Gladiator

What if we tackled a classic? A true classic of the genre! Sometimes, I wonder what’s the point of trying to make an effect: the title says it all. So today’s film is Gladiator! You would never have guessed, right?

Foreword

This film, rated for those over 12, but one that I was able to enjoy while still in elementary school (thanks to my older brother), tells the story of a general, Maximus, seeking peace after fighting for many months. This sweet dream shatters when his emperor dies and his son, succeeding him, declares him a traitor and condemns him to death. After managing to escape, he loses his freedom once again, at the mercy of a slave trader who succeeds in selling him to a lanista (a person who manages and trains gladiators), Proximo.

Maximus wins the heart of the spectators with his combat skills and his blunt honesty about his disgust for these kinds of games. However, news arrives from the capital: grand games are to take place to mark the beginning of the reign of the new emperor, Commodus, the enemy of our hero. Seizing his opportunity, Maximus is eager to face the one who took everything from him. What will the cost of this revenge be? And what chance does he have of completing his quest with his mere status as a slave?

In General

Where to begin? The music is captivating, haunting, and in a word, unforgettable. No one could fail to recognize the soundtrack of Gladiator after watching it. The shots are stunning, despite some sets that have aged a bit. The actors were outstanding. The story is beautiful. The film is long, but you watch it without noticing. In short, Ridley Scott has given us a masterpiece to revisit from time to time.

In details

What’s less impressive are some of the sets that have aged poorly. The use of green screens in certain places is noticeable, but the rest of the film makes up for it so much that we quickly forgive it.

The actors, let’s talk about them! Joaquin Phoenix is wonderfully exasperating in his role as the emperor, with his inferiority complex and psychopathic tendencies. You just want to find a nailed plank and say hello with… No, I’m not violent. As for our hero, our precious Maximus, played by the indispensable Russell Crowe, he is a man of honor, action, and his words are not just for show: we would follow him all the way to Elysium.

The music by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard is pure, endless magic. I’m not saying I have the entire soundtrack CD, but… looking at my shelf, I can easily immerse myself back into the world of Gladiator.

Conclusion

If you tell me that you’ll never watch this masterpiece, you couldn’t tell, but I’m judging you pretty hard. However, let’s be honest: for those who are squeamish about blood, wounds, and the like, this story is probably not the best choice for you. For the rest: go see it, quick!

A little cookie Maximus-style: it’s the warrior that awakens within you.