Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 4.0
Connects at many levels
This is a great movie for adults that are not squeamish.There are many threads that run through this tale. The one I identified with most was the loyal soldier/family man, who above all seeks to discharge his duties as a soldier and husband/father honorably. At the whim of his adversaries, all that is precious to him is taken away - except his desire to continue on honorably. In short, it is a collage of cliches, but it is not hard to watch because it manages to make sense all the way through.The acting of Russell Crowe is perfect for this role, but I could imagine many of Hwood's best doing a good job in such a well-constructed tale.The cinematography is exemplary and really propels a great tale to the next level.All in all, this is a must watch, if you don't mind a prodigious quantity of blood and death.