A Special Movie Encompassing Much of What is Good About Hollywood

Rating: 10/10 (3 December 2014)

An epic which goes beyond the spectacle of the Roman empire, to delve so delicately into some of what we've come to believe is good and evil. It is unfortunate that a movie so well grounded in fine acting will probably be remembered more for the inescapable violence.
If you enjoy movies as an escape, something you can imagine yourself being transported into, this story, the scenes, will literally swallow you, beckon you to come in to a place and events that you will be sorry to see end. For me, it was the retractable awnings in the Coliseum and the fleeting shots of the hillside villa home of General Maximus, and his beautiful wife and precious son.
From the photography to the acting, the rest is Hollywood at its finest. More words are not necessary, let the grandeur of this fine movie sweep you away to an era which we believe was fundamental to civilization on our planet.