Worth every penny and if you like a good cry maybe better watched at home with a big box of tissues!

Rating: 10/10 (27 September 2000)

A friend told me I must watch this movie, I'd been meaning to anyway but hadn't got around to it. "I can see you in the lead role!" I was told, not that I would have fitted into Russell Crow's armour.
I'd seen the promotions and expected to see a series of gruesome Roman fighting and there was but there was a story as well. Yes it was 'Brave Heart' in a different skirt, but that to is one of my favourites.
It was the first time I'd seen Russell Crow but he's definitely on my list to look out for now. He was magnificent and played a powerful lead role when you consider the cast.
What a poignant film for Oliver Read to play Proximo his last role, for me the man lived his life to the full even if it was his own way.
Richard Harris was excellent in the short part of Marcus Aurelius, (I should spend some time about the real character).
Derek Jacobi got out his old Claudian robes to bring the touch of authenticity and I'm sure Joaquin Phoenix studied John Hurt's Caligula before playing such a magnificent role as Commodus, definitely shows promise.
I found the story very moving and struggled to maintain my dignity at the end. I'm afraid I get more emotional than most ladies with such sad endings.
Worth every penny and if you like a good cry maybe better watched at home with a big box of tissues! Definitely 10/10.