One of the greatest ever

Rating: 10/10 (28 May 2000)

After seeing this movie for the 3rd time this afternoon, the ending still brought me to the point of tears. Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe combine to give one of the most powerful performances in an action/adventure/drama film since Saving Private Ryan. Other than Stand by Me, which i saw when i was just a kid, Gladiator, and Private Ryan are the only 3 movies that have ever brought me to tears. I only wish i would get an email address or agent address for Ridley Scott or Russell Crowe, just to write a letter of appreciation for the film. I saw MI2 the other day, and was grossly disappointed. More like Mission Ridiculously Proposterous, Gladiator is a far superior film. After i saw it the first time, i just sat there after the movie was over, unable to describe how much the movie touched me. I have recommended it to everyone from my mom, to Fraternity buddies, and have gone to see it each time with a new group of people who were seeing it for the first time. The soundtrack as well is amazing. The music alone brings me to tears, and as soft as i sound, i rarely cry at movies, where everything is scripted. But i listen to tracks 15,16, and 17, and i get teary eyed. The music is just very powerful and the vocals are incredibly haunting. Hans Zimmer did an amazing job, and while Hans did the ST for MI2, it doesn't compare. The whole package is an emotional tour de force, that isn't just a hack'em up bloody gorefest, despite the amount of killing that does occur, it has a story and emotion and brilliant acting by Russell Crowe and supporting cast. It's a must see for the summer, and a must own when released on VHS or DVD.