Product: Gladiator [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 4.0
a decent film
let's be honest. this is basically a faster paced but not as well done version of *braveheart*. the musical score is very good, and it's made all the more better by lisa gerard's contributions. the actions scenes are good. Russell Crowe's acting is very good. Connie Nielsen's unfortunately isn't until the final scene. Joaquin Phoenix does ok as the unloved and immature son, but isn't buyable as a ceasar. the editing and directing and lighting frankly were subpar - it's like this movie wanted so badly to be a Simpson/Bruckheiemer production, but couldn't master the tricks of that genre. the editing was choppy and intrusive. the fight scenes were good, but the directing in final night scenes was difficult to follow. perhaps this was in part due to the measures they had to take to cover for Oliver Reed's untimely death. it's too bad this movie didn't have a more leisurely pace and a little better acting, character development and plot development. but this movie was geared toward being a summer blockbuster, not a classic.