Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
It Isn't SPARTACUS, But...
Russell Crowe does a splendid job in this big budget period epic, playing the Roman General Maximus. Maximus is tapped to be the next Emperor of Rome. Predictably, he is betrayed by Marcus Aurelius Caesar's blood-progeny (shades of DeMille's THE TEN COMMANDMENTS). The spineless Commodus is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, who devours his role with relish. Commodus sells the general into slavery, after which Maximus ends up a gladiator in Rome.Crowe's performance is dynamic, even given that he growls his way through most of his dialogue. The action asequences are exciting, appropriately gory, and (as far as the Roman histories tell us) historically accurate. Rome was a culture where brawn outweighed brains in value, and social standards of behavior were tied to an Emperor's own idiosyncrasies. In GLADIATOR, the Thinking Man (represented by Marcus Aurelius) is displaced by the Mob, who crave nothing more than bread and circuses (represented by Commodus). Maximus, a warrior-poet straddles both eras.In terms of story, GLADIATOR inevitably samples much of Kirk Douglas' 1960 masterpiece SPARTACUS, the story of a slave-gladiator turned liberator. For those who have never seen SPARTACUS, GLADIATOR will be an original treat; for those who have, the older film is still a stronger draw, with better performances, more memorable characters, and far superior sets (no CGI cheats).Crowe acquits himself well, and in his desire for a Rome ruled by laws, Maximus is a not too far distant cousin to Spartacus, the spokesman for human dignity. Given my choice, I'd watch Kirk first and Crowe second, but I'd want to own them both.