Set in roman times a banished roman general fights his way back as a gladiator. The only power stronger than the emperor is the greatest hero in all the empire. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 01/17/2006 Starring: Russell Crowe Joaquin Phoenix Run time: 155 minutes Rating: R
A big-budget summer epic with money to burn and a scale worthy of its golden Hollywood predecessors, Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a rousing, grisly, action-packed epic that takes moviemaking back to the Roman Empire via computer-generated visual effects. While not as fluid as the computer work done for, say, Titanic, it's an impressive achievement that will leave you marveling at the glory that was Rome, when you're not marveling at the glory that is Russell Crowe. Starring as the heroic general Maximus, Crowe firmly cements his star status both in terms of screen presence and acting chops, carrying the film on his decidedly non-computer-generated shoulders as he goes from brave general to wounded fugitive to stoic slave to gladiator hero. Gladiator's plot is a whirlwind of faux-Shakespearean machinations of death, betrayal, power plays, and secret identities (with lots of faux-Shakespearean dialogue ladled on to keep the proceedings appropriately "classical"), but it's all briskly shot, edited, and paced with a contemporary sensibility. Even the action scenes, somewhat muted but graphic in terms of implied violence and liberal bloodletting, are shot with a veracity that brings to mind--believe it or not--Saving Private Ryan, even if everyone is wearing a toga. As Crowe's nemesis, the evil emperor Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix chews scenery with authority, whether he's damning Maximus's popularity with the Roman mobs or lusting after his sister Lucilla (beautiful but distant Connie Nielsen); Oliver Reed, in his last role, hits the perfect notes of camp and gravitas as the slave owner who rescues Maximus from death and turns him into a coliseum star. Director Scott's visual flair is abundantly in evidence, with breathtaking shots and beautiful (albeit digital) landscapes, but it's Crowe's star power that will keep you in thrall--he's a true gladiator, worthy of his legendary status. Hail the conquering hero! --Mark Englehart
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
This Movie Will Change Your Life and The World:
"The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor." Strength and Honor. This is the story of a man who had everything, lost it all, and got it back again. I love how he could have conquered all of Rome with his army, yet had the character to leave it. This is what I want to achieve in my life. Have the power, strength, and wisdom to have all whole world, and the integrity to let it go.
Award winning material!:
In gladiator two of hollywood's best faces (Ridley Scott & Russell Crowe) join forces to deliver one of the most outstanding films of this century and took movie making to a whole new level. This 3 disc extended edition just made the movie a whole lot better too, with deleted scenes re edited and re cut just for this edition it's a must have for serious moviegoers. Here scenes that weren't fully explained in the original cut have been fixed with an extra 17 minutes of bonus footage. This film has... more info
Best movie of the year:
This movie was excellent. I went to the theater expecting a movie more in the line of "The Patriot". In other words, a good popcorn action/war flick, nothing special but still not a bad movie. What I found was a masterpiece. This movie blew me off my feet. The actors were perfectly casted. The storyline was excellent. The acting was some of the most memorable in many years. The special effects were amazing. The Cinematography was perfect. The battles were incredibly realistic and beleivable. Russell... more info
Amazing:
This movie is so personal to me. I admire Maximus so much... I almost envy his character. I unfortunately can compare myself to comidus, which drive a steak through my heart at times. What I question in the end is .... are there men like Maximus? Or is it just a story of fiction ... or just a hero character we all fall short of fully embodying? Maximus is a man of absolute principle and values so deeply engraved he will clearly die for them. But is that the wise man? They say "Only the good die young" and... more info
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