Gladiator (DVD, 2000, 2-Disc Set)

I really enjoyed this movie! Russell Crowe plays the role of the general-turned-slave, Maximus without effort. In his mid-thirties, Crowe inhabits his character with proper authority and confidence. Maximus is tough, muscular, and not afraid to fight hand to hand combat and risk dying with his men.

The film starts by chronicling the northern armies of Rome, an epic battle against a Germanic horde in 180 A.D. The film engages awesome battle footage. There are archers shooting flaming arrows; precursors to artillery abd huge incendiary bombs launched from catapults while the charges explod on impact in the trees that are sheltering the enemy! The combat itself, with heavily armored legions marching against the whooping middle European natives, is realistic and a bit bloody,but nonetheless thrilling and explosive!

Maximus is victorious, and is complimented by the emperor himself, Marcus Aurelius (played by Richard Harris). This Caesar asks his best general what he wants; Maximus replies he wants to return to his wife and son, and their farm, outside of Rome. Of course the complication is that the emperor, offers him a form of power of succession. Maximus would not be a dictator, which Marcus and previous Caesars have been. Instead, he would serve as a sort of sergeant at arms to the Roman Empire, the administration and allowing power to return to the Senate. Rome would once again be the republic it was at its founding...

More intrigue surfaces when the emperor’s real son and daughter enter as they are ushered to the battle, after the death dealing is done. Joaquin Phoenix plays Commodus, who believes he will be the next dictator, and is sister Lucilla played by Connie Nielson. Her character is the smarter of the two, more politically canny and much wiser. She also apparently had been involved with Maximus prior to his marriage to another.

The Special Effects are stunning! Scenes showing ancient Rome, painstakingly recreated with the Old World flavor of a living city.

An Excellent movie that I highly recommend seeing if you already haven't has the opportunit, and if you have, revisited again and again!