Echoing through eternity!

Rating: 10/10 (17 January 2002)

I went to the movie theater to go see a good action filled with fighting and bloodshed. Instead, I witnessed a truly awesome story that happened to have some fighting and bloodshed. From the acting to the directing, and especially to the screenplay, this movie is spectacular!
Russell Crowe turns in a fine performance. Many of his critics who feel that he shouldn't have won an Oscar for his performance are taking it one step further and saying that he was downright dull. I don't know if Crowe deserved the Best Actor Oscar, but I do know that dull he was anything but. He is the only one I know who could have played Maximus and given him any depth and at the same time be convincingly intimidating. Kudos to the arguably best actor in showbiz!
Joaquin Phoenix's work as Commodus was severely underrated. It didn't take but one minute before I hated Commodus with a deep hatred. His scenes with Lucilla (Connie Nelson) are just plain eerie, causing me to hate him more.

This is easily Ridley Scott's best job as a director. He gives "Gladiator" an elegance and a darkness that together make the movie quite unique.
This is my all-time favorite movie and I think anyone who doesn't go see it is losing out!