Gladiator and its vision through Maximus

Rating: 10/10 (2 May 2012)

First of all, I want to start off by saying that this is a fantastic movie. The actors and the production crew did a great job at portraying each characters emotions and struggles. The plot is also very well written as it draws the audience into its midst and captures everyones attention.
One thing that I want to focus on is the character Maximus. Obviously being the main character, Maximus is the star of the movie. He is for one, courageous and strong, never giving up and always fighting for his freedom. He is also a respectful and very humble man. He never shows disrespect to those above him and he never brags about his strength and power. In a quote from the movie he is asked what he is saying to his family who is in the afterlife. He states, "To my son - I tell him I will see him again soon. To keep his heels down while riding his horse. To my wife... that is not your business." With a sense of humor he respects his family and remains pure at most.
Maximus also never gives up. He understands that he has to keep fighting to stay alive. Anything less and he is a dead man. In explaining this to another character he says, "I am required to kill, so I kill. That is enough." Wow. He does it because he has to. If he didn't have to, he probably wouldn't harm a fly. He seems to be the most kind and considerate person, but on the other side of things, understands what is necessary to stay alive.
One of my favorite lines from the movie is this, "What we do in life echoes in eternity." While not all of us in this world believe in life after death, there is truth and meaning to this for us who do believe. Maximus has has faith in something far more greater then what is here on earth. I love how the movie is constantly showing how Maximus is looking towards the afterlife. When things get tough and there seems to be know way out, this thought of the afterlife, keeps him going. Maximus understands that there is something greater, and he will one day be able to reunite with his family which he loves greatly.
I also love the character that Maximus plays because he is constantly keeping one eye on eternity. In the old testament of the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3, verse 11 says that, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." What a great reminder that this life isn't all that there is. There is more to live for then living a good life, having a good job, and making lots of money. I am not only saying that these things are not important, but they shouldn't control us.
What is also very neat in this movie is that the glimpses of the after life are not fully visible. They are not completely clear as to what is happening in these scenes but it is obvious that these scenes of the afterlife are way better then the times during this movie. These glimpses are not completely seen; but we know they seem to be full of life and satisfying. In 2nd Corinthians, the writer says, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." What is unseen is eternal. We don't think like that everyday. But we should.
Way to go for this film becoming a top favorite movie for many people. But even cooler, intentionally or not, how it uses its main character to highlight on greater things to come.