Gladiator

	Review by Howard Anderson © 2000 Howard Anderson

Story

The great Roman General Maximus (Russell Crowe) has once again led the legions to victory on the battlefield. The war won, Maximus dreams of home, wanting only to return to his wife and son; however, the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) has one more duty for the general - to assume the mantle of his power. Jealous of Maximus' favor with the emperor, the heir to the throne, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), orders his execution - and that of his family. Barely escaping death, Maximus is forced into slavery and trained as a gladiator in the arena where his fame grows. Now he has come to Rome, intent on avenging the murder of his wife and son by killing the new emperor ... Commodus. Maximus has learned that the one power stronger than that of the emperor is the will of the people, and he knows he can only attain his revenge by becoming the greatest hero in all the empire.

Review

The grandeur of Rome; the brutality of battle; the wrath of vengeance. The word epic doesn't even begin do this film justice, nor do the words "masterful", "dazzling", "magnificent" or "spectacular." The craftsmanship shown here by Ridley Scott and all others involved, from screenwriters to set-designers, from the director of photography to the editor, nearly left me at a loss for words. This is the kind of film that makes your heart beat in tune to its pulsating energy and raw nerve. The story, the visuals, the actors and the musical score - all of these elements come together in a way that makes "Gladiator" the motion picture experience of the year. In the tradition of "Ben Hur", "Spartacus" and "Braveheart", Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" tells the classic story of an ordinary man that has been wronged, and is thus forced to take up the fight for freedom and vengeance against heavy odds. It's a story as old as time itself, but it's also a story that we never seem to tire of, and when it is told as skillfully as it is here, then I can certainly see why.

Ridley Scott is a visual stylist second to none, whether the story is set in a dystopian future or ancient Rome, he is always able to give the film its own characteristic look and feel, and from a visual standpoint, this is quite simply Scott's most striking work since "Blade Runner." This also marks the first time that Scott has collaborated with director of photography, John Mathieson, who has managed to infuse the film with a very diverse look, from surreal to documentarian, to the sweeping cinematic grandeur that you would expect to find in such a film. And to match the breathtaking visuals, Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard's fantastic score heightens the emotional impact of every scene to the point where you can feel the blood coursing through you veins. Like James Horner's score in "Braveheart", or Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman's score in "The Last of the Mohicans", Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard's score manages to encapsulate the emotional journey of "Gladiator" perfectly.

The cast of "Gladiator" is also most impressive, but the simple fact is that Russell Crowe commands the screen like Maximus commands the arena. His portrayal of General Maximus is astonishing, and once you've seen the film it becomes impossible to picture anyone else playing the part. The supporting cast, with Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus, Oliver Reed as Proximo, Djimon Hounsou as Juba and Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius, all deliver great performances, but the ones that really stand out are Joaquin Phoenix, as the villain of the piece, and Oliver Reed in what tragically became his final part. "Gladiator" is a modern masterpiece, an instant classic, and a true Ridley Scott film.

Image

The 2.35:1 anamorphic image looks spectacular. DreamWorks is known for their outstanding transfers, and along with "Saving Private Ryan", I'd say that this is probably their best-looking disc yet. The colors are rendered perfectly, with everything from solid blacks and shadows, to intense sunset shots looking great. I didn't detect any signs of smearing or any other flaws, so I guess all that remains for me to do now, is to give this DVD a big thumbs-up for its stunning picture quality.

Sound

"Gladiator" comes with dual DTS 6.1 ES and Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks. Both sound amazing, with crisp and clear dialogue, a thunderous bass, and a soundstage as wide and active as they come. But the DTS track is easily the better of the two. The full-on assault of sound that is unleashed during the opening battle is extraordinary. The battle-cries, the catapults, the exploding fireballs, the rain of arrows, the splashing of mud, and the incredible music - it all left me in complete awe of the amount of work that was obviously put into this track. But as powerful as the DTS track is, it is also just as amazing during the calmer sequences, like with Lucilla's earrings in one of the post-battle sequence in the arena, and how the discrete sound of their jiggling is heard even over the roar of the crowd. The DTS track opens up the soundstage in a way that the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is simply incapable of. The surrounds are more natural sounding, the low frequency effects are rendered much tighter and cleaner, and the music sounds even more fantastic as it seems to come at you from someplace far beyond the speakers. If you have choice in the matter, I would recommend going with the DTS track for the ultimate experience.

Features

On Disc 1 there's an Audio Commentary track with director Ridley Scott, director of photography John Mathieson and editor Pietro Scalia. The track is interesting throughout, and never boring or overly technical. The trio was actually recorded on location in Virgina, while they were shooting "Hannibal", which, by the way, will also be scored by Hans Zimmer.
Now, on Disc 2 there are some truly great features to be found, like the 11 Deleted Scenes, with an optional commentary track with Ridley Scott. There's the Treasure Chest, which is also found among the Deleted Scenes. This is a five-minute long montage cut to Hans Zimmer's score, and it is a thing of true beauty. There are also three documentaries to be found on Disc 2. The "HBO First Look: The Making of Gladiator" is actually one of the better First Look documentaries that I've seen. Second, there's a twenty-minute documentary, entitled "Scoring Gladiator", where composer Hans Zimmer tells of the challenges of taking on this project and more. The third documentary is entitled "Gladiator Games: Roman Blood Sports", and it runs for about fifty minutes. Among other things, it gives you a fascinating look at the history of the gladiators, and how they were looked upon by the Roman people. There is a Production Diary called My Gladiator Journal, written by young actor Spencer Treat Clark (Lucius), a Special Slide Show featuring Concept Art and Story Boards, a Behind-the-Scenes Photo Gallery, the Original Theatrical Trailer and Teaser, several TV Spots, as well as the traditional Production Notes and Cast and Filmmaker Biographies.

Overall Opinion

An epic cinematic adventure, directed by a true master of the craft, "Gladiator" is the must-see movie of the year. The film both looks and sounds better than most, there's an insightful audio commentary with the makers of this awesome film, and the second disc of this 2-Disc Signature Selection set is loaded to the hilt with some of the finest extra features imaginable. Need I say more...