Gladiator (DVD)

...the Gladiators and Spartacus -- Gladiator appears. This new summer blockbuster is fully armed with 21st- century, hi-tech sound and fury. So much so that the movie loses even its entertainment value. In Ridley Scott's bludgeoning new period epic, Gladiator, there is so much limb hacking, impaling, and beheading going on, that you begin to get the distinct feeling that Scott takes the term, "hack work," literally. But then Ridley Scott has always ...
...the new dictator of Rome. Gladiator seems to take some of its inspiration from Stanley Kubrick's Roman Empire drama, Spartacus, which featured Kirk Douglas as a gladiator slave who stood up to the power of Rome. But Gladiator has none of that film's elegance, humour or emotionally stirring passages. Like Gladiator, Spartacus was also conceived in obvious crowd-pleasing terms, but it had a literate and witty script that made you care about the people ...

Tazz 12.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

Gladiator is a very deceptive film. On the surface it's and epic tale in the style of Ben Hur and Sparticus. But deep down the film is about one desire , revenge. Not only does the hero Maximus seek revenge for the horrors given to him by the emperor , but, for the whole part every character has some deed in their pasts they too seek revenge for. Aside from magically grand sets and thousands of extras Gladiator still keeps you focussed on the main ...
...to crank it up. Overall a most excellent DVD release in allmost every way. The standard of quality for DVD has been pretty much benchmarked now by this release and instead of Matrix being king of the dvd crop, Gladiator has come in and chopped Matrix's head off ! ...

arna4784 28.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North and Servant to the true Emperor, Markus Aurelius; Father to a murdered son; Husband to a murdered wife; and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next.” This is the sort of line that doesn’t appear in your low budget run-of-the-mill Australian movie which Russell Crowe would have been used to in his past, this is from a multi-million dollar movie – this is Hollywood! ...
...is no exception to his rule of action, tension and excitement. The storyline is perfect – interesting but not too difficult to understand, and the action sequences are out of this world. The soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard does so much to help this movies action and tension, and is one of the greatest movie soundtracks of its decade. The computer representations of Rome, the Coliseum, and the crowds of spectators are very well done and ...

BanjoBear 27.01.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...sadness and devastation when the gladiator returned home is a paet of the film that we will always remember because of the lump to the throat that it brings. At the end of the film, we sat there in silence for a good minute (consider that I have boys of 12 and 14) and one whispered "what a fantastic film", which broke the spell. I have never heard them talk about a film in such a way before and that was a mark of excellence. I would certainly recommend ...
...in the Roman period, or who is interested in people. The soundtrack is pure magic. I could listen to it all day, and know which part of the film it comes from. It was well composed and beautifully played and sang. Not a film for people who don't like blood, I'd say. Go and see the film at the cinema, for amazing sound effects and spectacular scenery and the atmosphere. However, the video is as good, but different. ...

suecowsill 02.03.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...Planet of the Apes" because Gladiator doesn't have people in monkey make-up. (Hm... come to think of it... that might have been an improvement for this film.) In conclusion: if you like rivers of blood at every turn, then go ahead and enjoy. Me? I'll be in the toilet - where this film should have been flushed long ago. This is a review of the film only, as per the criteria below. Sorry you had to read this! ~~~~~ Technical Stuff: Available on ...

TheChocolateLady 05.05.2002 (03.11.2003) · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...to Proximo who runs a gladiator school, after winning a few bouts, Maximus gets noticed by Rome and there waits his destiny with Commodus. A totally compelling story, with believable dialogue and action. Crowe is perhaps not the ideal casting for the part of Maximus but not and all together bad choice. Bad points of this film are, the length, just a little to long with some seemingly unnecessary scenes, action is sometimes to much like Braveheart ...
...motion, also the film is in English which is quite obviously for convenience. Also some of the effects are weak, perhaps most notably the Tigers, but this is not with any regularity, so they can get away with it. Good Points are a very strong story, with some great dialogue, set design is magnificent and costumes are notable. Overall this film probably deserves the hype, and will probably win one if not some Oscars, so based on that and the compelling ...

