Gladiator (DVD)

...films in there own right. Gladiator however is world famous and already has 341 reviews, despite of this I am still going to add my piece; I felt I needed to for such a brilliant piece of work. Gladiator is a film of epic proportions, released in 2000 and directed by Ridley Scott. The film won five Academy awards including best picture and revived the sword and sandal genre, this lead to the releases of films such as 300 and Troy. I have become a ...
...written by Conn Iggulden so Gladiator has become one of my favourite films of all time. Plot - As the film opens we see General Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russel Crowe) leading the Roman Army against the Germanic barbarians in 180AD. The battle ends a long war gaining Maximus the respect of the current Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Although Marcus has a son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), he appoints Maximus as his heir, hoping to return ...

B_O_M_B_A 21.10.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

Gladiator was released in 2000, and directed by accomplished, legendary director Ridley Scott. The Roman epic starred, among others, Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, and was also Oliver Reed's final movie before his passing. Indeed, Reed actually passed away before completion of the movie, which meant that some of his final scenes in the film were actually made using a double, which was digitally mixed with out-take footage of Reed. ...
...Best Picture, Best Sound and also Best Actor for Russell Crowe. Maximus Decimus Meridias (Russell Crowe) is a victorious Roman General, who is loved by the people of Rome, and also by the ailing Emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Upon his death bed, Marcus Aurelius chooses Maximus to be the heir to the throne, over his own power-hungry son Commodus(Joaquin Phoenix). When the Emperor finally passes, Commodus betrays his father's wish, ...

danmclovin 23.08.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an empire. These are the words that sum this film up and with only seeing these few sentences you are already intrigued about this film and can tell its going to be a great film (that's certainly what i thought). And i was certainly right as this is, and will be for a while, my favourite film. It has also been rated very near the top (if not at the top) in a variety of lists of the top 100 all time ...
...in 2000 and was directed masterfully by the great Ridley Scott who has directed other great films including Alien. It is about General Maximus Decimus who is played by the stunning Russel Crowe (who has also featured in great films including "A Beautiful Mind" and "Master and Commander". The story: Don't worry I'll try not to give away too much. The story is about Maximus who is a great Roman General and is asked to become protectorate of Rome, ...

shamis4 17.07.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...critique on space exploration. With Gladiator we are on slightly firmer territory. The story is set against a factual period in Roman history. In the last year of the reign of Marcus Aurelius (AD 180) the bulk of the Roman army is campaigning in Germania. In an opening battle scene that will go down in cinema history, Maximus has just completed a stunning victory over the tribes of the region, bringing the last of the barbarians under Roman rule. ...
...of humour. Essentially though Gladiator is an action movie, and there is plenty of that. From the opening battle scene onwards the action hardly lets up, clawing his way up through the arenas of the backwaters of Empire, Crowe gets many opportunities to play the role that he is associated with, the action hero. The fights are hard hitting and hypnotic, the choreography makes each one unique, be it man on man, lion or against an array of chariots. ...

steerpyke 24.03.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

Gladiator is possibly one of the most quoted, talked about and reviewed films of this millenium. It is no surprise that here on ciao, there are already hundreds reviews written on this one film! But I thought I would put my opinions into the pot for you all to read as well. Gladiator is a 2000 'epic' directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe as the Roman General who finds himself more than just down on his luck. It is the winner of 5 Academy ...
...Oliver Reed as the former gladiator turned slave trader and Djimon Hounsou as a fellow gladiator turn a great film into a magnificent one. My Opinion After 2 hours 29 minutes of watching this film, I was left hungry for more. Haunting memories of the fight sequences and dream sequences through the 'Fields of Elysium' as well as rousing speeches and quotable characters make this one of the greatest films of all time, let alone of recent years. It ...

pmcds 10.03.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...noticed and bought by a gladiator trainer called Proximo, who is played by Oliver Reed, who died before the film was completed. We soon enter the world of a gladiator, and what they must do to merely survive. Maximus is a revelation, and does not seem to fear anything, when in fact all he is trying yo do initially is die so he can be with his family, and this leads to him being an explosive and popular gladiator. The only area of the film which I ...
...between Maximus and Lucilla (Connie Neilsen), Commodus' sister. There were hints at deep feelings, however I think a man as loyal as Maximus would not have tarnished the memory of his wife, by entering into a liasion with another woman. Russell Crowe is magnificent, and I cannot imagine anyone playing the role any better, and all of the awards and accolades which followed were well deserved. Many people have slated Joaquin Phoenix in this film, but ...

nicanddarrell 25.09.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

I didn’t like Gladiator Sadly, judging by the 294 opinions, most of which sing its praises, this was probably not a good op to begin with. Oh well. First and foremost, I thought its main problem was its confused style; touted by all to be an epic feature by all, I was surprised to be confronted with an immediate flow of cheap action movie one-liners; ‘on my orders unleash hell’, and a unending collection of horribly over written ...
...his, and his multi cultural gladiator friends burgeoning talents at the Coliseum. Connie Nielsen is Lucilla, the sister of Commodus, torn between her lisping sibling, and her long idolisation of Maximus; treading the fine line of betrayal, with a number of Senators. The acting apart from Russell Crowe, was reasonably good; Joaquin Phoenix excels as the villain despite a worrying sexual attraction to his sister Lucilla, who performs equally well. ...

