Saw Gladiator last night and I'm between 3 and 4 out of 5 stars. I guess that makes 3 1/2, eh?
First! Things that bothered me:
* I HATE HATE HATE it when an actress is required to give away information by being a bad liar particularly when it has been commented on previously that she is a very good liar. The Emperor had enough spies that he could have found something to trap her with rather than staring her down while she becomes a rabbit in the road and gives everything away. ONE LOUSY INFORMANT would have fixed this.
* Arena battle scene where Maximus fights six warriors alone. Obviously borrowed from martial arts films where a bunch of guys politely wait their turn to fight the lone warrior. Nevermind the fact that this completely defeats the purpose of going six on one.
* We could have built stronger feelings for the friendships if anyone had ever been allowed to laugh in this film. ----I think Ace mentioned the lack of any kind of comic relief
* Failure to establish what exactly the dream of Rome was supposed to be. We needed a real representation of the People if that theme is to be taken seriously. Instead all they ever are is a ravenous mob greedy for violence and blood. What's noble or worth saving about those kind of people?
* The dude (can't remember his name obviously) who initially betrays Maximus. Who stands and does nothing while his Emperor loses and then has the gall to help carry Maximus' body. HE needed to die or be spat on or SOMETHING because he's a rat bastard.
Things that did not bother me:
* mix of genres-----I didn't see that it was particularly a revenge movie. Certainly Maximus wants revenge and certainly we want it for him but I think the plot line of honoring Auralius' last request is equally compelling. This was clearest to me at the end when Maximus is dying but keeps allowing himself to be called back because whatever else he is he is a good soldier.
* As Rask mentioned earlier Commatus had no choice but to go into the arena and defeat Maximus in front of the people. It marks the THIRD arena showdown between them ---were you in the can for the first two, Ace? Commatus lost the first two just as he lost both father and sister to Maximus. He must fight publicly for the third or he will lose it by default.
* Commatus' skill with a sword. Would've been nice to see him practice more than the one time but I didn't have to have it. Besides, he fatally wounds Maximus before they go out. He shouldn't have to be a wizard of swordplay.
* Lack of sex. Sure, it's ancient Rome and they woulda' had some, but honestly I don't see how it could have added to the plot so the lack actually is kind of a plus factor.
Things I really liked:
* Joaquin Phoenix! I liked Russell Crowe, but Phoenix had the harder role and I thought he played the hell out of it. The scene when he confronts his father was just heartwrenching.
* I liked the CGI imagery. It tied into the dream of Rome for me which as I mentioned earlier was a bit lacking in the script.
* I liked the filming of the opening battle scene and the scene with the charioteers the best. In the opening scene particularly I noticed some kind of fast stop effect that cleaned up some of the confusion of the battle. The other battles worked for me as well with the exception of the six-on-one that I mentioned above.
* Good gawd can we revel in the set dressings and the costuming. Yum! The attention to detail and the realism evoked were some of the best I've seen in a movie about ancient Rome.
Final analysis is that I enjoyed this film---enough that I might see it again on the big screen---but there were flaws in it. Mostly things I would change about the script.
