The Roman Empire Strikes Back

Rating: 9/10 (2 May 2000)

Films like Titanic, The Mask of Zorro, Saving Private Ryan have re-introduced classic genres to new (young) audiences. Gladiator breaths new life into genre we know as 'Roman epic'.
Like other great Roman-history films, Ben-Hur (1959), Spartacus (1960) and the Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) is Gladiator a feast for the eyes of moviegoers. Who better could direct this film than Ridley Scot; a former commercial-director. He had made a number of epic, visually mind-blowing films before; Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Legend (1985), Thelma & Louise (1991) and 1492:Conquest of Paradise (1992) I have to say that in some of his films the actual story gets pushed to the background at times. Blade Runner's storyline was totally inferior to the visual aspects. Scott isn't the only director who tends to 'visualize' his films in that way. Michael Mann is also known as a maker of great visual epics like Last of the Mohicans, The Keep and Heat.
Gladiator offers a variation of entertainment; a love story, costume drama and "R" rated violence. Body halvings, decapitations, unhandings and impalements are the types of gore you can expect Gladiator. The cast is outstanding, except Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus. Phoenix has been miscast. The talented Russel Crowe is a strong impressive lead. Like his other good roles, in the Insider and Romper Stomper, he gives a superb performance. The same goes the late Oliver Reed. He died during the final shootings last year. A body double, with Reed's digital simulated face, completed the film.
OK, enough already; Stop reading this stuff and just go see this movie for yourself.