Worth seeing in the theater

Rating: 8/10 (1 June 2000)

I expected Gladiator to be mediocre thematically, perhaps a cross between The Matrix and Spartacus. As it turned out, I was pleasantly surprised. Although I cannot give this film an overwhelmingly positive endorsement, it certainly is worth checking out in a theater. Its greatest strength is, of course, the visual effects. Ancient Rome is recreated so beautifully that my jaw literally dropped during some of the scenes. Additionally, there are some great battle scenes, including a large, "Braveheart-esque" affair and smaller, gladitorial encounters. Overall, it's the kind of brutality you can really sink your teeth into (ie, it's stunning visually and lighthearted enough that you don't really feel bad about being entertained by it).
The plot is a bit silly, and the film drags at points. Without the awe-inspiring eye candy, this movie would be merely decent. As is, this is a fine film that foreshadows the kind of film making we can expect with the astronomical increase in special effects quality.