| Gladiator
				(2000), 
				Director: Ridley Scott, rated R for graphic, combat 
				violence 
						A Hero Will Rise. 
				
				  Starring: 
				Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, 
				Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, David Schofield, 
				Tomas Arana 
DML Rating: 
★★★★★★★★★☆ 
- near perfect 
				"Father to a murdered son, 
				husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, 
				in 
				this life or the next." - Maximus 
				Why watch this? 
				It's an award-winning film featuring Russell Crowe at his manly 
				best. 
				Plot Summary: 
				Maximus is a respected Roman general who is betrayed and cast 
				into slavery when the power-hungry Commodus seizes the throne. 
				Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and fight for his life, 
				but his determination to avenge his family and the former 
				emperor fuels his rise through the ranks of the arena. His 
				journey becomes intertwined with a quest for justice against the 
				corrupt Commodus and the hope of restoring honor and freedom to 
				Rome. 
				Dad's Preview: Not 
				since the epic 
				Spartacus 
				(1960) has a film captured the life of a gladiator with such 
				brutal elegance. Russell Crowe is excellent as Maximus, as are 
				the other gladiators. That said, I must confess that I found Phoenix's portrayal of Commodus 
				very tiring. And because of that, I enjoyed the film's 
				ending immensely! 
				 Universal 
				Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Ent.;
 DreamWorks 
				Dist.
 |