After all the hype, all the commercials, and all the reviews I've read I finally decided it was time to see Gladiator. Normally I try to go off the beaten path as much as possible with my movie selections but I just had to see what all the fuss was about with this movie.

What is it about?
Gladiator is the story of a general, Maximus (Russel Crowe) in a specific period of his life. It's during this period that Maximus accomplishes great victory, suffers betrayal and a crashing defeat, and attempts to rise from the ashes to taste victory again.

The setting is in Medieval Europe, meaning you are talking about knights, armor, and chivalry. These are import parts of the movie and if you don't like them you are already down one strike.

How is the cast?
I don't know how they did it, but they managed to hold the movie to only a handful of recognizable faces and still put together what feels like an all-star cast.

Crowe has a strong on screen presence and is perfect for his role. The character and the man blend together seemlessly leaving the viewer confusing one with the other.

The supporting cast does more than just support Crowe. Displaying emotion and a talent with dialogue they make sure every setting and event has an impact on both the viewer and the other characters.

Is the script well written?
Yeah, it is. The dialogue is very true to the time the movie is set in without being hard to understand. The words used are modern but the ideas they define are often chivalric and sometimes archaic. This is actually a good thing as the story is woven around both.

I heard it was an action flick...is there any action?
There is enough action in this movie to satisfy most movie-goers. Fight scenes of all types take place. Everything ranging from mano-a-mano to an entire legion of men raging against each other.

Choreography was clearly a priority as each action scene is real enough to impress even a keen eye. Gore is kept to a minimum but still used enough to bring an impact and sense of eagerness to the viewer.

What can I compare it to?
There are several movies I compare this to in one way or another. The first is the Robin Hood movie from the 1990s (I haven't seen the older ones). It has a similar feel to it even though it is a very different story.

I also compare this to The Crow (see my review on this one). Gladiator isn't nearly as emotionally intense but the action scenes are on par with The Crow both in frequency and quality.

OK for kids?
This is a close one to call. The sexual innuendo is kept to a bare minimum, so much so that most children wouldn't notice it, but the violence is pretty often and pretty graphic.

Foul language is nearly non-existant in this movie so that isn't really a concern.

Overall:
Any fan of action movies, Dungeons and Dragons, or other medieval themed works should like this movie.

The plot is strong, the smaller elements combine to carry it home, and the feel of the movie is "produced" without being "over produced".

My only flaw is that the movie is a little too predictable.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older