Gladiator - a 'chick flick' that appeals to everyone.

Rating: 9/10 (17 May 2000)

A lot of people use the term "chick flick" to describe any movie with emotion, implying most guys couldn't stand a movie with deeper meaning than just people blowing each other up. If that were true, Gladiator would be classified as a chick flick, but the guys I know who have seen this movie have loved it. And I love it, too.
It's filled with star-making performances, especially in the three leads - Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen. Phoenix and especially Crowe did an exceptionally good job, I thought. Maybe this is just because, as a big fan of the "sword and sandal" films of days gone by, I wanted to see some young hotties get into togas and armor. But I think I would have enjoyed this film even without these two very attractive actors as the leads.
Gladiator is over two hours long, but I never could tell. The story of Maximus (Crowe) and his quest for revenge against Commodus (Phoenix) is so engrossing I never once looked at my watch. The set and costume design, as well as special effects, are fantastic. Yes, this movie is bloody, and if you're under 14 you probably shouldn't go see it. But the focus of the story isn't the fighting. It's about the lengths humans will go to for love - to avenge their love, as in the case of Maximus, and to be loved, as in the case of Commodus. It's about love, and if that makes Gladiator a chick flick, then it's a chick flick. But it's the best gosh darned chick flick I've ever seen.