Probably the last of the great Roman epics

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2000)

We've trodden this route before. Anyone familiar with the Kirk Douglases and Charlton Hestons of the world will recognise what this film is about. It was interesting to note the number of elderly people in the cinema, another indication that this film was a throwback to a bygone era.
Having said that, it was visually stunning, the cinematography added another dimension to this genre. The battle scenes were vivid and exciting and the scenes in the colleseum kept me enthralled. Russell Crowe was a fitting choice for the part of Maximus and generally it was well cast apart from the irritating Lucius. Oliver Reed chose the perfect vehicle for his swansong and filmic epitaph.
Despite enjoying it as a thrilling spectacular and not finding it long at over two and a half hours, at the end of the film I did have a certain sense of deja-vu. Apart from technological advances there was nothing new that would differentiate this film from the the Cecil B de Mille epics. Still, I ask myself is there anything wrong with turning out a good old-fashioned movie with all the tricks that entertained previous generations.
However, there was something about it that left me pondering that as we are now in the year 2000, perhaps we demand a little bit more. Maybe we've spent too many years watching too many films to be surprised, and that's my biggest gripe - there was nothing surprising or unexpected about this film.
Still perhaps I'm over complaining. I felt I got my moneys worth and would certainly recommend it to anyone who was unsure as whether to go or not. There is a lot to enjoy about this movie and I suppose if it happens to be on the box on a Good Friday in a few years time, I'll probably tune in again. So it's a thumbs up from me!