Gladiator (DVD)

...Hur & Sparticus blended together. Gladiator is the first Epic film made for 20 years or more. It has that range of an Epic, covering a historical period, the Roman era. It does this with panache, the scenes are big with massive sets, albeit computer generated ,they still look real. Watch out for the scene with the Tiger, absolutely stunning, this is cinema at its best. The story follows the life of Maximus, played by Russel Crowe ( Oscar Winner ...
...and then sold to a Gladiator troop led by Oliver Reed ( In his last role ). Reed is magnificent and deserves a postumous Oscar for his supporting role in this his last film. From now on we are treated to all the splendour and extreme gore of the life of a Gladiator. Director Ridley Scott goes to a lot of trouble to emphasise the extent of the bloodyness of the Gladiator battles, perhaps a bit too much. This is not a film for kids. Russel Crowe ...

bond008 11.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

Gladiator. I think just about everybody has heard of this film and it deserves all the credit it can get. This film is definatly one of my all time favourites. This film is about courage, trust and deception and has some very strong characters that you will never forget. The basic outline of the story is about a general of a Roman army named Maximus.He is to take the place of the old emperor Marcus Aurelis to the dismay of the emperor's son Commodus. ...
...flees to his home where he finds his wife and son dead. Maximus is found unconcious and taken to a slave market where he is sold to be made into a gladiator. Maximus becomes a hero of the colloseum and his ultimate challenge awaits him when he has to defeat the corrupted emperor,Commodus. This film is a wonderful but tragic piece of work from the master Ridley Scott. The feelings and emotions of Maximus as we follow him through his journey are so ...

cazaline16_2000 12.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...or in the case of Gladiator to actually change the might of Rome for the better. Not close enough to be plagiarism, but there are enough similarities to make the comparison valid. What is the real strength of the film? Incredible special effects. From the dark forests of the Rhine borders to the majesty that was Rome itself, you can almost believe they actaully shot it on location. Like I said, they've taken a few liberties for the sake of the look ...
...that tidy or organised, and the Colluseum itself is given to be larger than it actually was, but the feel of Rome at the height of its power is there. The first shot of the great city itself is truly awe inspiring, (Here's another niggle, Maximus, the hero, a dispossessed general had supposedly never been to Rome. That is hugely unlikely as for him to actually get into the rank of General in the first place, or even into the Roman Army as an officer, ...

Smokey64 05.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, even though I was stuck in the front row of a sold-out cinema, next to a young boy who blatantly didn't want to be there and talked the whole way through! So you MUST believe me when I say its excellent and well worth worth seeing. The way they had done the Acropolis and the Armour and the Chariots was breath-taking and the film explored so many different emotions such as Sadness, anger, agression, love, fear, greed, ...

honey350 10.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

I had no intention of seeing this movie having been unimpressed by the trailer but an enthusiastic friend dragged me along. I don't think any other film has ever taken me so much by surprise. It is utterly compelling from start to finish. The plot, dialogue, acting, sets, action scenes, all are first class, and for such a lengthy movie it doesn't drag at all. Russell Crowe is mesmerising as Maximus and his performance leaves you in no doubt that ...
...breed of Hollywood stars. Not far behind is Joaquin Phoenix with a mannered but utterly believable performance that drips evil. British old-timers, Richard Harris and Oliver Reed (who died during the making of the movie) are also incredible and only their relatively short screen time might count against them at Oscar nomination time (although it didn't do Judi Dench any harm). The scenes of war and gladiatorial combat are certainly gory but no more ...

Crazy-Christian 04.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

When Gladiator arrived in the cinema everyone started talking about it. It was all over the newspapers and on every TV screen. I didn’t watch it, I’ve been disappointed by hype many times. The Oscars came and everyone started talking about it again. I still didn’t watch it. The DVD came out and everyone carried on talking about it. I certainly didn’t rush out and buy a copy (just as well, given the problems on earlier discs) ...
...before being sold as a Gladiator to fight in the Roman arena. The rest is pretty obvious and it doesn’t take a genius to work out how the story progresses, but it’s the way in which the story flows and the detail and emotion that goes in to it that makes this such a good film. There is a feeling that the audience gain a great emotional attachment to the main character and his friends in the arena and Commodus is evil enough to be a villain ...

pbyron 13.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...begins his life as a Gladiator and soon earns the respect of his fellow gladiators. His one goal in life is to seek revenge on Commodus. The new Emperor declares 185 days of games, and Maximus returns to Rome to compete. With his prowess in fighting, and his skill as a general, he soon becomes the crowds favorite, and despite the Emperor’s hatred, he starts to become more powerful than the Emperor. I will not go into much more detail as I ...
...looks the part of a Gladiator as at times he twirls two weapons with consummate skill. The Graphics Part of the problem of creating a movie based in ancient Rome is that there are no ancient cities or full colosseums left. Therefore, after constructing a fragment of a colosseum, it was left to John Nelson and Mill Film Ltd to adapt Arthur Max’s models into computer graphics. The end results are fantastic, giving the whole movie an ‘epic’ ...

