Movie Mondays - Gladiator

This week's movie is Gladiator (2000) starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Jaclyn has seen this movie, but Alisha has not, so we are going to highlight it as a preview for her. The inspiration for this came from our World Civ class, as we are currently discussion the ancient Roman Empire.

Tagline according to IMDB:

A general who became a slave. A slave who became a gladiator. A gladiator who defied an emperor.

We know it's an epic movie, but let's take a look at what others have to say:

wishkah6 (IMDB user) declares, "Very rarely a film meshes together as finely as Gladiator. Its vivid action, superb writing, breathtaking acting, moving cinematography, and flawless score all amalgamate into a zenith of film making."

Wow. I think I would agree. The storyline is intriguing throughout and left me with the impression of wanting to be male? I know weird, but this movie is all about man-power. Awesome.

Rotten Tomatoes gave Gladiator a Fresh review at 77% positive!

Mark Halverson, of the Sacramento News & Review, says, "Scott triumphantly transports us back to the Roman Empire circa 180 A.D. with a painter’s eye for detail, a proven talent for manufacturing exotic realities ... and a sweet tooth for utter spectacle."

Urban Cinefile Critics announce, "Epic cinema is back."

But not all critics were entirely wowed. A few, while giving it a positive rating, still had some negative comments about the movie.

Jules Brenner, of Cinema Signals, said, "There's careful thought evident in suggesting what can only be conjectured. If you're going to enjoy this entertainment, don't be overly preoccupied with historical accuracy."

Christopher Smith, of the Bangor Daily News, says, "Beefcake! Blood! Body slams! Boring! Boring? Well, not quite, but at 150 minutes, Gladiator isn't entirely the thrilling, action-packed Roman epic some fans of the genre were expecting."

So not everyone had the same experience with Gladiator. But overall good story, interesting characters, and battles that may be a bit graphic for any audience. We'll see what Alisha thinks after she watches it.