Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
A stunning swords'n'sandals epic
GladiatorScore: 87/100When you make a movie about gladiator's, there is a good chance it's going to be great, since gladiator's are an easy premise to make a good movie out of. But there hasn't been an excellent movie about gladiator's in a long time. Well, Gladiator, probably 2000's most praised movie, is going to change the fact, this is actually better than excellent.Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), and a power struggle leaves Maximus and his family condemned to death. The powerful general is unable to save his family, and his loss of will allows him to get captured and put into the Gladiator games until he dies. The only desire that fuels him now is the chance to rise to the top so that he will be able to look into the eyes of the man who will feel his revenge.Gladiator is tremendous filmmaking done in a superbly Old-Hollywood-Meets-New-Hollywood way, and although it's historically inaccurate, you won't really care because you'll be having so much fun. Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix are both Oscar-worthy as General Maximus and Emperor Commodus, and both hold the screen with such pure force that you can't rip your eyes away from their terrific expressions and heartfelt emotions. Ridley Scott's direction is full of effort and should be praised, and the set decorations are terrific.If you haven't seen this yet, which I doubt, go and rent it A.S.A.P. What are you waiting for?