S P A R T A C U S T W O...veni,vidi,vici...

Rating: Null/10 (6 May 2000)

At last a gladiator movie for the fans of that genre and no B-grade one at that...and not an italian film director in sight. Sorry just a Fellini dig there, just couldnt resist. I looked hard for any evidence of another "Caligula" remake but this is a far superior depiction of ancient Rome and none of that unnecessary debauchery either.A muscular Russell Crowe has fun here with a lot of chain-mail(roman internet) tridents, spears, swords the lot. Looking more macho here than he did in "LA Confidential". He plays a good guy called Maximus. A general turned slave turned gladiator and he's out for revenge against...Joaquin Phoenix. Looking all grown up,pumped up and beefed up with god knows what, last seen in "8MM". Joaquin plays a guy with the unlikely name of Commodus(I just kept thinking of a toilet seat) who is just as nasty as nasty can be. Definitely the villain of the year. With all the expected hype this is definitely no sleeper movie. Its just too good to keep quiet for so long. Even if you dont get into the plot which is understandable enough just go for the fighting and the blood and the guts and the gore of which there is a moderate amount. Historically inaccurate though it may be and no doubt purists will howl at this it is extremely watchable not only for the drama in the great circus but the political shenanigans behind the scenes which tells you that nothing much has changed really in that quarter. We are all bored with sci-fi at the moment considering the extrememly disappointing "Phantom Menace" not to mention the doomed from the start "Mission to Mars". Drown you sorrows in this movie and you'll feel so much better afterwards. Salve. Pax Britannica....