Simoncook1 08.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

Trails for this film suggested that it might be good, but they were certainly no indication of just how good. The action was excellent, the storyline almost believable, and the the acting was fantastic. Russell Crowe has, in my eyes, becom a minor deity after this. The fight scenes left provided plenty of action for the boys, while the storyline had just the right touch of good feeling without taking it into the realms of sickly sweetness. At just ...
...Of course you know that the good guy is going to win, but this is no manly chest beating film, it has action, it has sentiment, it has a great storyline and it has brilliant acting, not to mention having Oliver Reed resurrected and excellent special effects. I would go so far as to say film of the year. ...

He11sBe11s 29.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

GLADIATOR (UK/US 2000) directed by Ridley Scott written by David Franzoni & John Logan & William Nicholson produced by David Franzoni & Branko Lustig & Douglas Wick edited by Pietro Scalia composed by Hans Zimmer cinematographed by John Mathieson starring Russell Crowe Joaquin Phoenix Connie Nielsen Oliver Reed Richard Harris Derek Jacobi Djimon Hounsou David Schofield Ralph Moeller Spencer Treat Clark [155mins; Colour] Review: ...
...family, he escapes to the gladiator camp of Oliver Reed and becomes the most popular fighter, finally reaching Rome, where Phoenix reigns ruthlessly and his sister Connie Neilsen in in love with Crowe... Despite a quite intriguing, yet never fully developed subtext of the influence of entertainment on politics, Scott’s grandly satisfying, emotionally involving one-man-takes-revenge-tale is action cinema at its very best with awesome battle ...

marselluswallace14 06.11.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...brain, hasn't the word Gladiator lost all its horror and mystique since its association with mutant men and women with bulges everywhere, wearing little leotards and knocking lumps out of eachother? For me, everytime the word Gladiator was mentioned, my mind went inexorably to John Sachs (the referee) blowing his whistle at the end of a Powerball game. And to be honest, I think I enjoyed the series more than I did this film. I thought that the film ...
...timeless ITV production can never be accused of. To conclude, this film is reasonable watching, but owes much to hormonal hysteria caused by Russell Crowe (the sexiest man in Hollywood I hear). It's not all it's cracked up to be, and I wouldn't recommend it, cos there are far better films about. ...

Fuschia 03.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...was a gift for the Gladiator fan! I recommend that this is must see! If you haven't seen it, don't be reluctant. You also get photographic prints on the scenes in the movie and the trailers and really really high quality!You won't be disappointed like 'Titanic' so there is nothing to fear! Just watch and enjoy! [ Thanks for reading this :) ] ...

GrUnGe_GaL 08.03.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...this is my review on Gladiator the DVD. This will be one of my shorter reviews as I have to go out soon. Unfortunately I can not comment on the second CD with features on it as mine does not seem to work on my DVD player. I have yet to find out why. When I do watch it, I will update this opinion straight away. Firstly I would like to say how much I like this film. It is definitely one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Cast: The cast ...
...good job in finding the right actors and actresses. No joke, they really do play there part exceptionally well. Special Effects: Outstanding, I can honestly say there is some amazing camera angles in this film. One of my favourites is when the main hero, Russell Crowe is fighting in the coliseum against the lions and the Gladiators, it really is excellent. Sound Effects: If you have Surround Sound then this film will do it justice. If you have ...

pasnip2000 29.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...is enslaved and becomes a gladiator of reknown, called the Spaniard. The general, Maximus, esteemed by all the legionaires that he commands, is a favorite of the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. The Emporer has a son, Commodus, and a daughter, Lucilla. While Lucilla is clearly the worthier of the two to inherit her father's empire upon his death, she cannot by virtue of her gender. The Emperor knows his son to be unworthy to rule in his stead, as ...
...is sold and becomes a gladiator known as the Spaniard. This is all I will tell you about the plot. Watch the movie and see for yourself. Suffice to say that Russell Crowe gives a masterful and powerful perfomance as Maximus. Yet, I think Joaquin Phoenix gives an extraordinary performance as the the evil and sinister Commodus. His role is not a majestic, heroic one, but for that reason alone, his performance is, to my mind, the more compelling one, ...

Mr.Love 05.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

This film was one of the most visually stunning of the year and I'd definately watch it again. It was just a little to Hollywood for me. They had to develop some obscure love romance sub-plot as they always do. I think it would have been better without it. That said Russell Crowe is a god in this film. He has all the trappings of the strong silent hero. The action sequences are terrifying, in particular the opening sequence. This is one definately ...

gsplat 08.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

I thought I'd enjoy this film as I've liked the way that Ridley Scott other work was filmed - amazing atmosphere. The opening scene set the tone for the rest of the film - absolutely brilliant. The story flowed easily along so you were unaware of the time passing. Most of all the recreation of Rome and its buildings was amazing - a truly epic film in the tradition of Spartucus. If you don't like to see blood and gore - then it probably isn't your ...

Alix23 30.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)