Russell Crowe stars as General Maximus, a Roman General who ends up as a slave/gladiator as the result of Roman political intrigue. The battle scenes are much more impressionistic as compared with Mel Gibson's excellent "Braveheart". The opening battle scene with the Germanic barbarians sets the tone for the remainder of the movie. Much of the rest of the movie involves the political scheming of the main characters. Joaquin Phoenix has the toughest acting challenge playing the "new" emperer. He has to be weak, strong, conniving, scheming, devious, intelligent all at the same time. Without a good protagonist to move the story along, Maximus' nobility would be less.

Standouts: The twirling camera shot as Maximus enters the arena for the first time; the chariot battle in the Colluseum; the battle with the tigers.

Characters: Two gladiators: The Black man and the Germanic giant

Surprises: Most of the shots used in the trailer occur in the first half of the movie so the ending is not revealed unnecessarily.; No sex/nudity - what's a gladiator movie without sex along with the violence?

Movie review © 2011 -   Lawrence L. Novotny.

All images © 2000 DreamWorks SKG
Universal Pictures
Scott Free Productions