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Monday, 29 March 2004
This is the gladiator film put your reviews in
Gladiator
by Corky Alexander
GLADIATOR is an action-filled, high-tech production that unquestionably cost a whole lot of money to make. As they say, every penny is "up there" on the screen and the overall effect is grandeur and splendor of the glorious days of Rome seldom seen since the days of Cecil B. de Mille. Even though the news has been leaked that most of the throngs and hordes of extras in battle and in the stands as spectators at the Coliseum were devised via the computer skills of visual effects supervisor John Nelson and his merry crew of hi-tech myth makers.
A magnificent cast of actors contributes to the overall impact of this most popular motion picture, but the entire flow of the high-speed pace of the film evolves around one man: Russell Crowe as Maximus, Roman general reduced to penury and slavery, only to rise again as a gladiator in the to-the-death battles.
Not since Mel Gibson megged hundreds of "live" extras in his gory, realistic battle scenes in "Braveheart" has such grisly, tooth-and-nail fighting and gouging and slashing combat been committed to celluloid as has done Director Ridley Scott, a master of mood, hitherto not necessarily known for his mass action sequences. The epic sweep of hordes of soldiers on foot and on horseback sweep from the hills and forests onto the plains where they clash head-on with opposing fighters. All under the leadership and strategy of mastermind General Maximus. But he is not a paper tiger of a leader; he's right in the midst of all the bloodshed and screaming, slashing with his great sword and leading my example, as have done great generals through the ages.
Having demolished the Germanic foes, Maximus lets himself hope he can return to his idyllic home and farm to his lovely wife and young son. He reckons without the wishes of his emperor Marcus Aurelius (the gnarled Richard Harris) After witnessing the magnificent exploits of Maximus and his bold troops, Marcus Aurelius confides to Maximus that he is dying and wants the general to replace him as leader of all Rome and to return the government and empire to the rule of the people, away from the politicians and plotters in the Senate.
This decision marks a leapfrog over the surly head of Marcus's son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) who is next in the empirical line. Self-centered, vain and cursed with a scheming, dishonorable spirit, Commodus (I thought he was so named because his face was always flushed) suffocates his father and names himself Emperor. Placing Maximus under arrest, he sends his soldiers to the general's farm home where his wife and son are slaughtered.
Maximus finds himself sold into slavery from which he fights his way in the ranks of the gladiators, battling their way up from the minor leagues to fight in the Coliseum. under the management of the keeper of the battlers, Proximo (a scenery-chewing Oliver Reed). Becoming known as The Spaniard, Maximus is one tough gladiator in the ring, showing no mercy, but somehow forging friendships with fellow gladiators, bonds that are to the death. Chief ally of the deposed general is Juba (Djimon Hounsou), a Nubian slave with a great heart.
Always looming in the background is Commodus's beauteous sister Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), the object of her brother's incestuous lust. Rounding out the cast is leading senator Gracchus (Derek Jacobi) who seeks reform from the oppressive rule of Commodus. A series of climatic bouts in the ring highlight the movie's climax with realism to a degree that you want to turn your head. Can you believe a showdown between the dastardly Commodus and the heroic Maximus? Just wait, my friends, for the thrilling battles.
A word about Joaquin Phoenix: River's younger brother has turned out to be a true motion picture talent. I first took note of him when he played the teen object of Nicole Kidman's affections in "To Die For," the true-life story of a dissatisfied housewife using her sexy wiles to coerce the boy to kill her husband. Phoenix was so true-to-life that you'd think he was a true deadhead teenaged punk, plucked off the streets to perform in a movie. In "Gladiator," his perfidy, cruelty and underhanded schemes will make you hate him until you realize that this is simply a hell of a performance.
This flick is a change of pace for Ridley Scott whose moody atmospheric films such as "Blade Runner" and "Alien" set a pinnacle for others to follow. His work with action and battle scenes is a new dimension.
Highly recommended for suspense and fine acting. Russell Crowe is the man of the movie future, it seems, and the amiable Australian (or Kiwi, maybe) looks able to wear the laurel leaves with aplomb.
Posted by helmsdeep4
at 11:17 AM EST
this is the dardevil film post your comments
Daredevil
submitted by Darkdragon
Ok, this film i can honestly say is one of my favourites, not only because Ben Affleck is a complete spunk and Jennifer is a very very exceptional actress but the plot was amazing, and acted out perfectly. The movie starts off with a 12 yr old boy (he looks like the kid from the sopranos) who gets picked on by the bullies at his school, they tease him about his dad being a boxer "out of the game" he goes home to his dad, who by the amount of beer bottles is a bad alcoholic, but to my surprise, he is a very good dad, telling his son, Matt, that he should never do what his father did, but to study hard and become something good, like a lawyer, or a doctor.
The next scene, Matt runs to the docks where his father works carrying a report card and he sees his dad bashing someone up. He runs away and the report card drops, all A's, just as his father wanted, as he running back, a truck with chemicals in it crashes into him, it is squirted into his eyes, he goes blind.
Thats all i'm saying but the rest of the movie is when he is older, he is a lawyer, fighting crime by day and killing it by night.
He meets a beautiful woman, Electra, he knows this because after he went blind the rest of his senses grew to be superhuman. it turns out Electra is also a warrior by night. the story continues and i will not say anymore.
Posted by helmsdeep4
at 11:16 AM EST
The lord of the rings fellowship of the ring
This movie is the first of three and it is probably the best beside the third one this one dosent have as much action and the whole point of the mopvie is trying to figure out how to get the one ring to mordor without being caught.
Posted by helmsdeep4
at 7:03 AM EST
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