Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 3.0
Russell Crowe as The Gladiator reminds me of Ben-Hur.
When I first saw this film. I just did not like it. I wasn't in the right mood. I throughly enjoyed Russell Crowe in L.A.L.A. Confidential (Two-Disc Special Edition)(1997) where I first saw Crowe. I had to see him in more movies. Then I saw him inA Beautiful Mind (Full Screen Awards Edition)(2001). He should have won the Academy Award for his performance, but he did not. He was only nominated, but that is still an honor too. Since then, I have seen Crowe inProof(1991),Hammers over the Anvil(1991),The Sum of Us(1994) andThe Insider(1999). I had to give Gladiator (2000) one more try. Their was the scenes where the tiger almost got Russell Crowe in real-life. They left that scene in there. The scenes with the tiger was an eye-opener. Crowe being shackled was memorable.Actor Oliver Reed,Tommy(1975), died during production of this film. He was arm wrestling in a bar, heavily intoxicated. he had a sudden heart attack on May 2, 1999. They had to use CGI effects of his face and a body double to finish filming scenes.