Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
A Rousing Epic.
Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" is a roaring, romantic, moving spectacle about the glory that was Rome. This is a great film, one that brings back classic themes of the cinema that we haven't seen since the days "Spartacus" or "Quo Vadis" or even "Ben-Hur" stirred screen audiences. People have been waiting exactly for this kind of film for a long time. The purpose of a movie like "Gladiator" is to exhilarate the viewer and capture him with red-blooded drama and action. The screenplay by David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson barrows from other films and molds into a riveting story, a simple yet entertaining tale. Ridley Scott (Alien, G.I. Jane) directs with the eyes of a master, with great taste for epic material. The cinematography by John Mathieson is rich, making some scenes look like classic paintings of Ancient Rome. The editor is Pietro Scalia, who won an Oscar for Oliver Stone's "JFK," he creates some great, gritty, bone-crunching action sequences. And of course, the music by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard is effective, moving and a romping experience all in itself. "Gladiator" also works for women, it's not just a guy-flick, it has a nice, sensual feeling to the romantic material. This is fun, moving and enjoyable cinema. "Gladiator" will call you back for a second viewing.