It is acceptable but ...

Rating: Null/10 (27 September 2000)

"Gladiator" is an acceptable film . After a long period of time, it's a good sample for the historical kind in cinema .
In "Gladiator" the good men & the bad men are completely distincted, so film takes distance from the bed of the drama which needs characterizing , & pays more attention to narration & showing of a historical story (which is its claimant) .
Players are very well , specially "Russell Crowe" & "Joaquin Phoenix" but the battle field in the beginning & gladiatorial races are not as good & as great as previous samples such as "Spartacus" ... or "Brave heart" at all.
Perhaps more slow motion scenes in the beginning battle & mean while coliseum races emphasized more on that legendary and epic sequences, the attraction which was created by "Sam Pekin Pah" (in his different films) and used by "Mel Gibson" in "Braveheart" is weak here .
It is not important that the story is not adapted completely to history , the admirable object of Cezar Marcus Aurelius (changing the empire to republicity) , the bad character of Commodus , & the goodness of Maximus (and his hate toward Commodus) justifies characters' behavior and the sequence of happenings .
Direction (except the rapid speed & distressed mise en scenes used in battle field and some races) is the same as expected from Ridley Scott , cinematography with great longshots and sufficient light (with the help of special effects) makes available the greatness needed for a brilliant historical film , edition meanwhile the film creates the suitable rhythem and prevents the audience from indolence , even mean while the long dialogues with alternating closeups .
Music is very effective in creating environment , too . It never disturbs the audience . But , the most remarkable element in "Gladiator" is Russell Crowe & his admirable play , the player who shined with "L.A. Confidential" , equalled to Al Pacino in "The Insider" ... and showed his ability to play any role in "Gladiator" . Russell Crowe is a real star in Hollywood and the world of CINEMA .