Know why you're going to see this movie

Rating: Null/10 (19 May 2000)

Some of the other users commenting on "Gladiator" have complained about its cliched plot and weak dialogue. They are absolutely correct in their complaints. However, everyone who has seen this film agrees that the visual effects and aesthetic value are absolutely stunning. So stunning, in fact, that they alone make the movie worth seeing.
So there you have it -- if you go to see "Gladiator" with high expectations of the plot, script, or characters, you will be disappointed, unless you are about 15 years old or younger. You will be in awe, however, of the incredible cinematography and special effects. The recreation of ancient Rome, the opening battle scenes, and the live action in the Colloseum are just a few examples of the amazing visual effects of this film.

Does a movie have to have an original, unpredictable story with realistic characters to be considered good? It's funny how the great operas in history almost always have very hokey, silly, and predictable stories with cliched characters. We still consider works like "The Marriage of Figaro," and "Carmen" to be artistic masterpieces because of their great musical appeal. Can we not look at a film like "Gladiator" in a similar fashion? Can we not excuse its "Hollyweed" story and characters because of its superb aesthetic appeal? I think we should.