Excellent Film

Rating: 10/10 (3 September 2000)

Excellent fight scenes, excellent plot (wow, a film with a *real* story!) and very long (nearly 3 hours).
I believe Russell Crowe was perfectly cast as Maximus. Maximus is a hero with loyalty to his country and to the old caesar, but especially to his family. He has the loyalty of his army behind him so is adored by just about everybody.
Commodus, the whining, cringing, cowardly git was played well by Joaquin Phoenix. As was his sister. She came across to me as being the real emperor of Rome, while her brother was really a whimpering SOB.
What beautiful scenery! Computer effects of Rome was eye candy to behold! See computer-animated tigers and blood!
The fight scenes were not as gory as I expected. I have seen far worse! Some of these fight scenes, especially the ones which take place in the Colliseum in Rome, are quite spectacular. Shows how the blood thirsty citizens of ancient Rome love to be entertained... (much like todays' blood thirsty movie audiences who love to be entertained by trash like... dare I say... Hollow Man!!!)
CONCLUSION: This film is a must see.