A welcome return to the Roman epic!

Rating: Null/10 (13 May 2000)

'Gladiator' has been hailed as the triumphant return to the era of the big Hollywood Roman epic and that it was to rank alongide such cinematic monuments as 'Ben Hur' and 'Spartacus'. Russell Crowe plays Roman General Maximus who leads his war-worn troops to victory in Germania only to find that his emperor has been murdered by his son, Commodus (Jacquin Phoenix). Maximus becomes a condemned man, his family is butchered and he becomes a gladiator, intent on striking revenge on the evil emperor.
'Gladiator' is an enjoyable blockbuster boasting splendid performances especially from Crowe and Phoenix. However, the action sequences are wasted through modern trickery camera effects and therefore are unsuspenseful. The computer graphics of the colosseum are impressive and the photography is visually striking.
It is great to know that this is a big summer blockbuster which is more intelligent than what we have experienced lately (remember 'Wild Wild West' last year?). It is an impressive movie, but at the same time contains no memorable moments which must mean that it can not be in the same stable as 'Ben-Hur or 'Spartacus'. It is simply unfit to untie their Roman sandals!!!!