A movie MADE for the big screen

Rating: 10/10 (7 August 2000)

It's hard not to react to the intelligentsia, who equipped with their Film Studies 101 from Cynics College seem to want to rip this movie to shreds. Gladiator is a wonderful piece of storytelling which paints a simple story very profoundly using all the tools available to the modern film-maker.
I thought the acting was terrific, and Russell Crowe is wondrous in the role of Maximus, a man of courage and honour. We can all share his pain as he fights for justice for his family and for Rome. Maximus is a real hero who does what he has to do, not for personal glory or for wealth. Joaquin Phoenix plays Commodus very well, at times you even sympathise for the spoilt brat. But this film belongs to Crowe, I can honestly not remember a movie where a central performance has been so guaranteed to catapult the actor to mega-stardom.
This is the type of movie cinemas were made for. Take off your cycnic hat and go and see a film that tells the kind of story that made your ancestors believe in real heroes.
Every other summer movie judged against this just pales. See this on the big screen, I urge you. This film will move you.