Gladiator

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000500dvldtc.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Reel Movie Critic.com</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reel Movie Critic.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id1056.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ghosts of Mars"><U>Ghosts of Mars</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id536.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Senses, The"><U>Five Senses, The</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ghost World"><U>Ghost World</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Frequency"><U>Frequency</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id612.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Get Carter"><U>Get Carter</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id957.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Gift"><U>The Gift</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1192.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Glass House"><U>The Glass House</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id221.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ghost Dog"><U>Ghost Dog</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Gleaners and I"><U>The Gleaners and I</U></A>   |   <B>Gladiator</B>   |   <A HREF="id1147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Glitter"><U>Glitter</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id611.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Girlfight"><U>Girlfight</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1243.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Go Tigers!"><U>Go Tigers!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id478.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Girl On The Bridge"><U>Girl On The Bridge</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1222.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gosford Park"><U>Gosford Park</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id540.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Godzilla"><U>Godzilla</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Godfather Collection"><U>The Godfather Collection</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gone in 60 Seconds"><U>Gone in 60 Seconds</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id905.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Golden Bowl"><U>The Golden Bowl</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id187.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grass"><U>Grass</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hit and Runway"><U>Hit and Runway</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id220.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg"><U>The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Homocide: The Movie"><U>Homocide: The Movie</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id250.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Legacy"><U>Legacy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id904.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In the Bedroom"><U>In the Bedroom</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Legend of Bagger Vance"><U>The Legend of Bagger Vance</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id615.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lost Souls"><U>Lost Souls</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love Basketball"><U>Love & Basketball</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1269.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Intimacy"><U>Intimacy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id316.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love Beat The Hell Outta of Me"><U>Love Beat The Hell Outta of Me</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="041d2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> <B>Home Pages For</B></div> <div> <B>                </B><A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/"><U><B>Movies</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>                    </B><A HREF="http://www.newbookdiscounts.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.newbookdiscounts.com/"><U><B>Books</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>                       </B><A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelforless/id364.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelfor"><U><B>Travel</B></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelforless/id361.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelfor"><U><B>Great Web Sites</B></U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="07195630.png" border=0 width="149" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> Gladiator</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c816e8c0.jpg" border=0 width="110" height="140" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00003CXE7/reelmoviecriticc">Buy DVD from Amazon.com</A>  </div> <div>  <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004STPT/reelmoviecriticc">Buy Sountrack from Amazon.com</A>.  </div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>Gladiator  *** (R)</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>Reviewed By George O. Singleton</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="588" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>Russell Crowe goes postal</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Maximus: Russell Crowe          Commdous: Joaquin Phoenix:     </div> <div> Lucilla: Connie Nelson          Proximo: Oliver Reed:          </div> <div> Juba: Dijmon Hounsou:          Marcus Aurelius: Richard Harris:     </div> <div> Director: Ridley Scott</div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: A revered military general who has become a hero in the Roman Army falls on hard times, becomes a slave, and then seeks revenge in the ring by becoming a gladiator.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B> Maximus (Russell Crowe) is the James Bond in the days of the chariot and sword. Rome has conquered most of Europe and both Maximus and Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) are battle weary. The movie opens with a battle scene similar to <I><B>Saving Private Ryan, </B></I>yet it's more brutal because of the hand to hand combat as compared to the relative distance of machine guns.</div> <bR> <div> Marcus chooses Maximus, rather than his son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), to be the next Caesar, the ruler of the all-powerful Rome. Before this is announced and the transition takes place, Marcus dies. When Maximus will not pledge his loyalty to Commodus, Commodus orders his execution at a remote location away from the troops. Maximus escapes and when he returns to his family, he finds they have been attacked by order of Commodus. </div> <bR> <div> Maximus is now a broken man, captured by soldiers who make him a slave only to have the privilege of dying as a gladiator. He is a great warrior who becomes well known and before long he is ready to fight in Rome rather than in its remote provinces. Once in the ring and getting the thumbs up from the crowd, he comes face to face with Commodus…he in the ring and Commodus in the royal box. Circumstances develop that result in a battle of swords between the two of them to resolve their issues and set the course on how the empire will be ruled. Will it be a dictatorship or a government ruled by senatorial representatives?</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: Peace comes to everyone when those in power, who are not brutes, exercise restraint. Phoenix plays a character you just love to hate. Not since Tim Roth in <I><B>Rob Roy</B></I> has there been such an effectively nasty person in a position of leadership in the "spoiled brat" category. </div> <bR> <div> Commodus has traits he believes are the key to leadership such as ambition, resourcefulness, courage and devotion while Maximus has traits like wisdom, temperance and fortitude. Marcus tells his son Commodus that "Your faults as a son represent my failure as a father." Commodus is not only a self-centered tyrant, but he is sexually attracted to his sister, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), who while not evil, blows with the wind when it comes to choosing her relationships. </div> <bR> <div> Juba (Djimon Hounsou ) is also a gladiator with character traits similar to Maximus. The film could have moved from being very good to a classic if the story had developed beyond a simple power play and grudge match between Maximus and Commodus. Juba's character was ripe to develop in that direction. </div> <bR> <div> The settings for the film are impressive, especially the Coliseum in Rome when close up. From a distance, when trying to give Rome a broad perspective with a "skyline" shot, the digital imaging has a painted on phony look that detracts from making it all feel real. For a moment it feels like you are looking at <I>Star Wars: The Phantom Menace </I>or a cartoon with real people in it.<I> </I></div> <div> <I> </I></div> <div> The sword fighting and the chariot action are fantastic. The much-promoted fight sequence with the tigers in the arena looks lame with all the digital enhancements. There are also ethereal scenes reminiscent of <I><B>What Dreams May Come,</B></I> providing a feeling of eternity and meeting loved ones after life has ended on earth, which seems out of place with the reality and brutality of the film. </div> <bR> <div> From a moral perspective, the very concept of men dying for the entertainment of others is eerily similar to looking at a football or soccer game. More importantly, the message is implied that if the masses are entertained, they will be less interested in fundamental human rights. </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Gladiator</B></I> will without doubt be a major movie for this spring with its fresh characters and scenery. It would not surprise me if we see Russell Crowe in a James Bond movie in the future; he is a character who is loved by the ladies and has a smooth edge. Mr. Crowe has etched his mark in the land.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> R (extreme violence…intense and graphic combat)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> George O. Singleton © 2000</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Mini Filmography:</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div> Russell Crowe: <A HREF="id751.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Proof of Life"><U><I><B>Proof of Life</B></I></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Joaquin Phoenix: <I><B>The Yards</B></I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Connie Nelson: <A HREF="id254.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mission To Mars"><U><I><B>Mission to Mars</B></I></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Oliver Reed: Parting Shots</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div> Dijmon Hounsou: <I>Amistad</I></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Richard Harris: Patriot Games</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div> Ridley Scott: <A HREF="id931.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hannibal"><U><I><B>Hannibal</B></I></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="293" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>