Emotional, evocative, emphatic - and f**cking violent!

Rating: 9/10 (18 May 2004)

This film really does have it all.
It's got the best British director at the wheel, it's got the pure charisma of Russell Crowe, it's got sword fighting with Romans, it's got an amzing musical score, it's got great special effects, its got the best cinematography you've seen in years, it's got evocative historical accuracy, it's got a man fighting a tiger, it's got Ollie Reed (clearly p***ed on a few occasions)............the bloody lot then.
THe mastery of this film is the way in which the heart-wrenching story of Maximus is interwoven into a historical epic. THe story would have been a success even if Gladiator was lacking in the human element, but the fact is that the unholy tragedy that befalls Crowe and his subsequent quest for revenge drive the rest of the film, and make all of the various actions scenes those of 'higher stakes' than normally expected (ie. the only risk is your own skin, here it is a whole set of moral beliefs and a legacy of love).
Such a perfect fusion of drama, acting, action and musical score, this film is Hollywood at it's very best, with a British twist - humilty. See it as soon as you possibly can.
9/10 A future classic.