A 'modern' Roman Epic

Rating: 9/10 (7 July 2000)

Ridley Scott has done to Roman Epics what Steven Spielberg did for WW II movies: destroy all the traditional cliches and bring a more realistic approach to the subject.
What most impressed me was the realistic portrayal of the fights making us realize that violence is not an entertainment.
The high quality of the production is reflected in every single detail: from the shining face mask of the gladiator to the giant coliseum, passing by a bird's-eye view of Rome that the Romans themselves couldn't even see, to the splendid illustrations of the atrocities of the arenas and the battlefields.
The plot is just like what one would expect from such movies. The message is simple: Loyalty and honor are worth fighting for.
Everyone should see Gladiator and enjoy the wonderful acting and the marvelous special effects.