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Gladiator
(***1/2)
Many years ago, Hollywood regularly produced and released giant epic films. Stories like Spartacus, Cleopatra, and The Ten Commandments created a world that hadn't been seen since the height of the Roman Empire.
These movies started becoming more and more infrequent, and by the 1960's they were on their last legs. A shame. Like the musical, they slowly died out amongst the smaller acid style films. Until now.
Gladiator tells us the story of General Maximus (Crowe), fighting the barbarians in the north land for his emperor Marcus Aurelius (Harris). Maximus brings about a bloody defeat, and the aging Emperor is seeing the error of his ways. What has all this blood given to Rome? Nothing, he surmises. He desires to return Rome to a republic, and he knows that his beloved Maximus is the only one he can trust to return full power to the Senate.
However, his greedy power-hungry son Commodus (Phoenix) wants to rule Rome, and he murders Aurelius before the old man can give news of his heir. Maximus suspects foul play, and Commodus quickly sends him away to be killed.
Maximus is stronger though, and he escapes his captors to return home, only to find Commodus has killed the general's wife and son. Near death, he is kidnapped and brought into slavery; where ex-gladiator Proximo (Reed) trains him to be the greatest gladiator in the history of Rome. And thus begins a desire for revenge.
Gladiator has all the tastes and feeling of an epic production, but I also saw many more recent sources. The opening battle against the barbarians smacked of the D-Day opening in Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan." And the darkness! Director Ridley Scott has long shown an affinity to give us the darkest possible showings, and only in Maximus' dreams do we see bright sunny days.
Russell Crowe proves himself to be a great leading man; a firm jaw, and a grim determination to do what he has to do, no matter what the cost. Phoenix is delectable as a mean spirited little man with incestuous desires for his sister Lucilla (Connie Nielson).
Most of the charm, though, lies in the blood. Three hours of carnage dealt with in entertaining and exhilirating fashions. It may not be incredibly intelligent, but it's so much fun, Oh my!