Hell of a ride

Rating: 9/10 (2 May 2000)

A combination of all the best parts of Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart, and The Lion King, Gladiator opens, carrying itself like the great Roman war machine portrayed, then grabs the viewer and drags them through the story of Maximus. His adoption into the gladiator lifestyle is almost as intense and emotional off the battle field as it is on. Where Braveheart called for the audience to laugh or be shocked by the images on screen, Gladiator carries a much more personal feeling to their battles (mainly due to the size), allowing them to rile up much more emotional steam that has ever been seen in a war epic. A veiwer must wonder as they watch, is it right that I support the brutality, is it right that I am rooting for a man to kill another? It's quite an emotional movie, wait until you see it.
Despite the moral conflict, the movie is still amazing. Russell Crowe is, as always, amazing, and Joaquin Phoenix has turned what is probably his best performance of his career. Ridley Scott's directing is excellent, keeping true to the worn, hot, aged feel of a gladiator movie, while at the same time, incorporating many techniques to heighten the experience, going inside the minds of the characters.
It runs around two and a half hours, not too long for a Gladiator pic, and is naughtily entertaining. Lots of blood. Lots of gory battles. Lots of extremely exciting battles, everything a gladiator movie should have.