Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
Historical nonsense but awesome nonetheless!
Gladiator, like Braveheart, is about 90% untrue. The Senate wasn't democratically elected (I just discovered this from another review!), it never gained power from the emperors again, Maximus probably never existed in any form, 'thumbs up' meant death, etc.However, for some undefinable reason, unlike Braveheart I was able to set such considerations aside and just enjoy the spectacle. The incredible battle scenes, music that blends really well with the action, Turneresque vistas of Rome, great costuming (it's probably all wrong as well but I for one don't really care).I'm not qualified to give judgement on the performances, but I thought Russel Crowe as Maximus was pretty good. Joaquim Phoenix as the incestuous, patricidal, spoiled-brat Emperor is just fun to watch and quite chilling in his callousness. His use of the Colosseum to keep the people happy has echoes of modern-day propaganda.Definitely up there in my Top 10 films.