Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
set aside "reality" and you can enjoy it
I happen to be an ancient historian and I find that I can best enjoy movies and films set in the ancient world if I don't expect them to be realistic. There are many problems with this film in terms of the reality of the Roman world during the second century CE -- listing them would use up the entire word limit for reviews on Amazon.com. However, the film itself moves rapidly, the scenery and costuming is eleborate, and the characters are interesting and well-acted. Its good to see both veteran actors and younger ones interacting so well. My only real complaint is that some of the filming made me a bit dizzy but then combat is a fast-paced and terrifying experience and the quick, spiraling movements did a good job of making me feel overwhelmed at times. We're using it in the Roman History class this semester and it should generate a lot of good discussion.