Absolutely stunning; an instant classic.

Rating: Null/10 (1 May 2000)

Gladiator is a film that will be remembered for a long time. A four-star masterpiece and an instant classic, the film will not only solidify Russell Crowe as one of the best actors of his generation, it should also reacquaint the world with the sometimes unfortunately forgotten genius of Ridley Scott.
The film follows Crowe as a Roman general named Maximus; a man feared by his enemies and revered by his men. Gladiator opens with a crawl reminding the audience of the might of ancient Rome, and the breadth of its power -- at one time, "one quarter of the world lived and died" under the rule of the Caesars.
The picture begins with the last battle between Rome and the "barbarians" in then-Germania -- a stunning sequence which not only sets the tone for the dazzling spectacle the movie becomes, but also shows the viewer how exactly skilled the Romans were in the art of war.
Without revealing too much of the plot, a new emperor (an amazing Joaquin Phoenix) takes power, and Maximus is sent into slavery. As a slave he soon becomes a gladiator -- as was the practice under some of the Caesars, and his skill on the battlefield translates well to the arena. Soon thousands flock to the Coliseum -- flawlessly created with the help of computer-generated shots -- to see Maximus fight. By winning the crowd, Maxiumus hopes to get a chance to seek his revenge on Commodus, the unjust ruler who ruined his life.
The film is stunning in every respect -- from acting, to action, to direction, to set design, and should become an instant classic.