Overrated and derivative

Rating: 6/10 (28 May 2001)

To give Gladiator its due, the music is good and aspects of the filming are also much above average. Unfortunately, there is little to either the story line or the acting to understand the ridiculous comments regarding the quality of this movie. The antagonist is reminiscent of Caligula with over-acting and a twisted personality that defies understanding where his political strength came from. The protagonist is wooden and compares poorly to all the prior "heroes" of this genre. Russell Crowe manages to make Victor Mature look good which is quite an accomplishment.
When you start a movie by having the aging caesar far removed from the political center of Rome decide that he will confront his perverted son and announce that the son is getting the shaft and the general is getting the glory, credibility drops like a stone. No one but Maximus, the son and the daughter know of the plans for succession. Oh, surprise! son kills father. Son kills Maximus' family. Maximus spends the movies going through slavery, remote gladiator contests, Rome and final confrontation. If there was one clever plot element along the way, I missed it. Gladiator=glad it was over.