Saturday 6 May A.D. 2000
My Friends,
I’ve just returned from seeing
Gladiator for the second time within the first 24 hours of its release. I must say I was impressed by the scope and grandeur of the film. Director Ridley Scott has created a modern spectacle that begins to depict the grandeur of Rome at the heights of its reach and might.
Having stood in the Coliseum in 1987 and again in 1989, I was interested to see it in all its glory. I was not disappointed in the least. The same structure that played as the backdrop to Bruce Lee’s climatic fight with Chuck Norris in 1973’s “Return of the Dragon” once again is the center of movie history. The size and scale of the Coliseum was surpassed only by the ancient pyramids of Egypt. The movie watcher can begin to understand that Roman life was centered there.
One might think that the movie is only about the horror and gruesome spectacle of combat in the Coliseum, but would be missing out on a greater story of revenge, ambition for absolute power, justice, dignity and honor.
Yes, the combat is gruesome, but is filmed in such a way, that you think you see more then you really do. The combat is filmed much like that of a WWII combat photographer. This places the viewer in the middle of action with the Roman Legions fighting the Germanic Hordes in an opening epic battle worthy only of the big screen. For players of the computer game “
Myth”, the opening battle is a must see (Joe, Daryl and
John, this means you!)
The complexity of Roman combat tactics is well depicted in a layered defense/offense using many of the modern elements of warfare from artillery (in the form of incendiaries and long range archers), infantry, and a pincers attack by calvary. In short order you can see why the Romans grew to conqure most of the known world.
The acting is top notch, as in the elegant but understated performance by Russell Crowe ("The Insider") who plays the betrayed and enslaved Roman General Maximus who challenges a young impotent and ill-qualified heir, Commodus expertly played by Joaquin Phoenix for the murder of his family.
The supporting actors fill out the cast with the dignifed slave Djimon Hounsou who backs up, Maximus in the Coliseum
The show stopper performance comes from Connie Nielsen (Devil's Advocate, Soldier,
Mission to Mars) , Lucilla, who is the only match for Maximus and who completely dominates her weakling brother. She sizzles with elegant sensuallity and radiates a commanding presence in a
Delenn-esque fashion (
Babylon 5.)
The pompous blow hards of
WWF and TNT’s Monday Night Nitro: Trip HHH, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock would last about 10 seconds against Maximus in
Mortal Kombat at the Coliseum. The General-turned-slave-turned-Gladiator dispatches his foes with the trained efficiency of a professional soldier fighting to avenge the murder of his family and to restore dignity and justice to the state. Even as a slave, Maximus commands respect that quickly organizes his fellow warriors.
The only area that I could nit pick is a hinted previous relationship between Maximus and Lucilla, that isn’t well explained. This might be a problem with editing.
I’m pleased that the movie stays true to it’s story and doesn’t “sell out” in traditional Hollywood fashion. As the movie unfolds, there is really only one ending appropriate to the story.
The music soundtrack by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard is epic and beautiful, worthy of the film. I picked up the soundtrack before my second viewing. It includes a gatefold pictorial of the characters that is a delight to discover on the first opening of the CD jewel case. The music makes me weep by is power, ( tracks 15, 16, and 17 especially so.)
Enjoy, and see you at the movies!
Strength and Honor be with you,
-Wright Sublette
