As someone who has finally managed to watch “Gladiator” after what feels like an eternity, I must say that the journey was worth it. The movie lived up to its hype and exceeded my expectations.
We all have holes in our pop culture awareness. As a film critic, I generally feel that I have a professional responsibility to fill my personal holes… but there are only so many hours in a day, and there are new movies that premiere every single week. This is my baseline excuse for why I never watched Ridley Scott’s Gladiator. I didn’t see it in theaters back in 2000, even amid all the critical acclaim and Academy Award success, and once all of the “must-see” buzz wound down, I simply never found myself struck with the thought, “Hey, I should finally get around to watching Gladiator.”
It might be expressed in a more casual way like this: I hadn’t felt much urge to fill the gap in my pop culture knowledge, but with the upcoming release of Gladiator II in cinemas this Friday, I found the motivation I was missing this week. Almost 25 years since its initial release on the big screen, I decided to watch the sword-and-sandal classic again and came away with some memorable thoughts about the movie and its impact.
There’s Plenty In Gladiator That Still Felt Fresh Despite Its Pop Culture Status
A portion of the issue with not watching classic films is that they can subtly influence your thoughts through exposure, even if you’ve never intentionally watched Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” or Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather”. These movies may leave an imprint on you indirectly through references, tributes, and parodies in other productions. I pondered whether this could affect my viewing of “Gladiator”, but I was delighted to find that it didn’t have that effect.
In the movie “Gladiator,” certain scenes and plot points were familiar, yet as I watched, the storyline felt remarkably new and engaging. I didn’t foresee every turn in Maximus’s journey from general to slave, then ultimately a hero. The depth of his mission – seeking revenge for his murdered family and restoring the Roman Empire to Marcus Aurelius’ vision – was both unexpected and impactful.
Regarding my anticipation for the movie prior to watching, it was primarily built around the highly-touted arena scenes and Hans Zimmer’s remarkable score. Fortunately, neither aspect fell short of expectations. Ridley Scott is unparalleled in his ability to combine pulse-pounding action with historical authenticity, and Zimmer’s music serves as a crucial element throughout, enhancing the intensity during dramatic scenes, amplifying tension during battles, and emphasizing the urgency of Maximus’ escape attempts.
The Most Iconic Moments Don’t Sorely Stick Out As I Expected Them To And Maintain Weight
In watching Gladiator, I didn’t expect any major plot twists, but there were certain iconic lines and scenes that I knew would appear – most notably Maximus proclaiming “Are you not entertained?” and Commodus giving the thumbs-down gesture. It’s fascinating how pop culture can sometimes trivialize these memorable movie moments (like “I drink your milkshake” from There Will Be Blood or the entirety of Napoleon Dynamite). However, when it comes to Ridley Scott’s 2000 film, I was glad that I could appreciate the impact in context without getting caught up in their internet memeification.
Although the internet often turns some of the most intense scenes in “Gladiator” into jokes, I’d like to acknowledge the compelling performances by Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Their portrayals are so powerful that they manage to make viewers forget any preconceived notions from social media.
I’m Surprised That I Wasn’t Spoiled On The Fate Of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus
During the 24 years I waited to watch Gladiator, a major plot twist stuck with me: Maximus wasn’t going to survive till the end. Given that a sequel was on its way (or simply because there were no questions about Russell Crowe’s return), this twist was inevitable. However, while I knew Maximus would die, I was clueless about Commodus’ fate and looked forward to maintaining the suspense during my screening, as the tension for the final confrontation remained high.
Although Ridley Scott’s dedication to historical accuracy is commendable, the notion of Maximus and Commodus engaging in a public duel seemed implausible to me, yet the movie manages to justify itself – through the rage and haughtiness of the Roman emperor, as well as its classical approach to storytelling. The pre-fight stabbing by Commodus serves to level the playing field, and it left me questioning whether Maximus’ triumph would stem from defeating his adversary or dying a martyr. Ultimately, it presents a hard-hitting, brutal struggle concluding with Commodus losing the trust of his soldiers, pleading for a sword, and meeting his end with his own dagger.
I Feel Ready To Watch Gladiator II But Not Specifically More Eager
Titleshift: Gladiator: 10 Unveiled Secrets from Russell Crowe’s Magnificent Film
With Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II set to debut soon, I’m delighted to have finally filled a gap in my pop culture understanding. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the movie despite the usual high expectations associated with Best Picture Oscar winners (a side note: if I had to vote from the 2001 nominees, it would be for Gladiator, although Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a strong contender that my recency bias might not fully account for). Now that I’m familiar with Maximus Decimus Meridius’ epic journey, I feel well-equipped for the sequel’s storyline. However, I must admit that my excitement level hasn’t reached new heights.
As a gamer, I can say that what drew me into Gladiator was its self-contained, grand narrative. The film masterfully wraps up Maximus’ journey in a way that leaves me feeling content, without any loose ends crying out for a sequel. It’s like devouring a delicious meal that doesn’t leave you immediately craving more – it’s satisfying on its own. That’s probably why Ridley Scott waited nearly two decades before making Gladiator II, and I can see why.
If you’re eager to refresh your memory of Gladiator before the sequel hits theaters, you can catch it in stunning 4K UHD quality. You can stream it with a Paramount+ subscription, or rent or buy it digitally through Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Fandango At Home, and Apple.
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2024-11-21 02:37