Gladiator
2000 · Directed by Ridley Scott
Original language: English
- action
- drama
- adventure
The story
After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, his devious son takes power and demotes Maximus, one of Rome's most capable generals who Marcus preferred. Eventually, Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and battle to the death against other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
What it’s like
Warm, dust-colored daylight over battlefields and sun-scorched Roman plazas, then the cold blue-grey of the north and the murk of the arena's underground tunnels, lit by torches and shafts of sand-filtered sun. Ridley Scott frames wide, sweeping vistas and crowded spectacle with a large, handheld-leaning camera that stays close to the bodies in combat, while the sound of clanging steel, roaring crowds and a mournful solo strings-and-drums score swells and drops away. The vibe is grave, weathered and grandly tragic, with long stretches of quiet grief and brooding politics between the bursts of brutal action. It suits a long weekend night on the sofa, a big-screen rewatch, or an evening when you want to feel swept up in something epic and sorrowful. Violence is frequent and bloody: battle deaths, arena killings and wounds are shown with real visceral impact, though not lingered on for gore's sake. There is some cruelty, executions and threats of sexual violence, and a steady current of dread. Best for viewers who want sweeping historical spectacle, a wounded hero's revenge, and a father-son bond that hurts to watch.
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