Gladiator

Title: Gladiator (15)

Year: 2000

Running Time: 155 minutes

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Russell Crowe (Maximus), Joaquin Phoenix (Commodus), Connie Nielsen (Lucilla). Notes: Won five Oscars, nominated for seven Oscars, won five Baftas, won forty eight other awards

Rating: 10

Thoughts:   A Roman General is betrayed and his family slain. He becomes a gladiator and ends up in Rome, where he can take his revenge on the corrupt Emperor.

Everything about this film is excellent. The cast list is deep and strong. The fighting is brutal and realistic, with a few historical inaccuracies aside.

The narrative takes some liberties with what actually happened but the story is very rich. Everything looks stunning too with a typical range of shots from Scott, and some impressive sets.

There's a beautiful blend of powerful dialogue and full-on action, both catching elements of what Rome may well have been like. It's no wonder this film has been heaped with superlatives and awards.

I can also recommend the special edition with some interesting deleted scenes and more. And incidentally, if you can, try and find the script and in particular one with a very different ending.

I actually think that might have been better still.