Gladiator (2000): HAPPY 50TH POST!!

Academy Award Winner

I cannot believe I am at 50 posts! Just a little update on the whole; I am now 162 movies in with 247 to go to and rapidly approaching halfway, and in case you were wondering I update my status on my original post: The Quest , so if you want to keep track of my progress it is there. Thanks for your readership, I have a great time writing, and I hope you enjoy reading :)

Now, I know I have discussed the Epic before and I know I have also talked about straight up entertainment value. Here is an example of the collision of these two motives of movie making. Is it perfect? No. Is it entertaining and epic? Yes. Then throw in ancient Roman society with it's strength but fragile inner structure and you have yourself a backdrop. Lastly, add the ultimate hero, a man who has been beaten down but cannot be beaten and you have yourself a movie worth making, but more importantly worth watching.

This story may not be historically accurate but it's victory lies in capturing a culture not specifics. It's attention is paid to the customs and traditions that is ancient Rome; the wars for the empire, the constant conflict of empire vs. democracy, and  the gladiator fights all encompass the essence of the time through narrative. Yet we are also given Rome through a visual recreation that is achieved most successfully. They have rebuilt the Colosseum, they have clad the gladiators in intricate armor, they show the luxury of the emperor and for all of this we are visually committed to this film.

So our backdrop and it's execution are compelling, but now the other main player in this movie's success is Maximus. The unwilling but rightful ruler of Rome, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and he will have his vengeance in this life or the next. (Sorry I couldn't really help it)  What makes this character so compelling is he is not complex, he is a man with a single purpose, and that is the only reason he is alive. He will endure so that he may die, but not until he has killed the emperor of Rome. Yet, to have a great hero you must have a villain of equal proportions. As much as we love Maximus we must hate Commodus. Russell Crowe successfully wins our admiration and Joaquin Phoenix our disdain.

The other characters in this story play their parts, and we are given a story of a lifetime, complete with the epic battles required from a film entitled Gladiator. Also the score is awesome, swelling and well...EPIC!

I do have one qualm but it is an unavoidable bi product of all action films. Action films have a tendency to have one theme and beat you over the head with it. Here it is death, and we are clobbered by it, you cannot go five minutes without someone saying something about shadows and dust...but it is typical of the genre so I will let it pass.

Overall: You want to know Rome? Skip Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), and instead follow Maximus through his lifetime. You won't regret it and if you do...well don't worry your regrets will follow you into death for all eternity. (Reference to tag line: check) But in all seriousness you won't regret it, it's not possible. Happy Watching!