It was the first DVD I ever bought, and surely there was a reason why... Everything about this movie was awesome, from the story, to the soundtrack, to the special effects, to the acting... and if there was one thing that really made it stand out, it was the heroism of the Gladiator himself. To this day, it still remains my favorite movie of all time, much thanks to Maximus, the greatest hero in cinema history!
1. Maximus Decimus Meridius
Movie: Gladiator
Year: 1999
Actor: Russell Crowe
Why: Maximus plays the ultimate hero of Rome in this epic story of a general turned slave turned gladiator. He begins as a cunning General of the Roman Army who has led a successful 3-year campaign against the Germanic Tribes. After refusing to accept Commodus' as the new emperor, he is ordered to be executed. Although he is able to escape his execution, he is unable to save his family from being crucified. At this point, he loses all desire to live, is collected by traveling merchants, and is sold as a slave. At first he does not wish to fight, yet when he is put in the arena he decides he is not ready to quit yet. As a gladiator, Maximus grows popular within the arena, and becomes the defying voice against the evil emperor. In the end, after he has already been stabbed, he still manages to defeat Commodus. His last dying order is to give Rome back to the people, the way his good friend, Marcus Aurelius wanted it. He dies a happy death, and unites with his family in Elysium... His leadership, strength, and defiance against an entire empire make Maximus the iconic hero of movies.
Key Line: "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance in this life or the next."
Quick Recap:
50. Lt. John J. Dunbar (Dances with Wolves)
49. Richard Rick O'Connell (The Mummy)
48. Norma Rae (Norma Rae)
47. Amsterdam Vallon (Gangs of New York)
46. Sgt. Elias Gordon (Platoon)
45. El Mariachi (Desperado)
44. Officer Jack Travern (Speed)
43. The Boondock Saints (The Boondock Saints)
42. Rorshach (Watchmen)
41. Benjamin Martin (The Patriot)
40. Ironman (Ironman)
39. Pvt. Roland Bozz (Tigerland)
38. John Creasy (Man on Fire)
37. The Mariner (Waterworld)
36. Captain Steven Hiller (Independence Day)
35. Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)
34. The Bride (Kill Bill Vol 1)
33. Theo Faron (Children of Men)
32. Legolas (Lord of the Rings)
31. John McClaine (DieHard)
30. Zorro (The Mask of Zorro)
29. TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)
28. Captain John H. Miller (Saving Private Ryan)
27. Cameron Poe (ConAir)
26. Achilles (Troy)
25. Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
24. Obi Wan Kenobi (Star Wars)
23. Harry S. Stamper (Armageddon)
22. Paul Rusesabagina (Hotel Rwanda)
21. Harry Potter (Harry Potter)
20. Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
19. Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
18. Mahandas K. Gandhi (Gandhi)
17. Wolverine (X-Men)
16. Rocky Balboa (Rocky)
15. Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings)
14. Spiderman (Spiderman)
13. Han Solo (Star Wars)
12. James Bond (Dr. No)
11. Spartacus (Spartacus)
10. Leonidas (300)
9. V (V for Vendetta)
8. Moses (The Ten Commandments)
7. Neo (The Matrix)
6. Batman (Batman Begins)
5. Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)
4. William Wallace (Braveheart)
3. Oskar Schindler (Schindler's List)
2. Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones)
1. Maximus Decimius Meridius (Gladiator)
Honorable Mention
-Rick Deckard (Blade Runner) Harrison Ford
-Jack Dawson (Titanic) Leonardo DiCaprio
-Rudy (Rudy) Sean Astin
-William Turner (Pirates of the Caribbean) Orlando Bloom
Pending Potentials to see:
-Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mocking Bird) Gregory Peck
-Frank Serpico (Serpico) Al Pacino
-Jimmy Popeye Doyle (The French Connection) Gene Hackman
Interesting Notes:
Lord of the Rings had 4 heroes on the list, Star Wars had 3...