Sid76 13.02.2001 (03.03.2001) · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

Maximus is a roman general, who becomes a slave and then a gladiator. Over half the time in the film is spent on him being a gladiator, and this is where the real gem in the film is. Russel Crowe plays maximus brilliantly, and there were no holds barred on the purse strings for special effects. We see Crowe fight men, chariots and tigers as well as many other things. The film doesnt end as it is supposed to with a happy ending, because maximus dies. ...

twigletman 10.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

I watched the Gladiator a long time ago now, when it first came out. I must admit that when I saw the trailer for it when watching another film, I thought it looked very poor!!! First impressions last, but not in this case. I went to watch it in the end on the reccomendation of a good friend. He described the film using captions like "****** brilliant" and "**** hot". When I did go and see it I was amazed. I have seen a lot of the new releases prior ...
...even comes close. It was fantastic. The action scenes were brilliant (and gory!!). The acting was spot on and basically I could not pick a single fault in the film. My advice, STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND GO AND WATCH IT NOW. THEN BUY IT WHEN IT COMES OUT ON VIDEO TOO!!!! ...

gk141054 12.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...towards the barbaric German hordes, Gladiator rivets you to your seat with such force it takes your breath away. It been around 40 years since the likes of Ben-Hur and Spartacus graced cinema screens, and many doubted that Ridley Scott could inject a new lease of life into the genre - these doubts soon vanish because what you're witnessing is a master director at the top of his game, utilising every resource and technique available to him. It's ...
...is Russell Crowe, and watching Gladiator you are watching the birth of a bona fide movie star. Crowe electrifies everything around him in what will possibly be the most powerful performance you'll see all year. Every time he's on screen (which is most of the time) you can't divert your eyes away from him even when he's stood against the stunning backdrops. Gladiator is the story of one man's quest for revenge, and it's all there in Crowe's eyes - ...

Disappearer 11.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

...up in this unrealistic plot. Gladiator is packed with lots of action, making the film more interesting. The opening battle sequence is filled with blood and violence, and the armies go at each other Braveheart style. The action in the arena is no less bloody, as Maximus hacks and slashes his way through opponent after opponent. In one scene, they have him fighting the undisputed champion, and then just for kicks, throw some maneating tigers at him ...

Global 05.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

This is one film that I wanted to see soon after hearing about it, the story sounded interesting and I thought that even if it was done poorly I would still enjoy it, after watching the film I wasn't disappointed. The film was quite long but remained interesting throughout, the story was great and the action scenes really added to the story rather than substituting for a lack of plot. This is definetely my favourite film this year so far, I think ...

Defiler 21.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

Why have you not seen this film?! The historical aspects are perhaps a little questionable, but that is the only flaw in a masterpiece. From sword fights to chariots to grand battles the action keeps on coming, but with sufficient plot intertwined to entertain all. The story unfolds a little slowly at first as much of the groundwork of the plot is laid, but once this film gets going it simply never looks back. The special effects team didn't get ...

petrasol 18.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

The film is a tale a general who is betrayed by the emperors son due to a sudden struggle for power. It is full of action and excitement, while retaining the emotional element of the story. I highly recommend this film for its creators have taken the necessary time and effort in creating great computer graphics to improve the quality of the film greatly. Also, there is a large amount of detail of the equipment and clothing used by the people at that ...

Veritas 15.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

This film makes Ben Hur look like a film students summer project in comparison. It’s big. It’s very big. It’s very very big. Take the special effects of Titanic and mix it with the gore and guts of mad max, give it a backdrop of the age of the roman empire and what have you got. Gladiator. This film had me on the edge of my seat. It’s sooo Big. Some amazing fight scenes and an actual shoreline make this a must see movies. Don’t wait till the video ...

muc 12.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)

I don't know what made me go see this film- it was friday and it was the first showing and somehow I just found myself in the long cue to buy a ticket. I went into the film and there were loads and loads of older people like in their 30's and 40s and I thought what am I doing here! Some teenagers walked in and sat in the film at the front and they were playing about and I thought thank god I'm not the only 19yrold here! (image you know). these ...
...the film began! SILENCE the film opened on a battle scene and u could have heard aa pin drop. I dont want to tell you the plot- but it was great. and when it finished I was truely sorry. somewhere in 3 hrs I'd experianced another life, another time and I was crying. I stumbled out of the cinema into the cold harsh realm of reality unable to speak a word. The film grips u right from the beginning and takes u with it to the end and lodges itself ...

leannacortonbury 12.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Gladiator (DVD)