| | | A hero will rise.
Features: DVD, Widescreen, Dolby, Dolby Digital (5.1), English, Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
The general who became a slave. The slave that became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an empire. After another mighty victory on the battlefield, the great Roman General Maximus (Russell Crowe) is requested by the dying Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) to assume his mantle of power. Jealous of Maximus' favor, the original 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 into the great hero in the empire. When he comes to Rome, the Gladiator is intent on avenging the murder of his family.
"...the kind of movie upon which Hollywood once built its reputation but rarely produces anymore..." James Berardinelli's ReelViews
"Huge in scope and endlessly exciting, Gladiator is the new word in blockbuster." Ben Falk, BBCi Films
"Action movie fans will love Gladiator for its intensity." Brian Webster, Apollo Movie Guide
Editor's Note
Ridley Scott (BLADE RUNNER, ALIEN) transports Hollywood to second-century Rome in this rousing historical epic that proudly harkens back to such films as BEN-HUR and SPARTACUS. Russell Crowe plays Maximus, a Roman general who leads the troops in conquering Germania for the empire. When an aging Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) tells Maximus that he'd like him to rule Rome once he's gone, a classic confrontation ensues between the brave and charming soldier--who wants to return home to his wife, son, and farm--and the jealous and conniving Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the emperor's only son, who is thirsty for power. Bought as a slave by the profiteering Proximo (Oliver Reed, in his last role), Maximus must kill or be killed in the ring, battling to save not only himself but the future of the very empire that he loves and honors. The film features a terrific battle sequence (that recalls the beginning of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN), huge crowd scenes of thousands of people, and even a little romance, albeit mostly taboo. The impeccably choreographed gladiator scenes are violent yet thrilling, flashing by like lightning. GLADIATOR is a glorious spectacle filled with heart and soul.
Plot Summary
An epic adventure that calls to mind the big-budget Hollywood films of the past, Ridley Scott's thrilling film is a raucous, engaging, and highly impressive spectacle. Maximus, a well-respected general, is stripped of his rank when the scheming Commodus takes over the Roman Empire in 180 AD. Maximus finds himself fighting for his life in the vicious gladiator arenas, where he uses his fame to spark unrest among the oppressed Roman citizens, firing up Commodus's anger and setting the stage for the ultimate battle.
| Features | Widescreen Version Enhanced For 16X9 TVs | | Television Spots | | Cast & Crew Bios | | Audio: English DTS 6.1 Surround ES, English Dolby Digital 5.1 | | Storyboard Gallery | | Behind-The-Scenes Gallery Of Stills From The Set | | Original Theatrical Trailer | | History Of The Gladiatorial Games Featurette | | Audio Commentary By Composer Hans Zimmer | | Production Notes | | Deleted Scenes | | "Treasure Chest" Of Additional Footage Cut To Music By Pietro Scalia | | Behind-The-Scenes Featurette | | Director Commentary |
| Entertainment Reviews
 | Gladiator - DVD Review By: Christopher Null - filmcritic.com DVD Reviews Published on: 8/21/2009 2:42 PM | |
The awe-inspiring trailers for Gladiator may have you dreaming of Spartacus and Ben-Hur, but you may be surprised to find this film in reality a less palatable mlange of Braveheart and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. This isn't altogether a bad thing, but those expecting a new Roman epic that will stand the test of time (like Spartacus and Ben-Hur) are in for some surprises. The currently hot Russell Crowe stars as Maximus, "the general who became a slave" who begins the film as a commander so high in the echelons of the Roman army that the aging Caesar Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) hand-picks him to become the next Caesar....read the full review |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Dreamworks (Universal) |
| Release Date: 1/17/2006 |
| Running Time: 155 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2000 | | Catalog ID: 90667 | | UPC: 00678149066722 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Available Subtitles: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 2.35:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (2001) | | | Ridley Scott, Nominee, Best Director | | | Russell Crowe, Nominee, Best Actor | | | Joaquin Phoenix, Nominee, Best Supporting Actor | | | David Franzoni, et al., Nominee, Best Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen | | | Hans Zimmer, Nominee, Best Original Score |
| Memorable Quotes| "At my signal, unleash hell."----Maximus (Russell Crowe) to his troops | | "Are you not entertained?!"----Maximus to the arena crowd |
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| | Professional Reviews | New York Times
"...Mr. Crowe gives a performance with ball-of-fire intensity..." 05/26/2000 p.E18Premiere
"...[The film's] best moments achieve a real grandeur....[Crowe] supplies all the conviction GLADIATOR needs." 06/01/2000 pp.21-2 Rolling Stone
"...A classically designed pop spectacle....Triumphantly combined visual dazzle and old-fashioned storytelling..." 06/08/2000 p.132 Total Film
"...A gloriously entertaining thrill-packer of truly epic proportions..." -- 5 out of 5 stars 06/01/2000 pp.80-1 Entertainment Weekly
"...Grand and rousing....One's expectations are met by doozies..." -- Rating: A- 06/16/2000 p.64 Entertainment Weekly
Ranked #5 in Entertainment Weekly's "Lisa Schwarzbaum's BEST MOVIES OF 2000" 12/22/2000 pp.106-17 Box Office
"...Literate writing, commanding direction, awe-inspiring production design, eye-popping photography, breathtaking music and superlative acting all contribute to the staggeringly convincing recreation of the era..." -- 4 out of 5 stars 05/01/2000 p.62 Los Angeles Times
"...Crowe has a patent on heroic plausibility....GLADIATOR is supremely atmospheric..." 05/05/2000 p.C1 Rolling Stone
Ranked #24 in Rolling Stone's "Top 25 DVDs Of 2005' -- "It works, and Russell Crowe in the title role has never been better." 12/01/2005 p.98 Time Magazine 9 of 10
Gladiator is quite a good movie--a big, fat, rousing, intelligent, daring, retro, many-adjective-requiring entertainment... Crowe brings strength and honor... - Richard Corliss
San Francisco Chronicle 8 of 10
This Ridley Scott film, his best in years, re-envisions ancient Rome for the ages and makes it safe to go back to the Coliseum... The story keeps pushing forward, with lots of action and intrigue... Throughout, Scott never ceases giving us interesting things to look at. - Mick LaSalle
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