Something missing...

Rating: 8/10 (7 July 2000)

8/10. I want to be more generous, as I enjoyed this film, but it has too many little weaknesses.
I remember thinking as I watched it, 'if they cut the fight scenes, would I watch this film again?'. The answer is no.
The fight scenes are excellent, if a little stronger than in Ben-Hur (et al.) in order to satisfy the modern audiences' bloodlust. I understand the comments likening this film to Braveheart. In both films you feel you are being given a glimpse of what it really must have been like to be involved. They are gripping scenes and, unlike Saving Private Ryan, the fighting comes along at nice regular intervals, a fresh hit to prolong the high...
While the rest of the film is not too bad, I felt it was just a little simplistic. Only Commodus was what could be described as a complex character. His sister should have been, and maybe she was before the cutting room, but she ended up behaving like a Bond girl. The actors were up to it but I felt the quality of the script let them down. It wasn't ambitious enough. It was as though Ridley Scott lost his nerve and tinkered with it to ensure mass market appeal (i.e. shortened it and dumbed it down).
I cannot leave without mentioning Olly Read. I am really happy his last film wasn't a turkey. He was a bit a scene stealer too, it is his eyes I think - twice the size of anyone elses!