Spartacus (DVD)

...to have the story of Spartacus told to you with talking pictures, then it's the Kirk Douglas movie all the way. It's got a better script, bigger budget and far, far better actors. There really isn't the faintest need for a remake, especially such a poor one as this. If, however, you can be sold on a good-looking guy strutting about all oiled and not wearing many clothes, and some neat sword-fights (um, so if you're like me then) you might enjoy it, ...

Calapine 30.06.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)

...while the current remake of Spartacus was in production. The original film, based as it was on Fast’s novel, takes many liberties with history. The characterisations of Spartacus’ early days with Varinia, for example, are mere speculation. The course of the slave-army progress through Italy is similarly an invention made for easier poetic rendering – the slave-army in fact wandered throughout Italy in a much different fashion, with different results ...
...revolt in Roman history, and Spartacus and his band of gladiators drew strength and inspiration from the Sicilian and southern Italian revolts of the then not-too-distant past. However, the main object of Fast’s novel, and Stanley Kubrick’s realisation of such in cinema, was the story of the quest for freedom against oppression and tyranny. There are echoes of the cold war here, to be sure – the autocratic Crassus threatening the freedom of a great ...

frkurt 19.04.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)

...put on a decent show, Spartacus organises the other trainee gladiators and revolts against the school, then setting about the countryside liberating and recruiting slaves into an ever-growing army which he hopes to march on Rome to liberate all enslaved men. Standing in his way are the tyrannical patricians, in particular Crassus(Laurence Olivier) who orchestrates the fury against this uprising in the senate and the full might of the Holy Roman Empire. ...
...alike, although completely falsified for Spartacus himself was hacked to death in battle - but this wouldn't have been dramatic enough of course... ;o) Recently, some extra scenes were restored to the movie which had previously been cut for being too risque as the movie tried to stick closely to the debauchery that was Rome...one scene for example sees Crassus trying to seduce Antoninus(Tony Curtis) with thinly veiled references. (Incidentally Oliviers ...

wampyrii 21.07.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)

...some ways even more, as Spartacus is based on the true story of a slave who became not just a Gladiator, but also a historical hero. The film in it's original form dates back to 1960, though now you can buy it on DVD with extra footage that had been cut from the cinema version. Along with various DVD extras like Biographies, Production Notes, The Original Trailer and much more, you also get the quality, both in sound and vision due to the digital ...
...a much more grown up Spartacus is working as a slave, a fellow slave collapses and Spartacus steps in to help only to be punished because he has stopped working. In retaliation he attacks the Roman guard and is subsequently sentenced to death by starving as an example to others. Anyway a slave trader passing by decides to buy him, hence his life is spared. The slave trader takes Spartacus to a Roman training camp to sell on for the purpose of becoming ...

Trev1000 26.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)

...against seemingly impossible odds! Spartacus is a classic amongst the classics. Not quite so pompous as Ben Hur; not so overdone as Ten Commandments. Spartacus offers a comfortable middleway between being a cultured and a populist movie. Stanley Kubrick's direction has never been better, especially during the final battle scenes, and the rather subtle & discreet scene between Laurence Olivier & Tony Curtis sharing a bath together - a lot of the ...
...to spare the life of Spartacus (Kirk Douglas). Kubrick knows how to tap the best out of some actors, and here is no exception. Of course the true honours are shared by Olivier and Douglas. In a way the characters they play is like a metaphor of their real acting abilities & achievements. We have in the red corner, Laurence Olivier, playing the sweeping & majestic Crassus, leader of Rome (in all but name), who rides his white horse with an air of ...

dreamstar70 25.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)

This is unquestionably the best and most intelligent historical epic yet made - possibly because no other similar films had such a fine and intelligent movie maker as Stanley Kubrick at the helm. Apart from being a hugely compelling study of the central character and his story (based on truth) it also boasts many of the best performances in any similar film, notably Charles Laughton and Peter Ustinov who manage to steal every scene they're in even ...

JSpencer 24.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)

...Douglas is superb as Spartacus (No - I'm Spartacus etc.) and the supporting cast of Sir Laurence Olivier, Peter Ustinov and Tony Curtis are tremendous, but it is the Academy Award winning cinematography that is the real star - who need CGI when you can just use paintings! Due to the beautiful filming, this is one of those films that MUST be seen in the widescreen format. Glad to see that the video and DVD now include the deleted bathing scene between ...

Kozinski 27.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)

Sparticus to every one who has seen it is a classic film as it was made in 1960 and is still known now. The film is about a man called Sparticus who rebels against Rome and takes with him a crowd of people. The film starts with Sparticus being a slave before he goes to gladiator school but he and the rest of them soon break out and start an army against Rome. Sparticus then starts an army and he with a couple of his friends along side him convince ...

pauluk 23.03.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)

Forget Ridley Scotts Gladiator. This is the film to watch. Based upon the actual revolt led by Sparticus in AD something or other. The film takes us from the brutality of gladiator school, the break for freedom, through to the inevitable tragic consequences of taking on the might of the roman empire and coming second. Watch out for the famed bathroom scene where a young and pretty Tony curtis is asked whether he prefers snails or oysters. (Geddit.) ...

Seaxwulf 25.06.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)

Roman epic Spartacus made in 1960 and Starring Kirk Douglas as heroic slave turned leader "Spartacus" communicates to the audience of the struggle for wealth and power in Roman times.Leading man Kirk Douglas has been employed as a slave since boyhood and is desperate to break free from his 'shackles' and to lead himself and his fellow slaves to a longer and better quality of life.Spartacus escapes from his master and he leads a revolt against the ...
...hill at the advancing Romans.After Spartacus and his followers do battle he is captured and crucified by Pontius pilot,in true epic slyle thousand come to worship a dying Sparacus along with his wife "Virinia" and newborn child.the point the film demonstrates is the struggle throughout history of slaves who have tried to fight for freedom for themselves and future generations.In all I would give Spartacus ten out of ten for communicating well to ...

bigvoice 18.08.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Spartacus (DVD)