Parallels with the Degeneration of our American Empire

Rating: 7/10 (10 February 2005)

This movie is rife with parallels to our own degenerating society. Will Durant in his "Age of Faith" points out that the republic of Rome segued into an Empire as the leaders became power mad, epitomized by Comitus, who killed his father, Marcus Aurelius (representing the fairer Caesars). These characters were composites of the Caesars who presided over the death of the Roman Empire, so like my country today. 'Comitus' refers to the elite, but weak aristocracy of patrician counts (comites). Notice: NASCAR? The chariot races with the blood lust quotient upped by having them run down the gladiators.
Bush? Comitus, the degenerate overseer of the decline of the Roman Empire, who cleverly had the love of the masses by offering them the circuses of the gladiators being torn limb to limb by animals or killed by other gladiators (Boxing, anyone?)
Dr. Dean? Maximum, the brave gladiator who alone stands against the wicked Comitus, who loves his country and dies for it in his fight with the cowardly Comitus. But gradually, his fellow gladiators follow his leadership as they recognize his bravery in speaking truth to power. As Bush stole the presidency twice, Comitus had to STAB Maximus before 'fighting' him in what appeared to be a fair match in the Coliseum (ref. also, Bush's receiver that tried to make the playing field even in the debates, and still failed). He, like Bush, could not win in a fair fight.
Impotent Congress? "The Senate, at Rome could deliberate, legislate, adjudicate, but always subject to the imperial veto; their legislative functions were largely appropriated by the ruler's advisory council, the sacrum consistorium principes.
America, the Empire? In the view of the emperors, democracy had failed; it had carried liberty into license, and license into chaos. The system kept the Byzantine Empire in existence for a millennium, but at the cost of political stagnation, public atrophy, court conspiracies, wars of succession and a score of palace revolutions that gave the throne occasionally to competence, seldom to integrity, too often to an unscrupulous adventurer, an oligarchic cabal, or an IMPERIAL FOOL." Durant
Heaven? Elysian Fields, the after-life that encouraged people to risk their lives for glory on the battle field (Iraq), and in the Coliseum (NASCAR circuit, boxing ring)
As blood lust feeds upon itself, so also the American masses with this movie.....up close and personal, degenerating into a tolerance of torture. But we MUST be protected from a woman's nipple!!!