above average but far from great -- a 6 out of 10

Rating: 6/10 (4 May 2000)

Gladiator is an entertaining enough way to spend almost three hours, but it never manages to achieve the level of greatness that it so desperately aspires to. Russell Crowe as always adds a sure hand with his fine acting, but I felt the action scenes were a bit stagy.
Joaquin Phoenix never convinced me he was a man corrupted by ambition. It WAS nice though to see veteran actors Richard Harris and the late Oliver Reed on the screen again.
All in all, a movie worth seeing, but don't expect greatness.