Ridley Scott seems to have done it again.

Rating: 9/10 (1 June 2000)

What a great show this was. Gladiator was intense, and extremely well made. The casting was perfect, particularly on the parts of Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Both were startlingly convincing in their roles, and the fighting scenes were absolutely jaw-dropping. There's nothing like brutal violence to make your day complete, right?
The only complaint that I have about Gladiator was that I think it was a little too long, but then again, the best movies are generally a bit longer than average. Even more than that, though, were the special effects. In my opinion, if something looks even the tiniest bit fake, then it becomes immediately obvious that the audience is being manipulated, and that takes so much away from the movie. This happened most clearly with the lions toward the end of Gladiator.
As a whole, Gladiator was a spectacular film. It should not be missed by anyone (unless you have problems with seeing decapitations) and it will surely be added to Ridley Scott's respectable list of classics. The camera work, the striking use of color, the amazing acting, and the panoramic settings give this film truly epic proportions. Way to go, Ridley.