Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 4.0
Captivating historical drama
Gladiator is directed by Ridley Scott, and his exquisite use of shadow and tone are showcased in this film. This story is set in the time of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), and his successor, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Russell Crowe portrays a gladiator, Maximus Meridas, who comes back to reap his revenge on Commodus after being forced into slavery. Connie Nielson, Derek Jacobi, and Oliver Reed also star in this film. What makes this movie so good, besides the great cinematography, are the strong characters. This film is as much about the choices people make in life and how this affects their lives, as the ebbs and flows of our existence.This blu-ray disc was filmed with 5.1 dts master audio and in 1080p. There is some evidence of DNR(digital noise reduction) and EE(edge enhancement), but nothing so much that it spoiled my viewing of the film. The film is mostly crisp and clear. This disc also has lots of extras, including deleted scenes, interviews with scholars about history, and commentary from Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott, but best of all is the inclusion of an extended cut which has sixteen extra minutes of deleted scenes. Those that enjoy this film may also want to check out HBO's "Rome" series which is a gritty depiction of Roman history around the time of Julius Caesar, and Antony and Cleopatra.