Any time you hear the word 'classic' applied after one week, be wary...

Rating: Null/10 (18 May 2000)

"Gladiator" is a good movie, and well worth the price of admission. If you believe the hype surrounding the film, though, you will be disappointed -- this is not a 'classic' now, nor will it ever be. Walk into the theater expecting a fun time, however, and you will be rewarded with one (but as another reviewer stated, please leave the kids at home. This is a film that richly deserves its "R" rating... I will leave it at that).
"Gladiator" tells the story of Maximus, beloved and skillful general of the Roman army and Marcus Aurelius' choice (rather than his own immoral son Commodus) to rule the Roman Empire after his death. The film starts out with a great winter battle scene (although filmed in an annoying and difficult-to-watch hand-held camera style, very similar to the first half hour of "Saving Private Ryan"), moves quickly to the premature death of the Caesar and the order given by Commodus for Maximus' (and his family's) death, Maximus' escape from execution, and his being forced into slavery and the illegal bloodsport of the gladiator. As a battle-tested general, Maximus makes a natural gladiator, and when Commodus reinstates the gladiator games in Rome (to bolster his popularity in an attempt to overthrow and eliminate the pesky Senate), Maximus is given his opportunity to enter Rome and gain his revenge.
Interestingly, at a point where the story should be picking up some serious steam for the home stretch, it runs out of gas, and the film pretty much coasts the rest of the way in. We are given some great action scenes, good performances (notably Phoenix as the slimy Commodus, Reed (in his final role) as gladiator owner Proximus, and of course Crowe, as Maximus), and great effects, but the momentum created during the first hour is not maintained for the rest of the long film.
Give "Gladiator" a try, most will be glad they did. It is a fun movie and a good start to the summer movie rush. Just don't expect an epic classic... expect eye candy that satisfies. These days, can we expect more than that?