Why all that praise???

Rating: 4/10 (10 June 2000)

I saw the movie last night and must say it could have been worse. The recreation of the antic Rome was a great job. That's what I liked about the movie. But the story????????? I don't know. When I heard about the movie I didn't want to see it at the movies but thought I would maybe rent it when it came out on video. But my friend asked me to join him so I did.
The first 30 minutes are really bad and I wanted to leave the theater. I am just not the kind of person who pays full price for a movie that is one big slaughter. I think it was very violent and where is the thrill when two people fight each other and many persons die? The movie did however get better when Russell Crowe got to Rome. Not good, but better. At least I was willing to sit through this to the end. The whole time I had 1 question: why all that praise? The critics love it and many viewers too. I can't see why. But I am not into those historical epics anyway. The actors were okay. Russell Crowe can be a good actor but this part was just boring. Joaquin Phoenix was so wonderful in Return To Paradise with Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn. That movie should actually get all that praise, it's very good. He still gave a good performance in Gladiator. Overall, it was okay because it got better when Russell came to Rome and there are beautiful pictures in this movie. But don't bother to wait until it comes out on video or they show it on TV. I rate it 4/10.