Directed by Ridley Scott
Written by David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson
Cinematography by John Mathieson

Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus Connie Nielsen as Lucilla Oliver Reed as Proximo Richard Harris as Marcus Aurelius Derek Jacobi as Gracchus Djimon Hounsou as Juba David Schofield as Falco John Shrapnel as Gaius Tomas Arana as Quintus Ralph Moeller as Hagen Spencer Treat Clark as Lucius Verus

Running Time: 154 min.
Release Date: May. '00

Overall Call:
One of the better popcorn movies of the summer of 2000. Gladiator is an epic tale with fun special effects and a grand visual style that Ridley Scott always delivers. Russell Crowe is quite believable as Maximus. The story at times sags with the ever present love story, but actually gives you a minute to adjust in your seat and ready yourself for the next sequence. Yes there is much carnage but done with great style. Some of the sequences occur so quickly you almost can't focus on what's happening. I'm guessing the blurry battle sequences are employed to give the audience a sense of what it might be like in hand to hand medieval combat. The rental will be a fun night not to mention the special DVD bonus stuff. If you don't have a crazy home theatre go watch this one at someone's house that does, it's worth it.

Reasons For Recommendation:
+ Great epic popcorn movie
+ Fun special effects and battle sequences