"He will give them death and they will love him for it."

Rating: 9/10 (21 May 2000)

I did not know movies like this were made anymore -- or even could be made.
The production values go beyond lavish -- this is truly a Hollywood Spectacular.
Somebody really did their homework -- every detail was brilliantly executed. However the Romans of that period in history did not have tempered steel (which made its debut in the 14th Century) but is sure looked better on screen than the iron or bronze weapons the real gladiators would have carried.
There is true genius in this film: costuming, photography, art direction and most of all the acting and direction.
Ridley Scott outdid himself. The sheer size, scope and grandeur are breathtaking.
Russell Crowe heads an incredible international cast that had to truly believe in this film to achieve the greatness that the audience sees on the screen.
Whoever did the matte paintings (no credit given) be they on the traditional glass or CGI deserves a special mention. They transport the viewer to a place that is so unreal it becomes real.
In the credits there is a brief homage to Oliver Reed -- who died the day after the film was released in the United States... I do not know how they worked that credit into the release that I saw but I do appreciate it.
This is an instant classic and will go down in filmatic history as 'A Movie For All Time.'