Wednesday, August 12, 2009

1. Gladiator

Director: Ridley Scott
Year: 2000
Actors: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris
Plot: The General Maximus has led a successful campaign against the Germanic tribes, and is set to return to his home country of Spain. Yet before he can return home, he is asked by the emperor Marcus Aurelius to take temporary leadership of Rome, so the power can be returned to the senate... Before Maximus can make his final decision, the emperor is murdered by his evil jealous son, Commodus... Maximus is then sent to be executed yet manages to escape with severe injuries... He is unable to save his family, and nearly dies at the scene of their graves... He is then picked up by traveling merchants, sold as a slave, and becomes a gladiator in Morocco... He then climbs up the ranks, to be one of the greatest, and is sent to fight in the Coliseum of Rome. Within the Coliseum, he is able to publicly defy the emperor Commodus and thus avenge the murder of his family...
Music: Powerful, inspirational, beautiful soundtrack by Hans Zimmer... Great vocals by Lisa Gerrard...
Why:
  • First DVD I ever bought!
  • Phenomenal story of vengeance, set in the ancient Roman Empire...
  • Great artistic, dramatic, poetic filming by Ridley Scott
  • Great CGI effects; The Coliseum, the city of Rome, The opening battle, etc...
  • Passionate acting by Joaquin Phoenix as the evil emperor Commodus, and Russell Crowe as the heroic Maximus
  • Beautiful score by Hans Zimmer... The music use to always inspire me before big sporting events...
Key Moment: After Maximus has killed Commodus in the arena, he begins to fade away from life, and enter his golden fields of Elysium... I think this was very artistically done, with Lisa Gerrard's beautiful closing theme song, "Now we are Free"...

1 comment:

Pablo Ramos said...

Nerd!!!! This coming from the Ultimate fanboy who wrote about Lord of the Rings JRR Tolkein and his fascination with Star Wars. I thought you would appreciate this article. The movie list is finished but it won't be printed for another week. I have to finish the details and release another article first maybe two. I have some suprises in my list. you'll have to wait and see. writing takes longer down here I'm usually busy with class.