Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
The Spirit of Rome, the Ghost of Romulus
This was a fantastic movie. I enjoyed myself very much watching it. However, a few things must be set straight. The writiers of this film paid little attention to history. Commodus ruled for twelve years and began his reign qite ausipiciously, listening to the advisors of his father. The murder of Marcus Aurelius by his son is pure unfounded speculation by people with little historical conscience. Knowing full well the many historical errors of Gladiator, I must once again reiterate that despite these I loved the movie. It is indeed a very Roman movie. The ancient historians had no qualms about changing things up a bit here and there to make a few heros. The imagery of the field and the wheat is taken straight from the spirit of Rome and the pages of Livy, a Roman historian. The Romans themselves would have agreed that the character of Maximus was excellent. Of course, the special effects and the acting were good as well.