Morituri Te Salutant (Gladiator (DVD))

Member Name: wyrdsister

Product:	Gladiator (DVD)
Date:	03/02/02 (204 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Action, Humanity, Epic story

Disadvantages: unecessary love interest

As a people, we are fascinated by the past and the legacies of our forefathers. History is a source of greatness and cruelty, horror and heroism. So writers have often tried to recreate history for their audiences, to bringing the past to life. Shakespeare wrote about the great Julius Cesar and the legendary tragic story of Anthony and Cleopatra for the bewildered crowds of Elizabethan England. Since then, many films have tried to encapsulate the glory and grandeur of the ancient world. Even before cinema had learned to speak, gladiators fought lions in black and white to the sound of piano music. And with Hollywood came the epic movies, with their lavish sets and thousands of extras, beautiful and splendid, and so expensive to make that they disappeared from our cinema screens with Cleopatra, the last of the great Hollywood epic. It is any wonder then that a director so diverse and talented as Ridley Scott should try to bring about the revival of the historical epic with his ambitious movie Gladiator.

Gladiator is the story of a Roman General, Maximus (Russell Crowe), whose loyalty and integrity cost him everything. The story begins as the last battle of the roman campaign to take Germania gets underway and Maximus is shown as a leader, who fights alongside his men for the glory of Rome. The battle is watched from afar by the old emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), and inevitably the barbarians are crushed by the might of Rome. This is not to be Maximus’ last battle. When Marcus Aurelius embraces him as his son and asks him to take power until the senate was ready to rule Rome a republic again, Maximus is reluctant, and leaves deep in thought about what he has been asked to do. When the heir to the throne learns that will not be emperor and Aurelius is found dead in the morning, Maximus knows he was murdered by the new Emperor, his son Commodus. Refusing to accept this new state of affairs, Maximus decides he would honour Marcus Aurelius’
; his last wish: to make Rome a republic. This is not to be, as Commodus arranges for his rival to be killed. Maximus escapes his executioners and flees to his villa in Spain only to find it destroyed and his family murdered. His will broken and wounded from his escape, Maximus is pick up by slave traders and sold to Proximo (Oliver Reed) to fight as a gladiator. Now a man with no fear, no hope and no past, he ruthlessly and unceremoniously slaughters all who come against him. Then something changes, Proximo is to take his gladiators to Rome, to fight in the Coliseum for the Emperor himself. Maximus now has one thing to live for: revenge.

The cast and the acting standard is very high, notably Oliver Reed. Sadly this was to be his last film as the actor died before the movie was completed, forcing a rewrite of the ending. Some scenes had to be digitally altered, and it is fitting that Scott chose not to shoot the scenes with another actor. Crowe is believable and impressive as the disillusioned Maximus and excels in the gladiatorial fights. Joaquin Phoenix gives a well-balanced performance as the deranged Emperor Commodus, who was as dangerously insane in history as he is portrayed in the movie. The supporting actors, Derek Jakobi, Connie Nielson and Dijmon Hounson to name but a few, bring their skill and talent to help the story flow without glitches.

The special effect are excellent, it is hard to believe at first sight that the most of the Coliseum is computer generated. Thankfully, they are not over-baring and their subtle use makes them go unnoticed. The music is powerful and well suited to the photography, it certainly enhances the whole experience and adds to the excitement factor in places.

Although the story is fictional and some aspects seem farfetched, Gladiator is based around actual historical events and characters, giving the piece an element of realism. It is of course a modern epic and in my opinion does not quite match its
predecessors (Ben-Hur or Spartacus). Still, Gladiator is a brave undertaking whose success is not coincidental with accomplished director Ridley Scott at the helm. It is a good movie, packed with action, intrigue and humanity. Gladiator is available on video and DVD. For more info on the real emperor Commodos and gladiatorial fights, check out www.ancienthistory.about.com

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