An Instant Classic

Rating: 9/10 (16 June 2000)

Wow is all I can say to this....I went to see Gladiator expecting to see a great film and it delivered big time. The storyline and atmosphere of the movie is reminiscent of the classic Braveheart but this movie is just as good as Braveheart in its own right. From the amazing special effects (computer images are used extensively I hear, for example to recreate the Colosseum and also to replace Oliver Reed after he died in real life during the shoot!) to the breathtaking scenery; from the masterful treatment of the gladiatorial violence (split second shots of the gore, a la Braveheart again) to the outstanding performances of the cast, this film just oozes class from every pore. Scott is a genius and I don't believe that anyone would have done the gripping storyline of the movie any more justice than he has managed here. A real "tour de force" and surely the best film of the year. Endlessly recommended.