An epic movie with dazzling effects!

Rating: Null/10 (14 May 2000)

I had heard all of the hype about Gladiator and I thought that I should go and see it. I was looking forward to see the CGI which I guarantee you is mind blowing and I wanted to see how Russell Crowe would fair against the likes of Charlton Heston and Kirk Douglas.
The movie lived up to all of my expectations and exceeded some of them, the fight scenes are well staged and are often brutal. The movie has a great style about it thanks to it's brilliant director Ridley Scott.
The film opens in Germania with the Roman soldiers about to go to war with the barbarians. This goes on for around ten minutes and you will be astounded by it, shocked, but you will never forget it. It has brutal moments in the battle with heads and arms flying off left, right and centre which may put people off put I implore you to stick with it because it is excellent.
The dying Marcus Aurelius' (Richard Harris) last wish was to have the Roman General Maximus (Russell Crowe) become the new emperor which shocked Maximus as he just wanted to go home to his family. When Marcus Aurelius dies his son Commodus (the outstanding Joaquin Phoneix) wants Maximus dead so he can take over. Maximus escapes and becomes a gladiator.
The acting in the movie is superb and this should win the major awards at the Oscars because all the other movies out this year are sci-fi or action. Joaquin Phoneix is amazing as the devilish Commodus and Russell Crowe is brilliant as Maximus. Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi and the late Oliver Reed are excellent in their supporting roles.
This movie is a must see, it lives up to it's hype and I think it is better than Ben Hur and Spartacus. One of the best movies ever made and triumph in every way.