Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
Hands Down Best Film of Summer
Gladiator was an excellent movie and has all the aspects required to be a true blockbuster. Crowe is awesome as the General Maximus and provides an intensity and depth of character that truly makes the viewer emphasize with his trials throughout the film. Tragically, Oliver Reed, who plays the owner of the gladiator camp, died during filming. Apparently they digitized his face for the remaining scenes and I thought they succeeded. However, I can't wait for the DVD to come out so I can look for the cover-ups. Getting back to the film, it appears to be pretty historically accurate. Commodus did in fact die at the hands of a wrestler/gladiator, although I doubt it occurred in the Coloseum! The opening battle scene is as intense as any on film, and I guess I was a little disappointed that no other large battles occurred during the rest of it. In short, great cast, great plot and great cinematography.