are you not entertained (Gladiator (DVD))

Member Name: lemonjim

Product:	Gladiator (DVD)
Date:	19/10/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: powerful and emotional

Disadvantages: a bit bloody for some

I absolutely loved this film there is so much passion involved with it!

The film is about a roman general who Cesar wants to give the thrown too. However, his jealous, deranged evil son decides to have him killed and for no body to hear about his fathers so called betrayal.

Russell Crow's performance is superb in this (which I think is actually a rarity). As they take him to be exercuted his instinct and fighting skill enables him to brake loose of the guards grasp, kill them, and escape.

The screen work is fantastic here and the German country is in winter with snow flakes gentle falling everywhere. The camera captures the sombre and sad mood the general feels after being betrayed.

With a deep wound the general tries to make his way home to his wife and child only to find them dead. The passion Crow exhorts when seeing this horrible scene is powerful. The sound track is one of the best pieces of work and compliments the scenes with perfection.

I love the use of effects when Crow is nearly dying and feels himself pop in and out of reality. With the sun blazing furiously down on him and an obviously infected wound the tension builds when he is brought to the bottom of the food chain as a gladiator.

The sward fighting is performed effortlessly and Crow fits into the role as the 'Spaniard' naturally. The sadness he feels and anger toward is mortal energy is powerfully seen through his eyes.

'Are you not entertain' the films excellent sets give you a real sense of verisimilitude. Many of the scenes are in a Moroccan City where this is actually real and the stadium is also real but I believe it is in Tunisia.


Great film and one that has got my respect!

Summary: one of the best films around