Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 4.0
Very well done film, sad & heart-wrenching....
This was a great all around film with excellent direction, acting, and scenery. The Majesticness of the Roman empire was captured nicely and the power of it's people and culture were also well rendered.Bottom line? This was a somewhat sad movie which was surprising as the title and concept had me figuring it was gong to be a rough & tough action movie. Sure, there was a lot of action and bloody fighting but the undertones of the film were mainly sadness, despair, and ultimately revenge. The main character goes through what can only be described as hell on earth from an emotional standpoint. I mean.... geeesh...how could he take all those things that happened to him and his loved ones and not go completely crazy?Russell Crowe did a nice job as the under-spoken Gladiator and his nemesis was the perfect "spoiled brat" heir to the throne type that you want to immediately choke to death. Nicely done.The only shaky parts of the movie would be the convenient end fight that just seemed a little contrived. Also, I question the how sane the Gladiator would have remained given the horrors he had to deal with, especially on an emotional level.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!