro-Roman propaganda is still an open question. The bottom line is a slave named Sparatcus did build and train an army that did beat Roman legions inside Italy at a time when no nation (except the Parthians-who several years later did defeat and kill Crassus) would stand up against them. It is also worth noting that this event must have shaken Rome substantially because the Republic did enact measures to blunt (but not stop) the abuses of slavery afterwords-more to protect themselves from yet another uprising (Spartacus's was not the first) then for respect of human dignity. Of corse the film does paint a one sided view of Spartacus but the film is fiction and entertainment and should not be taken as anything beyond that. The picture of Crassus painted by Plutarch (probably also largely fictional) is not the like the one painted in this film-Olivier's Crassus is truely brilliant. What this film presnets is a story of the underdog who fights the corrupt system and it does so with style, power and dignity. The fact that story of Spartacus became a legend (still alive after 2000 years) associated with freedom from oppression is a testiment to why the Romans were so damned afraid of him in the first place.

Overall, the film is a grand epic-with all the flaws of and strenghts of the gendre. Although working from flawed material (Fasts novel and a screen writer with a political agenda) Kubrick pulls off a film which is stunning to look at, and contains a testiment to human desires and dreams. Nice to see that it still shines after the cold war communist paranoia has faded.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful Saga
Review: Spartacus may well be the best film Stanley Kubrick directed (A Clockwork Orange would vie for the title). Being that this was not his own brainchild, the film does not get into the strange places that his own creations like 2001 & Eyes Wide Shut get into. The film is a marvel to look at as Mr. Kubrick creates early Roman countrysides, arenas and buildings with exacting detail. Kirk Douglas is perfectly cast in the title role as he perfectly blends the action demands of the role with the dramatic side. There is a star-studded cast including Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, Charles Laughton & Peter Ustinov who won his first Oscar for the role. The fighting scenes are well staged and the ending where all the slaves claim to be Spartacus is still moving. The restored version contains some deleted scenes including the infamous bath scene between Mr. Olivier & Mr. Curtis which was removed from the original cut due to its homosexual overtones. If your a fan of historical epics, then Spartacus is for you.

Rating:
Summary: The Thong Remains the Same
Review: Stanley Kubrick's rousing 1960 epic Spartacus is an intelligent and emotive account of an historic slave uprising in the late Roman Republic. It is also a treat for people who dig thongs, togas, and sandals like me. Muscles well oiled, Kirk Douglas has seldom been so sympathetic as the brawny Thracian gladiator turned freedom fighter, but it's not his show alone. Among the principals, the British hams Olivier, Ustinov and Laughton take the bacon with their marvellous sneering and leering, Jean Simmons is suitably comely in her fetching little burlap slave girl number as is the young Tony Curtis in his mini-toga as the "sensitive" Greek slave who clearly has a crush on Spart. Another standout is veteran heavy Woody Strode as the skin-head African slave gladiator whose suicidal act of defiance sets Spartacus on the road to revolt.

Kubrick, only 32 at the time and a last-minute substitute for Anthony Mann, brought technical acuity to the project; witness the climactic clash between the Roman legions and Spartacus's ragged followers, or the sombre vista of crucified men. But he also brought real tension and tragedy to Dalton Trumbo's superior script, never losing sight of the human drama played out against the spectacular "might of Rome" stuff and good fighting action. The same balancing act is achieved by Alex North's first-rate score. The film took four Oscars including those for cinematography and the support gong for Ustinov. The best bit is still the reaction to the demand "Which one of you is Spartacus?" to which everybody, including the people with the popcorn, stand up and shout out: "I'M SPARTACUS!" "NO, I'M SPARTACUS!"

Rating:
Summary: A MOVIE OF EPIC PROPORTIONS...
Review: Spartucus is a wonderful, bigger than life film, about a slave who led a revolt against the Roman Empire. Directed by Stanley Kubrick in a most unKubrickesque way, it is an epic about a struggle for freedom against great odds. It is a film that explores many themes, such as, love, power, freedom, hate, sexuality, political intrigue, loyalty, and friendship.

This is, first and foremost, the story of Spartacus, a slave and the son of a slave, a man who never knew freedom, until one day he was mad as hell and not going to take it any more. Kirk Douglas stars in the title role and plays Spartacus with manly fortitude, yet, at the same, with great tenderness, as demonstrated in his dealings with his friends and his wife, cooly played by the beautiful Jean Simmons.

It is also the story of the Roman Empire and the backroom political intrigues that would pit two wily roman senators against each other, the Patrician, played with malevolent exquisiteness by Laurence Olivier, and the Senatorial Proponent for the Roman Mob, played with droll slyness by Charles Laughton. These two manipulate those with whom they come in contact, as if they were chess grand masters.

Spartucus is toiling as a slave when, struck once too often, he fights back. Sentenced to die for his actions, a slave trader comes along who buys him, with the thought of turning him into a gladiator, as he is a fine, physical specimen. The slave trader, unctiously and obsequiously played by Peter Ustinov, who does a star turn with an often funny and drolly turned phrase and gives a wonderful performance, places Spartucus in his gladiator school, where he is trained to fight. There, he meets the woman of his dreams and future wife.

