Gladiator, a great film

Rating: Null/10 (19 May 2004)

PLOT SPOILER!!!!! The Roman Army is commanded by Maximus. The Emperor Marcus Aurelius is dying and, knowing that his son Commodus is not a suitable heir, asks Maximus to take command and restore the republic. But when Commodus finds out, he kills his father and orders the execution of Maximus who defeats his would-be assassins and rides to Spain. But he arrives too late to save his wife and son, who have been brutally murdered. Delirious from a terrible wound, he is sold to Proximo and goes to a school for gladiators. Maximus fights with success that he is acclaimed by the crowd. In a fight, he is saved from Commodus who is horrified for discovering that he is still alive. The opposition to Commodus focused on the Emperor's sister Lucilla and tries to persuade Maximus to defeat her brother's Empire. In an effort to win back the support of the people, Commodus decides to face Maximus in the arena, but takes the precaution of wounding him before the fight begins. After a tense battle, Maximus succeeds in killing the Emperor, despite his wound, His gladiator friends are freed and he joins his beloved wife and child in the afterlife, leaving a weeping Lucilla behind.
COMMENTS
In terms to characters, the main, Maximus, had the ferocity of a warrior, but with dignity and character. He combined the great feeling of heroism and bravery with goodness. Commodus, the Emperor Marcus Aurelius's son was a person with an insatiate thirst of human blood and capable of the most inhuman actions. His dislike about himself was reflected in his difficult personality. He was envious of Maximus because people loved him and above all because the Emperor loved Maximus mere than him. Although his wickedness, he suffered for this condition and, it causes into the public a sense of pity. The Emperor was an honest man and he fought for his people. He was never proud of his son and he paid for it with his live. The Commodus' sister, Licilla, was a beautiful woman who loved Maximus. Until her brother's dead, she had always lived beyond fear and contempt for him.
The gladiatorial combats are an important part of the film. Gladiators were drawn from various sources, but many of them were men who had no alternative: slave and criminals. As we see in the film, the combats were never equal: either the weapons were different or the odds heavily weighted in favour of one side or the other. The problem of keeping the crowd entertained reminded and, as time went by, increasingly extravagant events were devised.
As well, we have to pay attention to the dialogues. They speak about honesty, loyalty, courage, live, friendship, memories, etc.