Amazing, epic adventure with great performances and fight sequences alike

Rating: Null/10 (3 July 2003)

Russel Crowe won his first Oscar for playing gladiator Maximus, a Roman soldier betrayed by the emperor's son Commodus (Jaquin Phoenix). Maximus is forced to become a gladiator, fighting and slowly gaining the respect of the Roman public.
Crowe's performance defines drama, as the heavily reluctant and equally mourning Maximus. Phoenix almost matches Crowe's brilliance, but over-acts a little in some scenes, losing a possible Oscar win.
Aside from the fabulous acting there is also the perfectly choreographed sword battles. From the beginning raid on the barbarians to the climactic Crowe vs. Phoenix fight scene, the battles, and everything else in "Gladiator" for that matter, never disappoint.
8.5/10