These actors were on twice with different roles; Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Keanu Reeves, Bruce Willis, Tom Hanks, and Antonio Banderas
1. Maximus Decimus MeridiusMovie: Gladiator
Year: 1999
Actor: Russell Crowe
Why: Maximus plays the ultimate hero of Rome in this epic story of a general turned slave turned gladiator. He begins as a cunning General of the Roman Army who has led a successful 3-year campaign against the Germanic Tribes. After refusing to accept Commodus' as the new emperor, he is ordered to be executed. Although he is able to escape his execution, he is unable to save his family from being crucified. At this point, he loses all desire to live, is collected by traveling merchants, and is sold as a slave. At first he does not wish to fight, yet when he is put in the arena he decides he is not ready to quit yet. As a gladiator, Maximus grows popular within the arena, and becomes the defying voice against the evil emperor. In the end, after he has already been stabbed, he still manages to defeat Commodus. His last dying order is to give Rome back to the people, the way his good friend, Marcus Aurelius wanted it. He dies a happy death, and unites with his family in Elysium... His leadership, strength, and defiance against an entire empire make Maximus the iconic hero of movies.
Key Line: "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance in this life or the next."
Quick Recap:
50. Lt. John J. Dunbar (Dances with Wolves)
49. Richard Rick O'Connell (The Mummy)
48. Norma Rae (Norma Rae)
47. Amsterdam Vallon (Gangs of New York)
46. Sgt. Elias Gordon (Platoon)
45. El Mariachi (Desperado)
44. Officer Jack Travern (Speed)
43. The Boondock Saints (The Boondock Saints)
42. Rorshach (Watchmen)
41. Benjamin Martin (The Patriot)
40. Ironman (Ironman)
39. Pvt. Roland Bozz (Tigerland)
38. John Creasy (Man on Fire)
37. The Mariner (Waterworld)
36. Captain Steven Hiller (Independence Day)
35. Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)
34. The Bride (Kill Bill Vol 1)
33. Theo Faron (Children of Men)
32. Legolas (Lord of the Rings)
31. John McClaine (DieHard)
30. Zorro (The Mask of Zorro)
29. TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)
28. Captain John H. Miller (Saving Private Ryan)
27. Cameron Poe (ConAir)
26. Achilles (Troy)
25. Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)
24. Obi Wan Kenobi (Star Wars)
23. Harry S. Stamper (Armageddon)
22. Paul Rusesabagina (Hotel Rwanda)
21. Harry Potter (Harry Potter)
20. Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
19. Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
18. Mahandas K. Gandhi (Gandhi)
17. Wolverine (X-Men)
16. Rocky Balboa (Rocky)
15. Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings)
14. Spiderman (Spiderman)
13. Han Solo (Star Wars)
12. James Bond (Dr. No)
11. Spartacus (Spartacus)
10. Leonidas (300)
9. V (V for Vendetta)
8. Moses (The Ten Commandments)
7. Neo (The Matrix)
6. Batman (Batman Begins)
5. Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)
4. William Wallace (Braveheart)
3. Oskar Schindler (Schindler's List)
2. Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones)
1. Maximus Decimius Meridius (Gladiator)
Honorable Mention
-Rick Deckard (Blade Runner) Harrison Ford
-Jack Dawson (Titanic) Leonardo DiCaprio
-Rudy (Rudy) Sean Astin
-William Turner (Pirates of the Caribbean) Orlando Bloom
Pending Potentials to see:
-Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mocking Bird) Gregory Peck
-Frank Serpico (Serpico) Al Pacino
-Jimmy Popeye Doyle (The French Connection) Gene Hackman
Interesting Notes:
Lord of the Rings had 4 heroes on the list, Star Wars had 3...
These actors were on twice with different roles; Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Keanu Reeves, Bruce Willis, Tom Hanks, and Antonio Banderas
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