Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 3.0
Maximus mediocritus. 3.5 stars.
I like this movie, for an epic battle flick it is pretty good although it is a bit long and the battle scenes-though good-left me a bit cold. Everything battle-wise looks old-hat after Kenneth Branaugh's HENRY V and Gibson's BRAVEHEART. GLADIATOR is an enjoyable film with great acting (of course) by Crowe, who carries the film with his singularly massive screen presence. The supporting cast is good, but on occasion, unremarkable. I have seen the film three times and remember little about most of the characters. The locations are great and the script is good if forgettable. This probably should NOT have won best picture, but you already knew that. Even so, it remains one of the better films of the year.The DVD is packed and gets a five star rating. I don't know what else could have been added to it. The picture and sound quality are great though not to reference standards. The second disc is packed with material which you can read about if you so choose. If you are one of the three people on earth who have not seen this film give it a try. It never achieves its goals, but it aims high.