Gladiator

It is after watching Gladiator II, drinking several margaritas, and going back to watch the original film that I write this review. Gladiator remains one of my favorite movies ever made and one of Ridley Scott's best. Post Gladiator II, the thought crossed my mind that maybe I was too harsh on the film. Maybe, after all these years, Ridley Scott had returned with another masterpiece, bringing audiences back to the theater to relive the glory that was the original. The margaritas have since revealed the truth that the original far surpasses the sequel in just about every way. II isn't bad, but it's lacking soul of the first. Gladiator is masterful - a somewhat fantastical journey into ancient Rome following the adventures of Maximus the legendary general turned gladiator. This film was a foundational piece of my childhood. It was likely the film that kickstarted my love for film. Of course, I immediately started comparing the two films. Right away Maximus is a much more compelling character. We have an understanding of his desires - to return to his family and to free Rome. During his conversations with Marcus Aurelius we can tell that he is a selfless, humble, man. The Caesar's relationship with Maximus and lack thereof with Commodus makes us root for the former and hate the later. It's that simple. Don't force a stereotypical character death upon us in the first 5 minutes of the film to pull at our heartstrings when it could happen much more naturally like in this film. The music is top notch. The entire soundtrack kicks in exactly when it needs to. The battle sequences, romantic scenes, and dramatic moments are all enhanced by the perfect score. I often found myself humming along to it. Flawless. Hans Zimmer is the goat. The performances are great here, but it's the high quality writing that allows them to be so good. The dialogue between the characters is smart, but not overly smart to where it gets unrealistic. The characters feel real and emotional which the sequel was lacking severely. The emphasis on Commodus being the villain as opposed to having 4 different antagonists makes him the most unlikeable person on the planet. There's no question as to how the enemy is and who Maximus should defeat. Is this a dad movie? Maybe. Is it truly worthy of 5 stars? Debatable, but I love it. It's way ahead of it's time, tells a top notch story, and sticks with you long after you finish it. A perfect film in my eyes. List: Favorite Films Last Review: Gladiator II