Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 4.0
A Solid Film
Ah "Gladiator." What a film. The execs at Dreamworks said that it was going to be "bigger than Titanic!" While that was a bit of a stretch, the film was still a big deal. It brought sandal and sword epics of the fifties and sixties back in a big way. It made Russel Crowe an overnight success. It brought Ridley Scott back in a big way. And it brought big bucks into the box office."Gladiator" is a really good film. It's only problem is that "Braveheart" already came out. It's hard not to draw parallels between the films considering they both revolve around characters who are avenging the deaths of their wives while they fight political persecution in their country.But what "Gladiator" tackles head on that "Braveheart" ignored is the issue of identity, speciffically in Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus. Here is a great film villain that we almost sympathize with because what makes him tick is so clearly portrayed to the audience. Phoenix is fantastic in this role, but, then again, it would have taken alot of hard work to mess up a character so well written.Along with a refreshingly original score, beautiful cinematography, a star making performance by Crowe, and amazing battle scenes, Gladiator has become one of the top contenders for Oscar this year. Does it deserveb the top prize? No of course not. The material isn't freh enough. But its better than alot of other films this year.