Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
Big budget, brutal, captivating and a visual feast.
I watched this for the third time wondering if it deserved its popularity and rave reviews. It really does. The cinematography deserves five stars by itself. There are some of the most awe-inspiring visuals here that I have ever seen. And the more you watch it, the better it gets because you can really pay attention to the detail of the scenery. Then comes the great story line. It was just good writing and scripting. The characters are all very interesting and likeable and pitiful. Joaquin Phoenix put on a performance that is probably the envy of many actors. And of course Russell Crowe is great to cheer for. I don't think there is quite perfection here, but I have yet to see a film that is perfect. In many ways, this one comes close.And for the DVD, this is also a great adaption to DVD. There are some great special features here. Probably too much for the casual viewer, but for the big fans that want to dig deep there is a bunch of good stuff here. And not to mention the superior picture and excellent sound.