Gladiator

Year of release : 2000

 

Run time : 2h50min

 

Genre : Adventure / Action / History

 

Cast : Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen

 

Director : Ridley Scott

 

 

Inspired by Daniel P.Mannix's 1958 book, Those about to die, Gladiator won many awards including Oscars, one for Russell Crowe's interpretation .

 

Maximus, the Cesars' favorite general who won him many battles, is asked by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius to be the next Cesar and Emperor of Rome, and make sure the Senate is gonna rule Rome like before. Maximus is not happy to hear such news,as all he wants is to see his wife and son, whom he didn't see in 2 years and 264 days.

 

Commodus, Marcus Aurelius' son, and heir to the throne, arrives the battle zone after it has ended,as he was not into such things. He is sure his father is gonna name him his successor ,and that's why he asked him to come to the battlefield. He is partially right, as he tells his sister, Lucilla, he wished she was a man, for she would have made a great Cesar, and tells him the throne is going to Maximus. Commodus is not happy to hear it, and kills his own father.

 

Hearing of his death,Maximus understands Commodus killed him, in order to get the throne, and refuses to kiss his hand, showing him his allegiance. That was a mistake, as Commodus orders to have him and his family killed.

 

Maximus manages to kill the Praetorians who were supposed to kill him, and tries to get home in time to save his family. He arrives too late,as he finds them both crucified and burned.

 

As he lays dying from the injuries received, slavers find him and take him with them. In Zucchabar he is sold to gladiator trainer Proximo, he himself once a gladiator, freed by Marcus Aurelius, who tells him to win the crowd in order to win his freedom.

 

Maximus fights without wanting to, in local tournaments,and becomes the crowd's favorite. He ends up meeting Commodus again, as the latter organizes 150 days of games to commemorate his father's death. Upon discovering he is not death,and still defies him, Commodus plans his death,once again.

 

This is one of the most epic movies I have ever watched, Hans Zimmer's music merges with the visual effects,acting and action,creating a masterpiece.

 

The movie is streaming on Paramount Plus, Paramount + Amazon Channel, Pluto Tv,and is for rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video, AMC on Demand , Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, HBO Max, Netflix, Redbox, Vudu, YouTube.

 

Rating : It's so money!