Creator of ‘Alien’, Ridley Scott, has catapulted back onto the big screen with his historic masterpiece: Gladiator. Set in second century Rome
Maximus escapes his execution only to be captured at his burned down farm and sold to slavery, where he meets ex gladiator Proximo (the late Oliver Reed in his final role) who trains him to become a famous gladiator himself. This is when Maximus comes once again face to face with the man who killed his family, whom he plans to have vengeance on whether it will be “in this life or the next.” This is where the feelings of tension and hatred ooze through your TV screens creating an exciting and memorable scene of the movie.
However, it doesn’t take long for the brutal yet weak emperor to begin making plots to have his talented and heroic rival ‘removed’ from his sight. Within this plot involves Commodus’ sister Lucilla (Connie Nielson) who once had a thing with the general and the chemistry between them still lingers, much to the displeasure of her brother.
Although Gladiator can be seen as slightly on the long side, the climatic end scene of the battle between Maximus and his arch enemy, Commodus, pushes suspension to the very limit! As Maximus believes, “what we do in this life, echoes in eternity” making the battle an even more passionate and exciting scene until death.
Gladiator is a stunning movie and with the combination of sets and CGI, ancient Rome is brought to life with the epic scale matching – or even succeeding – classics such as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Spartacus’.
Crowe shines as the leading man placing him into major stardom with terrific support from Phoenix (who surprisingly almost evokes sympathy as the extremely twisted emperor), Derek Jakobi as a non-corrupt senator, Djimon Honsou as a fellow gladiator, and Harris as the elderly emperor. Even with this star studded cast it will be the charismatic Aussie who will capture your attention from the minute his presence is on screen.
Gladiator is an epic movie worth watching, though not a family movie – the blood and gore may put off youngsters and the squeamish – it is definitely for those who like entertainment and excitement on a grand scale.
Maximus escapes his execution only to be captured at his burned down farm and sold to slavery, where he meets ex gladiator Proximo (the late Oliver Reed in his final role) who trains him to become a famous gladiator himself. This is when Maximus comes once again face to face with the man who killed his family, whom he plans to have vengeance on whether it will be “in this life or the next.” This is where the feelings of tension and hatred ooze through your TV screens creating an exciting and memorable scene of the movie. However, it doesn’t take long for the brutal yet weak emperor to begin making plots to have his talented and heroic rival ‘removed’ from his sight. Within this plot involves Commodus’ sister Lucilla (Connie Nielson) who once had a thing with the general and the chemistry between them still lingers, much to the displeasure of her brother.
Although Gladiator can be seen as slightly on the long side, the climatic end scene of the battle between Maximus and his arch enemy, Commodus, pushes suspension to the very limit! As Maximus believes, “what we do in this life, echoes in eternity” making the battle an even more passionate and exciting scene until death. Gladiator is a stunning movie and with the combination of sets and CGI, ancient Rome is brought to life with the epic scale matching – or even succeeding – classics such as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Spartacus’.
Crowe shines as the leading man placing him into major stardom with terrific support from Phoenix (who surprisingly almost evokes sympathy as the extremely twisted emperor), Derek Jakobi as a non-corrupt senator, Djimon Honsou as a fellow gladiator, and Harris as the elderly emperor. Even with this star studded cast it will be the charismatic Aussie who will capture your attention from the minute his presence is on screen.
Gladiator is an epic movie worth watching, though not a family movie – the blood and gore may put off youngsters and the squeamish – it is definitely for those who like entertainment and excitement on a grand scale.
