you people are never satisfied!!!!

Rating: Null/10 (26 March 2001)

I was reading the comments, and some things become apparent. When Russell Crowe does show his outrageous upper body, people whine about him being some kind of male pig. But when he doesn't, you whine! Same thing with the realistic traits. When there are historical inaccuracies, FOR SHAME!!!! Well, make some note of these points:
1. MOVIES ARE NOT DOCUMENTARIES. When will people learn that entertainment is seldom reality and reality seldom entertaining. For example, there's the part where thumbs up meant death and closed thumbs meant life. In reality, that would be the case. However, put that in a movie and it would just serve to confuse modern day audiences. "Should Maximus live or die?!?!?! ohhhhhh ohhhhhhhh Commidus chooses...was that sign language he just used???" Number two example: Maximus goes riding into battle with German Sheperds instead of Mastiffs(which was the real dogs they would have used). If you would have put Mastiffs into the picture, it would have been like lending Auggie Dog to a noble moment. A Mastiff is a big droopy mutt. German shepards added to the scene better than the other. So not all realistic things would have worked in an artistic sense. They would have only confused, bored the audience, or conflicted with themes.
2. IT WAS A RITUAL FORMULA, WHICH WOMEN JUST EAT UP!!! Lets face it, he's fighting for love, and for his country. So unselfish. Women just swoon for those kind of heroes. Remember Braveheart? Same thing, and also historically inaccurate. But both films were successful. Gladiator takes a traditional theme and makes it fly high. I was impressed.
3. Roger Ebert just doesn't understand- He whines that alot of the setting was dark. Well it was! Duh! Where's the electricity in this scene Roger?!?! This story is second century A.D. Of course it was dark. He also complains about Gladiator being muddy. Well, let me explain why the movie was so muddy. Mud goes great with gladiators. Mud goes great with blood. There was a lot of that in the film, right Roger? As dark as it may seem, it is a film with dualistic properties. It focuses on death as a latent theme, but what shines through is more about life and living. That everyone will die someday, but it is best to live to the fullest until that time comes.