Gladiator (2000) is directed by Ridley Scott and stars Russell Crowe, Joaquin Pheonix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, David Schofield, John Shrapnel, Tommy Flanagan, Spencer Treat Clark, Tomas Arana, Ralf Moeller, David Hemmings, and Sven-Ole Thorsen. The film follows Maximus (Crowe), a decorated Roman general who is chosen by Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Harris) as his successor. When tragedy occurs, Commodus (Phoenix), the emperor’s corrupt son, attempts to seize the throne and in the process execute Maximus and his family. After watching his wife and son die, Maximus narrowly escapes and is then captured by slavers who thrust him into the world of gladiatorial combat. Victorious in almost every melee, he soon returns to Rome to fight on the gladiator’s biggest stage: The Colosseum. Along with unexpected allies, Maximus cooks up a plan to exact his vengeance on Commodus even if it costs him his life.

Crowe provides an unusually commanding screen presence, and although his character is somewhat barebones, he’s impossible to look away from. He’s never a character that affects the viewer emotionally, but he’s strong, moral, and retains a realistic sense of humor despite the tragedies he experiences. He’s not unique, but he’s the perfect protagonist for the subject matter at hand. 

Phoenix is perfectly creepy as Commodus, the film’s villain. He’s able to portray mental instability simply through his mannerisms and by the end of the film becomes a villain you can’t wait to see get his comeuppance. His prisoner-like relationship with his sister played by Connie Neilsen makes the viewer’s skin crawl and perfectly displays his twisted mind. That being said, Nielsen is great as well. Her strong, but realistic handling of her situation is the perfect antidote to a cast that is almost all big, burly macho men. 

At 2 ½ hours long, the movie is surprisingly well-paced and features the perfect balance of political intrigue and visceral action. To this day, the action sequences stand toe to toe with some of the best and I think this is partly because of the film’s commitment to practical effects. I can guarantee that a certain sequence involving a real tiger would only be a quarter as effective if CGI was used instead. On top of this, the sound design is totally immersive. When swords clash against one another, it almost sounds as if you’re there in person. 

   The action is so thrilling that it almost entirely makes up for the fact that, at its core, it’s a pretty standard revenge story. It’s a roaring testament to the idea that a familiar story can feel fresh when it’s given the proper care. That being said, most average Joe’s who choose to watch a gladiator movie are mostly coming for one thing: action and bloodshed. If that’s the case, Gladiator provides everything it needs to and more. 

Overall, this is not only one of the best sword and sandals epics to grace the screen over the last 20+ years, but it’s easily the best gladiator to date. Movies of this scale don’t come around often, but even if they did, Gladiator would still be tough to beat. Even if you’re not a fan of the genre, it’s a film that’s tough to ignore even on a technical level. It won’t blow your mind emotionally or even thematically, but it’s an undeniably rousing experience that never lets its grandiose nature get in the way of pure, good old-fashioned entertainment. A-