georgie_boy 10.04.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

"I am Maximus Decimus Meridius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance; in this life or the next." That extract gives a great insight into how cool this movie was, now I know most people have seen it but it's still worth reviewing just because it wasso awesome when it came back and I want the few who didnt see it to know and the many who did to remember just how great it was and maybe they'll think about ...
...now it costs next to nothing, my copy was 3 quid from Woolworths. This epic masterpiece Directed by Ridley Scott was incredible. Watching it you see the power of the Emperors of Rome before the Senate had great control over them and also demonstrated more strongly is the strength of loyalty to the one true Emperor and where said loyalty will get you. The movie begins on a snowy battlefield with large trees and thick clouds overhead, the Roman legions ...

vampiresthirst 14.05.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...I only recently saw Gladiator on video. All the reviews for the film that I read (am I emphasise “I” ) spewed out nothing but compliments about the film, although I am sure there are probably some bad ones out there somewhere. But being a bit of a sceptic I thought I’d wait and save myself a few pence and a lot of queuing. Something that I now deeply regret, as this is one of those epics, best viewed on the large screen. The story ...
...last screen performance as the Gladiator pimp! (Oliver Reed was one of those actors that had oodles of screen presence and will be greatly missed!) Spurred on by Reed, our hero goes on a killing spree in the Gladiatorial arena winning fans left right and centre. Ultimately Maximius is out for revenge. But if I say more the ending will be given away (although it is a bit predictable!) and I will start getting hate mail so you’ll just have to ...

Judgee 24.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

This film starts off quite weirdly, the first time that I saw it I didn’t know what the start of it was about. Then I realised that it was a large battle between the Romans and their enemy. It then goes to the roman base camp where you meet the main character, Maximus (Russell Crowe-Proof of Life), who is a general in the Roman army. The emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) tells him, that when the emperor dies that he will take over ...
...But when Marcus Aurelius tells Commodus this, he is angry, and he kills his father. Because Marcus Aurelius hasn’t told anyone apart from his son and Maximus, no one else knows. So Commodus is declared emperor of Rome, and Maximus is sentenced to death because he refused to serve him. Maximus is then taken to be killed, but he escapes and kills his supposed killers, except for 2 who run back to the camp and say that he is dead, but the others where ...

garyt84 13.12.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...a slave who became a gladiator who dared to defy an emperor, certainly made it much more bankable, just as did the knowledge that this was the last hurrah for Oliver Reed, who died during the making of this epic. It's easy to see why it was so globally popular - it tells the story of a great Roman general, Maximus, who has devoted his life to serving the glory of Rome and his emperor, Marcus Aurelius, played by a pretty frail looking Richard Harris. ...
...to become the most famous gladiator of his era, eventually working his way back to Rome and a confrontation with his arch enemy. Now that's the plot in a nutshell, but it certainly doesn't do full justice to a literally awe inspiring, epic piece of cinema, with Crowe towering over everything as he broods on revenge and his hatred for Comitus, a particularly nasty piece of work. The story is a bit on the hackneyed side and a trifle predictable, ...

thehud 27.12.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...slavers and sold to a gladiator school. The owner of the school is Proximo, played by a truly terrifying Oliver Reed in his last role (he died on set). It was nice to see Ollie in a film big enough for his talent, instead of the dross he’s used to pay the bills over the past few years. Thence to Rome, where Maximus, having risen to the top of his profession in double quick time, is declared the peoples champion and gets to challenge the Emperor ...
...Triple H but without the pantomime. This is a good film in the tradition of Hollywood epics, but some of their faults are also repeated here. The Rome of this period was a mongrel empire, and coming from the provinces was no barrier to success, so we can accept most of the varied accents. The one part of the world unconquered and indeed undiscovered, was of course the USA, so it grates a little when actors make so little effort to disguise Brooklyn ...

baddog 29.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner), Gladiator is the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) who is the general of the Roman Empire, one who controls the respect of the entire army and the people. After a huge battle in Germania, which starts this epic, Maximus is met by Emperor Marcus Aurelious who comes to congratulate Maximus and asks him to become Caesar when the time comes. All well and good, but the Emperor's son, Commodus (Joaquin ...
...the rest for yourself! Gladiator is truly an epic on a movie and the plot is fantastic, the description above only covers the first half of the movie. Sure it is a long movie, but you never look down at your watcha nd say 'is it over yet??' because the story the actors and the music keep you enthralled. The performances of all the actors are great, especially Russell Crowe as Maximus himself. The computer stuff is also done really well as we get ...

daredevil852 21.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

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, ...
...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 ...

Mercury 12.01.2001 (26.01.2001) · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...got round to watching that Gladiator DVD his parents lovingly bought him at Christmas. Well, that was me on Tuesday night of this week, sorry I know its hard to forget about DVD's and I didn't forget them honest its just I never had the time. Anyway a quick background to the movie, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix & Connie Nielsen with added performances from the likes of the late great Oliver Reed and Derek Jacobi ...
...and turns him into the Gladiator that Rome begins to love, and again its a top notch performance in a top notch movie (sorry if I seem to be singing the praises of the cast too much but it really is that good!), starting off by playing the character as a money-hungry trader who doesn't really care about the fate of his Gladiators Reed changes brilliantly into the man who attempts to save Rome from all the corruption that hangs over its head. There ...

Angelus 08.11.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)