Gladiator Rocks

Rating: 10/10 (9 May 2019)

Throughout my life I have watched many movies and there are few that I could compare to Gladiator. Everything that makes up the movie contributes to why this movie will be one of the best ever, such as the great plot, character struggles, acting, and historical setting. When I watched this movie the first few times, which has now been years ago, I remember being so embedded in the plot and how the story was developing that I was becoming to feel as if I was in the movie myself. I felt this way mostly because of how well the movie follows the guidelines of what I think the requirements of a good action/adventure/drama should be. While the movie does specifically target people who prefer action, fighting, and history, it can be satisfying for almost everyone because of how well the movie is done, and it shows by the sheer numbers and accolades Gladiator has.
Gladiator released in 2000 at the start of the 21st Century and was under the direction of Ridley Scott, who in 2015 directed The Martian, and is well known for being one of the best in the business. Along with the directing is the amazing acting, award winning acting. The main star in this film is Russell Crowe, who is a widely known actor nowadays because of the films he has been in such as: Noah, The Water Diviner, 3:10 to Yuma, Robin Hood, etc. The other main cast members include Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, and Richard Harris. These five actors did such an amazing job and their performances did not go unnoticed. In total there were 102 nominations of Gladiator for numerous prizes, from Russell Crowe winning an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role to Ridley Scott getting nominated for Best Director. Out of the 102 nominations it won 59 awards; from the Golden Globe Awards, Academy Awards and BAFTA awards. Before Gladiator dominated all of the award shows of 2000, it became the fourth highest selling movie of the year domestically, and is credited with revitalizing societies interest in ancient Greek and Roman Culture.
In order for a movie that is a drama/action & adventure to do well it needs to accomplish certain things. One of those things is character struggles in both internal and external ways, and I really believe that the way Russell Crowe acts as Maximus is what solidified this. Throughout the movie there are numerous struggles that Russell's character faces, and with each one the audience is getting closer and closer to the edges of their seats. Another thing that makes Gladiator one of the best is the plot, and it begins to start twisting almost as soon as the curtains open. When Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) is murdered by his son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), Maximus (Russell Crowe) is arrested because the Emperor wanted him to take his place and not Commodus. While escaping his captors he gets brutally injured to the point he can barely ride a horse, but he must face a long ride, so his family won't meet the same fate he was supposed to meet, execution. After seeing his family murdered, the extrinsic journey of Gladiator really begins. I like this because that is a justifiable reason for revenge through death, and the writers of the movie know this, they appeal to everybody's pissed off emotions that we all felt watching the movie. The only reason this movie is one of the best is because it is the type that you love, but that you hate to watch, because of how well the film puts you in the point of view of the character, and all of the emotions and drama that he faces throughout this film.
Gladiator is one of the best movies ever released because of the acting, plot development, character struggles and historical setting. It isn't easy to make a masterpiece of a movie that is historical and not completely accurate, but this Cast and Crew is basically like a dream team or an all-star team because they pulled it off and can claim they have one of the best movies in history because of it. If you have not seen this movie yet I recommend seeing it as soon as possible. Not only will you be impressed by the splendid acting and story, you will feel as if you are actually watching a real story unfold in front of you. If you are curious about ancient times and love really good dramatic movies, watch this movie and the story it tells, you will not be disappointed.