An epic worthy of Best Picture

Rating: 9/10 (20 June 2009)

To my surprise, I've read several negative comments on this film, referring to it both as "fluff" and a "Braveheart-wanna-be." I found "Gladiator" to be a well-made, engaging epic and character study of Maximus (Russell Crowe), a general who becomes a fugitive and comes back to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge on the ones who killed his family. Maximus is a great character that many people can probably somehow relate to. This is Russell Crowe's best film by a long shot. In the same way that "Braveheart" taught us that "Every man dies, not every man really lives," this film teaches us that "What we do in life echoes in eternity," an equally compelling message that resonates both during and long after the movie is over. The film's unique way of depicting the afterlife (which I won't give away here) is one of the most brilliant aspects of the film, and the flashbacks between eternity and the battle scenes toward the end are due to Ridley Scott's superb job of directing this film. It's not completely flawless as "Braveheart" was, since I could have done without a particular murder sequence and a few of the battle scenes which are a bit repetitive. Nevertheless, I give this film a high recommendation. "Gladiator" will entertain and engage you, giving you a lot to think about when living your life.
***1/2 out of ****