Would make William proud

Rating: 9/10 (24 September 2000)

How good is the movie Gladiator? Let me count the ways. One, the direction is beautiful. Ridley Scott, who directed Blade Runner, has done an impressive job by creating a gritty dark look much like Saving Private Ryan did. Two, the performances are great. The characters have deep feelings and emotions, and are portrayed beautifully by a great collection of actors. Three, the script and the story sounds like Shakespeare. While it is not, if Shakespeare were to have written a story about a gladiator, it would be this movie. And finally, four, the action makes sense and makes you jump at the same time. This is one of the best movies not only of the year, not only of the decade, but also of all time.
Some critics have called it depressing. Well, it is in a way. There is little or no color to the film. Like I said, the cinematography is similar to Saving Private Ryan. The story is also a little depressing, but just about every story ever made is depressing if you think about it. The ending to some people may not seem happy. But, to those of you who have seen the film, the main character Maximus found exactly what he was looking for and wanted so bad.
I'm now about to give away the story, but if you have seen the preview you know it anyway. Russell Crowe plays as Maximus, general of Roman's army in Germania. He is the best general in Rome's army and is admired by the emperor as a son. But all Maximus wants is to return home to his wife and son. The emperor's son, Comodeus, is selfish and wants the throne now before his father can hand it over to the senate. As you guess, Comodeus kills his father and blames Maximus for the crime because of his father's love for him. Maximus escapes only to find his wife and son have been assassinated by the new emperor.
Maximus is picked up and sold as a slave where he must fight as a gladiator to win food. Here his master learns of Maximus's tragedy and tells how he too was betrayed by the emperor. His master takes Maximus and his other gladiator slaves to Rome to compete in the 180 days of games ceremony set up by the new Caesar.
The fight scenes are quick and bloody. Sometimes it is hard to see what is happening. It took me a few minutes to get used to the angles and wild motions of the camera. This is not a movie for children for the blood gets almost unbearable at times. However, fight scenes are not what this movie is about though the trailers may deceive you. This is a movie about redemption, revenge, war, and peace.
The thing that impressed me most about Gladiator is how well it is written. The words move as smoothly as the story. The plot reminds me of Shakespeare. A general becomes a slave because of a jealous emperor. The slave who became a gladiator. A gladiator who defied that emperor. And how that gladiator found his revenge. The ending scene reminds me of so many Shakespeare plays its almost funny. As much as I want to tell you about it, I won't. This isn't as much a movie as it is an experience. An experience that no one should miss.
By the way, for all you a**holes who gripe about how films like this are unrealistic, well, that isn't why it was made. Few movies are made to be history lessons, and when they are they suck like anything. Realism is important, but historical accuracy is not. This movie is made to be entertaining, and it accomplishes that like no movie I've ever seen.
Even if you didn't like it, but it for the fact that it's on two discs; TWO FOR GOD's SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!