A beautiful motion picture

Rating: 9/10 (1 October 2014)

When looking for a movie a person looks for something that will entrain oneself. Gladiator brings in the factor of being entrain with also giving the audience a stunning look at ancient Rome, as they follow Roman general Maximus played by Russell Crowe, as he gets beaten down and made into a gladiator, then rises up and takes his revenge. Whether it's the moment Maximus dies or when he is talking to Marcus Aurelius each scene brings in an aspect of suspense or grittiness. As each scene unfolds, Ridley Scott is able to capture the emotions of the characters and, the tension each of them are facing. Each fight Maximus has the audience knows it could be his last one and wanting him to fight on. Ridley Scott is able to craft a beautiful motion picture, using the actors' performance, and a stunning sound track to make the movie come alive.
The moment Maximus arrives to his villa after almost being exuded, he knew there was something amiss, the music of this scene, brought in the heartbreak and hopelessness to this situation when Maximus discover his entire family was brutally murdered. Then the shear agony Russell Crowe showed really brought me in on how Maximus had lost everything and everyone who he ever loved. This scene shows how the movie is much more than a man fighting in the area as a gladiator but as a man fighting for revenge for his loved ones that can't call out to him anymore. Also Russell Crowe's performance gives the character Maximus a sense of justice with is body statue to compliment it. "Crowe's performance comes from an instinctive mastery of look and gesture and a powerful physical presence." (Desmond Ryan). His battle harden look and motion of how he will restore Rome to its former glory, makes the audience believe in the character as a whole.
Alongside Russell Crow's performance, Joaquin Phoenix performance as Commodus, the son of Marcus Aurelius and Empire of Rome, gave a crazy, ruthless, power hungry dictator a new look. Straight from the start of the movie, the audience could see how foolish he was as a person, when he stepped on the battle field. But scene when Commodus kills his father to become empire, Phoenix molded the character as paranoid and driven man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. As the film went on Joaquin Phoenix fulfillment of the character, make onlookers how far he is willing to go to stay in power and not have Maximus over throw him. "As played by Mr. Phoenix, Commodus is like a serious version of Dr. Evil, coming on to his sister (Connie Nielsen) while she pines for Maximus in this brazen mix of blood sport." (Elvis Mitchell). The scene when he does not know what to about the senate not approving in the actions he put forth, Phoenix's body language, set of dialog shows the despite and paranoid out looked on this cruel world. The role of a supporting actor or actress is to help push the plot forward, and Joaquin Phoenix does it quite swimmingly.
Being able to build a scene up is one of the most important thing a movie needs to do, along with great actors to drive the plot forward, part of building that scene up is the use of an original film score to create a tone. Each time Maximus steps in the coliseum to fight, the music brings in his hopes, desires, of how he is felling. Then when the fighting beginnings the music speeds up allowing the audience feel the same way as the character. "Music is a big factor in helping the illusion of the film come to life. The same way music brings back different periods of our lives." (Francis Ford Coppola) This quote from Coopola tells why music is so important in movies. At the end of the movie when Maximus kills Commodus but then dies from the wound Commodus inflicted him before fight, Maximus starts to lose consciousness he sees the gate to the other world, the world where his wife and child are waiting for him to return. The music sets in bring in the realization to Maximus that he is finally home with his family. The music of this scene drives the emotions of Maximus when finally arrives home to his family after helping to save Rome from a tyrant.
Gladiator to me is one of this generations best movies, pulling off some amazing cinematography that can only be compared to some of the best movies. I believe Gladiator should be watch by all to see spectacular acting and subnational music. Though this movie came out 14 years ago it still a wonderful movie.