The Best Movie I Have Ever Seen

Rating: 10/10 (17 March 2001)

Gladiator is fantastic. As a movie buff I have seen a thousand movies, but none of them can quite compete with Gladiator. I'm too young to have grown up with sword and sandal epics, but I have seen most of them on television, and I was very excited to hear about Gladiator when word initially got out. Now, almost a year later, I have seen the movie 10 times and it keeps getting better. Russell Crowe is amazing. His screen presence is so dynamic that it almost blows you out of your seat. He doesn't have to say a word, just look at the opening sequence with the bird, and you'll know what I mean. He has the audience hooked from the second he walks on screen and right 'til the end. Ridley Scott has made an epic without comparison. The special effects alone are a feast for the eyes. The cast is fantastic. Joaquin Phoenix who I before hand only had seen in "8 MM" was amazing as Commodus. I hated him for everything he did to Maximus and still I pitied him - he just wanted something he had never had - love. As a Dane I was also thrilled to see Connie Nielsen as Lucilla - the rumours about Jennifer Lopez trying out for the part made me laugh - only a woman with Connie's regal stature could pull of the part of sister, love interest and truly politically interested without making any of it look fake. That woman has my utmost admiration. I can't wait to see her next movie. The plot is believable - and heartmoving. As a viewer you feel for Maximus as you make the journey alongside him for a painstakingly two-and-a-half hours. But when he reaches the end, you know it was the only way to end the movie. If Maximus had survived, as he did in the early script drafts, the movie wouldn't have had the same impact. As he dies, he joins the ranks of heroes who, after performing their tasks, goes to the great beyond to join their loved ones. For some reason, seeing Maximus shag up with Lucilla wouldn't have given me quite the same rush as the actual ending of the movie did. Hands up for a Kleenex moment. I've always loved a good cry - and this movie provides it - along with some memorable laughs and smiles, for my part mostly courtesy of Mr. Crowe. And if you don't like Roman Epics, see it for Russell Crowe. The man deserves his following - and an OSCAR - if I had any say in the matter.