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It has been a while since I have been to see a real adventure
movie on the big screen so I have been eagerly anticipating
this one for a while. And I have not been disappointed. From
the opening battle scene to the climactic clash, Gladiator is
a swashbuckling epic on a grand scale.
This movie follows the story of Maximus (Russell Crowe), a
brilliant general who serves the aging Roman emperor Marcus
Aurelius (Richard Harris). The film opens with an action charged
battle scene where Maximus marshalls his forces against barbarians
in the Empire's northern frontiers. We are shown that Maximus
is not only a great warrior, and a great leader of men, but
also a family man whose main wish to be back on his farm with
his wife and son.
The Emperor, sensing that his time is nearly up, and having
great respect for Maximus' honour and humility, names the general
as his successor to protect Rome from corruption and greed.
This burden does not sit well on Maximus's shoulders, but it
is even more unpopular with the Emperor's son Commodus (Joaquim
Phoenix). Commodus has been long looking forward to taking over
the Imperial reins, so being told that he is not the right man
for the job leaves him even more bitter and twisted than he
was to start off with. Commodus decides to take matters into
his own hands and orders that Maximus and his family are executed.
Maximus barely escapes with his life but ends up being sold
into slavery and is bought by grizzled gladiator entrepreneur
Proximo (Oliver Reed, who sadly passed away before the film
was completed). The rest of the movie follows Maximus as he
aims to fulfill the dying wishes of the old Emperor - and also
to seek vengeance for his family.
Battle scenes and sword fighting have been reliable action
movie themes for years. With Gladiator, Ridley Scott gives us
an empire sized dose of both. The highlights for me were the
opening battle scene against the barbarians and also the amazing
clash between the gladiator 'Carthaginians' and the golden chariot
riding Romans.
Scott also brings us an archetypal hero that we can cheer for
from start to finish. Russell Crowe is perfect as the hardened
warrior hero. Maximus is not a complex character, he does not
have major flaws, he is not fighting internal demons, or having
crises of morality. He is an action hero and this is an action
movie. He is the good guy, plain and simple - he has been wronged
and now he's pissed off, so watch out if you're one of the bad
guys.
The main 'bad guy' is of course Commodus. Joaquim Phoenix is
very good as the greedy, backstabbing Emperor. It is not entirely
clear whether Commodus is truly evil or whether he has just
not had enough attention during his childhood. Anyway, this
is not the sort of film where we need to dwell on these matters.
He's the bad guy and he should be put away. Above all else,
he lusts after his own sister.
This is good old fashioned action and its right up there with
the best of them.
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