A "Must See" film for guys and a reason to buy a DVD player

Rating: Null/10 (13 December 2000)

If you happen to come across another review of this movie that draws comparisons to other films of the same genre, such as "Spartacus," or "Ben-Hur," I would immediately stop reading it. I strongly believe that a film should be judged on its own merits.
If you want to find fault with this movie, there are certainly opportunities to do so, but, in my opinion, this movie is a rare gem with only minor flaws.
Regardless of what critics might say, if a film has a lasting emotional and visceral impact on me, then I will strongly recommend it to others.
The combination of stunning visuals, a moving musical score, and top-notch acting are the reasons why I ran out to buy the DVD (get the 2-disc set) when it was released. There are few movies that I would want to watch more than one time. Two examples are "Braveheart" and "Boys Don't Cry." Both excellent films, and very moving, but once is more than enough.
By contrast, I can never get enough of Russell Crowe ("Maximus") or Ridley Scott (the Director) who are the real stars of this film.
Ridley Scott is a genius for transporting the viewer to alien worlds whether they are in the far future ("Blade Runner") or the distant past, as he does here in Gladiator.
If you are guy and the opening battle sequence does nothing to get your blood pumping, then you are, as Maximus exhorts his soldiers in that scene "...already dead."