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DVD Gladiator (Extended Edition)
A big-budget summer epic with money to burn and a scale worthy of its golden Hollywood predecessors, Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a rousing, grisly, action-packed epic that takes moviemaking back to the Roman Empire via computer-generated visual effects. While not as fluid as the computer work done for, say, Titanic, it's an impressive achievement that will leave you marveling at the glory that was Rome, when you're not marveling at the glory that is Russell Crowe. Starring as the heroic general Maximus, Crowe firmly cements his star status both in terms of screen presence and acting chops, carrying the film on his decidedly non-computer-generated shoulders as he goes from brave general to wounded fugitive to stoic slave to gladiator hero. Gladiator's plot is a whirlwind of faux-Shakespearean machinations of death, betrayal, power plays, and secret identities (with lots of faux-Shakespearean dialogue ladled on to keep the proceedings appropriately "classical"), but it's all briskly shot, edited, and paced with a contemporary sensibility. Even the action scenes, somewhat muted but graphic in terms of implied violence and liberal bloodletting, are shot with a veracity that brings to mind--believe it or not--Saving Private Ryan, even if everyone is wearing a toga. As Crowe's nemesis, the evil emperor Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix chews scenery with authority, whether he's damning Maximus's popularity with the Roman mobs or lusting after his sister Lucilla (beautiful but distant Connie Nielsen); Oliver Reed, in his last role, hits the perfect notes of camp and gravitas as the slave owner who rescues Maximus from death and turns him into a coliseum star. Director Scott's visual flair is abundantly in evidence, with breathtaking shots and beautiful (albeit digital) landscapes, but it's Crowe's star power that will keep you in thrall--he's a true gladiator, worthy of his legendary status. Hail the conquering hero! --Mark Englehart
This film achieves Ridley Scott's goal of portraying the Roman time period and the gladiator's plight in stunning fashion. With the combination of a captivating plot, marvelous acting, and second to none special effects, Gladiator shines as one of the best films recently produced.
The placement of actors and their performance in this movie is nearly perfect. Russell Crowe is captivating from the very start, and his character's homely attributes make him nearly impossible to dislike. The character is simultaneously filled with many emotions such as anger, passion, bravery, and loneliness. Crowe exhibits the qualities needed to perform in this type of role. Phoenix, in addition, portrays the desired effect through his character with flying colors. The character, along with Phoenix's one of a kind touch makes Commodus create a sense of disgust in the viewer.
The historical aspect of the movie, in my opinion, is very well done. Though it may not be completely accurate, it illustrates the grandeur of the Roman Empire magnificently and creates a good balance between history and Hollywood. The plot is filled with passion and the classic themes of freedom and the power in people. The action sequences in the movie are great with nearly uncensored views of the bloody life a Roman gladiator.
The film has something for everyone from the action film junkie to someone who enjoys quality artistic expression. Ridley Scott achieves a nearly perfect balance between having to sell in the box office while still attempting to be as historically accurate as possible. I would recommend this film to everyone.
BB
Not only completely and horribly inaccurate, but just plain boring when there are no action scenes
This film is pure Hollywood trash...
The plot is blatantly obviously not historical at all. First of all, we have the wise old Emperor Marcus Aurelius murdered by his corrupt son (keep in mind that corrupt Emperors in Rome were a dime a dozen), and we have the equivalent of a westernized drama about a tyrant doing away with "republican" institutions, and then being killed and everything's all back to normal, glory hallelujah, praise Jesus!
In actual history, the time of post-Commodus's rule was chaotic the way post-Nero's rule was. An Emperor lasted 86 days, before another civil war broke out for the Emperor-ship.
The opening battle scene was an absolute MESS. If you know even the most basic about ancient Roman fighting style, you'd know that if they even dared to step out of formation and wander around the battlefield on their own like scalded chickens, they'd be butchered. What starts looking very neatly organized and superbly done degenerates into chaos as the legionaries suddenly abandon all sense of discipline and common sense and start Hollywood-fighting (see The Mummy Returns, Braveheart, etc) in which the men just randomly charge the enemy, get themselves stuck deep in enemy lines, and fight one-on-one combat with random soldiers.
Making this even worse, as soon as the battle was done, it seemed like everyone just collapsed in a big pile the way children who are chasing each other around collapse on top of each other in exhaustion.
The dialogue was very simplistic, consisting of Braveheart-esque talk of "FREEDOM!" and scathingly sneering at the idea of slavery, with Maximus talking of freeing all his slave buddies in the gladiator school (No Roman in his right mind would ever consider ending slavery)
The battle scenes in the Colisseum are at least very stylish and entertaining. Watching the fights keeps you on edge.
Unfortunately, for a history buff like me, it is painful to watch. Aside from the use of wrong equipment, it should be know that 1) Gladiators did not randomly fight any and all oncomers---they were paired up against gladiators of a different fighting style
2) The end of a fight saw the death of the loser---if this were true, the entire concept of gladiatorial bouts would go out of business quickly. Gladiators are EXPENSIVE to train and care for. They were fed the best food, given the best women, treated better even than most free common people. Having one of them die after every bout would be an insane waste of valuable money.
3) Thumbs down means death---no one really knows if this is true, but it's been said that "a turn of the thumb" means the gladiator is to be killed. It makes more sense that a thumbs up means death (thumb up, then at the throat, to indicate slitting his throat), thumbs down meaning life (as in to put the sword in the ground, spare him)
Aside from the blazing historical inaccuracies, the movie itself is quite dull and flaccid during the non-battle scenes, including the very awkward scenes between Commodus and his sister and that random little kid. The dialogue feels very painful to listen to, because of its dull delivery and stiltedness.
Keep in mind that the reason this thing is criticized is not due to nitpicking by historians for the historial accuracy and anachronisms and the such. It is the fact that the entire story just screams FREEDOOOOOM! the way Braveheart does---except Braveheart has an excuse!
King Wolf's review provides a very short, blunt description of the "westernization" of the plot.
All in all, this was a very unoriginal, highly inaccurate, and overall boring film. There may be some redeeming features for some viewers, but there are none for me (I am not easily impressed by fight scenes in the Colosseum, if there is no story to back it up)
This feature is ESPECTACULAR!!!....
You don't have to talk too much about this movie, everybody knows that it was one of the greatest superproduction of all times, the actors, the sites, the pictures, all this things makes it unic...
The feature of the DVD is great!, 3 dvds to enjoy a lot of extras...
You can't have an epic collection without this dvd...
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