Gladiator (2000)

Do you like the stories about ancient Rome and want to know more about it? Of course, you can take a book and read anything you want, but it's much easier to decide to watch a movie. The film Gladiator, released in 2000 and directed by well-known Riddley Scott, gives you a wonderful opportunity to find out some mysteries of those times. Riddley Scott's creation are worth your attention, including Alien or Blade Runner. But this one is truly a historical treat with a simple but touching story, taking place among beautiful sceneries combined with amazing filming, director's work and score.

Watching this film the spectators with find themselves hooked by excellently written story, which rather reminds a poetry and tells the story of life of Maximus (Russell Crowe), a Romanian general who refused to obey Commod (Hoakin Pheunix), a young and ambitious heir, who killed his own father Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) fearing the old men would proclaim Maximus to be the next ruler. After Maximus refused to obey his new emperor, Commod ordered to execute the Roman general, who managed to escape but still got wounded. As soon as he gets home he finds his wife and son killed. Having buried his family Maximus lost his consciousness and became an easy catch for a slave trader, who took him for an outlaw slave. Later Maximus was sold to Proximo, who made a gladiator out of him at Zakhabbar province. He had nothing against it as his life went away together with his dead family. Such attitude to his own life shows nothing but respect and compassion and Russels Crowe managed to reproduce his character's feelings absolutely amazingly.

Just like it happens in real life, opponents meet one day or another. The same happened to Maximus and Commod, due to whom Maximus has lost his family, home and position, and was now on a fighting arena as a gladiator slave. In the very first fight, depicting the fall of Carfagen, Maximus has caught sight of the emperor. He uncovered his face and challenged Commod for revenge. But the intriguer would not have been an intriguer if he hadn't managed to avoid a payback. It's about Commod, but it happened that his allies betrayed him and he died during the fight with Maximus. Anyway Maximus didn't managed to live much longer. Still the story shows that the justice wins one day or another, doesn't it?

In its unique way this story convinces that a guilty person will be always punished. Battle scenes remind today's generations that such human values as braveness and readiness to defend the truth are valued by people of all times. With all the values shown in quite open manner, this movie proves it is worth the rewards it has been awarded as well as it is worth your attention.