Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2527. Gladiator (2000)

    2527. Gladiator (2000)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on April 20, 2019 150-159 mins, 2000, 8 - 10, Action, Apr 19, Drama, History, Movies Of 2019, Review, United States
    8.1 Enthralling
    • Acting 8.0
    • Directing 8.1
    • Story 8.2
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen

    Director: Ridley Scott

    Running Time: 155 mins


    Gladiator is an American film about a former Roman General who, upon the rise of the new Emperor, sees his wife and son murdered, and himself landed in a life of slavery, leading him to launch a quest for revenge against the man who destroyed his life.

    With a fascinating historical setting coupled with an enthralling personal story, Gladiator proves a riveting watch throughout its entire two and a half hour runtime, and although it may at times lean a little too heavily on some of its blockbuster, action tendencies, it impresses hugely with fantastic emotional drama and two powerhouse lead performances from beginning to end.

    Given that the Roman Empire was history’s most powerful empire, you’d think that there would be more all-time classics about the Romans. However, it’s a period that’s often glossed over in a historical context, with many films looking at the period pointing to the decadent lifestyles of the elite, rather than combining that with a wider context.

    Gladiator, on the other hand, not only brings a wider historical context into play (you’ll learn a lot about the Romans here), but also employs brilliant personal and emotional drama to give power to the story as well. As a result, it’s an educational watch that doesn’t feel like a history lesson, and an emotional watch that has some genuine gravitas and importance to it as well.

    Throughout, Ridley Scott does a fantastic job to portray the period in as spectacular detail as possible, with the film impressing with incredible visual effects, production and costume design, as well as a big, exciting blockbuster vibe that drives real energy into the portrayal of the period like few films have before.

    It’s often reminiscent of the scale and grandeur of Ben-Hur, a big, epic blockbuster that still has the dramatic chops to engross you throughout. The story, too, shares real similarities with Ben-Hur, also taking its inspiration from real historical events and crafting them into an enthralling story throughout, following the tale of redemption and revenge of a once-powerful general as he seeks to break out of slavery and come face to face with the new emperor, who ruined his life.

    When it comes to the action side of the story, the big, blockbuster vibe certainly works wonders for bringing real energy and entertainment value to proceedings, but I must say that there are moments when it’s all a little bit too blockbuster-esque for its own good. The dramatic story is so riveting throughout, yet the film often spends too long on big, gory battle sequences which, although adding to the story effectively, just go on a little too much, and feel intrusive to the flow of the core plot.

    Finally, a word on the performances, which are fantastic across the board. A huge cast that includes cinematic legends like Oliver Reed and Richard Harris, the acting is excellent wherever you look here, but it’s the two lead turns from Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe that really impress, with their rivalry being played out with real energy and emotion from beginning to end, playing a huge role in engrossing you in the story of revenge and redemption for every minute of the film’s two and a half hours.

    Overall, I was very impressed by Gladiator. A historically fascinating, dramatically riveting and all-round engrossing watch from beginning to end, its big, action-packed entertainment works brilliantly with real dramatic depth and intrigue throughout, and makes for an enthralling two and a half hours, which is why I’m giving it an 8.1.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.1
    Review
    July 24, 20140

    634. Delicatessen (1991)

    8.9
    Review
    April 9, 20140

    519. Hotel Rwanda (2004)

    8.0
    Review
    May 22, 20160

    1359. I’m A Cyborg, But That’s OK (싸이보그지만 괜찮아) (2006)

    8.1
    Review
    December 7, 20200

    3176. Total Recall (1990)

    8.3
    Review
    July 3, 20150

    1011. Toy Story 2 (1999)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.