Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 4.0
Gratuitous violence and unnecessary shots
Russell Crowe in another role - he is boffed up, but still brings the same doggedness and humanity to this roles. It is good to see him in a role where his character is competent. Gladiator is the story of one General Maximus, whom the Caesar wants to appoint instead of his own son. As the son, Commodus, kills his father, Maximus is threatened by death as he refuses to follow him. He is captured and becomes a gladiator, with only one purpose - revenge.If anything, Gladiator is a clever fable against democracy and the masses, who are represented by the throngs of Rome who seek "bread and games". They can be made to cheer for the death of thousands and thousands - like people today cheer at movies depicting the War on Drugs, and foreign wars. They can be pacified by bread and games, while corrupt individuals manipulate the power around them to gain material riches, and the Republic (the rule of law, the US Constitution) is crumbling.Unfortunately it is also a story about gladiators, and therefore about plentiful gratuitous violence. I'm afraid I can't stomach that, but if you can, then you must see Gladiator (that is, if you missed it the first time). It is yet another movie that teaches basic lessons of life that are yet to be learned by most people, because we now value blissfull ignorance more than being civilized.