Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
An epic movie of Braveheart proportions
This is one of the better movies you'll see all year. Acting, story, direction - all come together equally. Not a 'best actor' movie, not a 'best screenplay' movie, not a 'best director' movie, but a 'best picture' movie.Joaquin and Russell work amazingly well. It is hard to distinguish a better performance between them. They are two actors at the top of their game. It is amazing to me the transition Russell Crowe made from his last role (in the Insider) to the role of Maximus in this film. Richard Harris is brilliant as Marcus Aurelius, and Djimon Hounsou is incredible as Juba, one of Maximus' allies in the gladiator ring.The special effects are unnoticable, which is the highest compliment a special effect can receive.The script, although somewhat predictable, also had some tricks up its sleeve. The pairing of Commodus and Maximus in the final bout was unexpected, yet perfect.The battle scene, and some of the bout scenes, seemed to tear a page out of Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, as the cinemtography, and general feeling reminded me of the first battle in Saving Private Ryan. However, it worked well with this film also.The bottom line here is that this is a superb picture - it riles and stirs your emotion, and demands your attention. It is truly a triumph.