Gladiator, 2000

Rating: 9/10 (28 August 2010)

This movie is near-perfect. When we watch a movie, more then often it relies on other factors, for example violence, or crude humour to weave the plot, or simply to entertain. Not often are we allowed to watch a simple movie, told simply and yet beneath the story we get a sense of something immense and complex.
Gladiator, told simply, is a film surrounding Maximus Merridius Decimus, a general who becomes greatly acquainted with the emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Upon Marcus' dying wish he wants Rome to become a republic and entrusts Maximus to the task. Commodus, the Emperors son is deeply wounded by Marcus' father treatment to Maximus and seeks revenge.
What continues is a beautiful told story of friendship, jealousy and anger. What I love about this film is that it centers around Maximus/Commodus and doesn't center around the violence of the arena. This movie is, fictional - it is made to entertain and it does so, it is not a real account and should be watched open-minded. I highly recommend this film to anyone, the only criticism of this film that I can give is the first battle scene which is unfortunately a little strange, but the rest is...
****1/2 out of *****