A rousing, vastly entertaining big-budget winner

Rating: Null/10 (7 May 2000)

While hardly the most original of stories (you can have a great time coming up with all the films that influenced it), "Gladiator" is a mega-budget Hollywood summertime entertainment that works magnificently. Ridley Scott's directing is solid, the screenplay has some nicely developed character shadings and the acting is superb. Russell Crowe turns in yet another great acting role, Joaquin Phoenix also turns in a winning performance as Commodus, while Richard Harris, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou and the late Oliver Reed all offer great support. Technically, the film is near-perfect and of course, those fight scenes are truly exciting. A great, entertaining, fun time at the flicks.