As the fates would have it, the Patrician Senator arrives at the gladiator school with an entourage, and for their pleasure it has been arranged that two pairs of gladiators would fight to the death. This is the beginning of the end for Spartacus, as the seeds would begin to be sown for the man he would one day become. Treated like an animal, he finds succor in his tender love for the woman who would soon be his wife.

Taunted once too often by his gladiator trainer, Spartucus leads a slave revolt for freedom, sweeping the countryside and gathering thousands under his banner. Meanwhile in Rome, the Senate is in a quandary, as the two rival Senators jockey for positions. Initially, Charles Laughton seems to have the edge, but as Spartucus seemingly succeeds in the field, Laurence Olivier himself takes command of the situation and trumps Laughton.

What happens, as the story unfolds, will keep the vewer riveted to the screen. The entire cast is magnificent and the ending is stunning and moving. They don't make them like they used to.

Rating:
Summary: Quite simply, the greatest movie I have ever seen!
Review: Lest you think that I just went to my first movie last week, let it be known that I am 56 yrs old and have been to hundreds of movies in my lifetime. I have seen this one over 20 times.

Why is it the greatest movie ever made? Quite simple. It has everything you could ever want in a movie...
1. Great Stars - Douglas, Oliver, Laughton, Ustinov, Simmons, Curtis...can you ask for better?
2. Laughter - Ustinov is superb in his role!
3. Love - Simmons and Douglas have some real chemistry
4. Drama - the gladatorial match - NOT the one with Douglas and Strode - was so tense you could feel the terror as they sat in that little box waiting for their turn to kill each other
5. Excitement - the revolt, the gladatorial match, etc.
6. Intrigue - the game of politics as played by Oliver and Laughton was fascinating
7. Tragedy - the losing battle, fighting against 2 armies as well as the "I am Spartacus" scene brings me to tears every time
8. Triumph - the final scene is too gripping for words. I have tears right now just writing about it. A wonderful mix of sadness and glory.

Is there any doubt that a film with this much in it is not the best ever made? Not in my mind. How this film did not even get nominated for Best Picture of 1960 is absolutely astounding. It wins hands down!

See this film!!!

Rating:
Summary: Long Live Spartacus!
Review: Spartacus is a great action film and one of the best epics of all time, but it is even more with this version. Spartacus is a film about the title character, a rebellious slave who became a gladiator who defied Rome. Sound familiar? Gladiator borrowed quite a bit from this movie. Some people might dismiss Spartacus but look at the controversy it caused and you might think otherwise. The movie's message of mistreated, enslaved masses revolting at the oppressive establishment is a metaphor for revolutions, specifically the Russian Revolution. The book it was based on was widely banned because of subversive Communist messages. The writer, Dalton Trumbo, was one of the "Hollywood Ten" that was sent to prison for refusing to testify to the House Un-American Activities Committee. This movie shattered the Hollywood Blacklist and really takes a look at how often we eliminate subversive people or ideas because they threaten the establishment, how we mistreat good people. The acting is brilliant: Kirk Douglas is the most underrated actor of all time, and although this is not his best performance, it certainly smacks of greatness. Lawrence Olivier is sometimes called the best actor of all time, and he lives up to it here. As the dictatorial Crassus, he is brilliant beyond words. He is not playing Crassus, he is Crassus. Charles Laughton is Gracchus, a republican senator (not the political party we all know and love, I guess, but one in favor of a republic government), a senator who was born in poverty and identifies with Spartacus: this coupled with the fact that he hates Crassus' guts endears him to Spartacus and to help him in his cause. Charles Laughton is also in that category of Greatest Actors of All Time, his performance here is great. Peter Ustinov won an Oscar with his portrayal of Batiatus, a slave trader who develops a conscience. The last three actors are British: this was done so that some overly-zealous Americans wouldn't walk out when they found out that Trumbo was writing. Jean Simmons also stars as Spartacus' wife. This movie should be watched with Paths of Glory, they are both excellent and they go together. Paths is about corruption in the Army, while Spartacus is about corruption in government. But this is all just the beginning.

This movie is packed with extras. There are two commentaries, an entire second disc with tons of information on the actors, producers, director, nearly everyone involved. There is an interesting documentary on the Hollywood Ten, info about the blacklist, letters, sketches. One of the best films of its era and any other, Spartacus is a thrilling and monumental achievement in cinema.

Rating:
Summary: thank the lord for criterion
Review: Spartacus is simply the greatest epic ever made. I have loved this movie ever since we were forced to watch it every single year in history from 7th thru 12th grade (but it did kill about a weeks worth of class time), so getting the Criterion was a great treat. The extras on the second disc aren't all that intriguing (except for the blacklist documentary The Hollywood Ten), but the commentary and the restored print of the film are incredible.

Rating:
Summary: Next time restore w/o adding more.
Review: It is a great movie as the other reviews state. I was *VERY* disappointed however the people involved felt inclined to *ADD* footage that was cut from the original release. This was a very weighty 6 minutes (homosexual seduction attempt) that detracted from the movie and is why the original talents chose to leave it out. It is amazing they still call it a restoration when you add scenes to the movie, rather than including them in the "Bonus Materials" section. BAD MOVE! What next? Find the original on tape at the library and put up with the poor quality ORIGINAL movie. My 8 year old thought the scene [was bad] too.