Gladiator (DVD) > Reviews > Roman epic

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Outstanding
Soundtrack	Outstanding

Advantages:	The best film of 2000
Disadvantages:	Very few

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Gladiator is a return to the Hollywood era of epics such as Spartacus and Ben Hur, the previous emperors of the arena contests, which must now abdicate their thrones as there is a new champion. The only film of recent years that comes close to achieving the same bloody realism of pre-gunpowder battles is Braveheart, a stunning film, which is also bested by the opening scene in this movie.

The film is directed by Ridley Scott who, after recent failings, has returned to Alien and Thelma and Louise form with this two and a half-hour visually astounding and brutally realistic epic. The technical wizardry that enabled the reconstruction of Rome and most impressively the Colosseum is quite literally breath taking. The film also has a cast that contains a mixture of rising stars and experienced pro’s, including a fitting last performance from the late great Oliver Reed.

The film opens with the mythical General Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) leading his troops into battle in Germania against the final remaining barbarian resistance. As he says in the film “At my signal...unleash Hell”. This is exactly what Ridley Scott does, the battle scenes are incredibly, if not disturbingly, realistic. In just the first ten minutes of the film, the viewers adrenaline is already on overload as the intricate cinematography and authentic sounds actually place you right in the centre of the raging battle. The opening scene also tells us what kind of man Maximus is. Evidently brave, revered by his troops and longing to return home to his wife and child, he is the epitome of the noble warrior.

After the battle the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), announces that he wishes Maximus, whom he considers a son, to be his successor ahead of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) his actual offspring. Commodus murders his father and orders that Maximus be executed. Unsurprisingly Maximus bests the men sent to kill him and escapes only to find, on returning home, that his wife and child have been murdered.

Maximus is captured and eventually sold to Proximo (Oliver Reed), an ex-gladiator turned trainer. As a Gladiator Maximus quickly earns renown and, when the games are reopened in Rome, he is taken to the Colosseum to perform. In the first battle, in which Maximus and his fellow Gladiators are supposed to be slaughtered, he outwits his opponents and is drawn to the attention of the new emperor, Commodus. Their meeting in the arena is superb with Commodus requesting that Maximus reveal his identity, after a brief confrontation Maximus removes his mask and majestically proclaims.

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius: commander of the armies of the North, general of the Felix legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.”

Effectively this decribes the remainder of the film, Maximus is set on vengeance and Commodus on trying to find a way to kill Maximus. He must do this without alienating the crowd of the Colosseum; the true power in Rome and in awe of the mighty Maximus. Added to the general fray is Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), sister of Commodus and previously romantically engaged with Maximus, who has to fend of the incestuous advances of the emperor (Royalty!) whilst aiding Maximus and the senate to overthrow him. The film contiues with superb action sequences and enough of a plot to keep the mind engaged leading to a slightly abrupt (lack of money apparently) but satisfying enough ending.

There are almost too many good things to name in this film, the first is the amazing photography, stunning technical wizardry and clever editing that take you back to ancient Rome and into the infamous Colosseum. This is greatly added by good performances from all the key actors. Crowe is awesome, his very presence dominates the screen, and he seems to exude raw manliness vaguely reminiscent of Marlon Brando of old. Throughout the film he is generally required to look pissed off, which he does to great brooding effect, and when he is called upon for more taxing emotions he rises admirably to the task.

Phoenix is also something of a revelation giving the emperor the right mix of megalomaniacal greed and neurotic frailty. He is almost the antithesis of Maximus, cowardly, deceitful and unloved. Connie Nielsen also portrays the role of emperor’s sister well combining both regality and humanity, as the situation requires. As for the old stagers, Reed gives himself a fitting send off with a great display as well as having some of the best lines in the film, Harris is terrific as the ageing emperor and several others also shine including Djimon Hounsou (Amistad) who is a fellow gladiator.

So to the weaknesses, none of which are able to spoil the film as it sweeps you along too completely. Historians may raise the points that the Roman army didn’t actually use artillery except in sieges and swords were employed not for slashing, as is portrayed, but for stabbing. Also the stirrup did not exist in Europe in 180 AD so the cavalry charges are also fictitious. It is also fair to say that the political dimension is also contrived and unbelievable and the accents seem to vary greatly.

Accepting that there are a few imperfections in no way detracts from a film that should be essential viewing for all, well as long as you’re over 15 anyway. This is an epic of fantastic quality, a film that collects you at the start and takes you for a (barely noticeable) 150-minute ride through a visually superb, amazingly atmospheric and enthralling story that will leave you breathless. If you haven’t seen this yet …you should…NOW!!