A big-budget summer epic with money to burn and a scale worthy of its golden Hollywood predecessors, Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a rousing, grisly, action-packed epic that takes moviemaking back to the Roman Empire via computer-generated visual effects. While not as fluid as the computer work done for, say, Titanic, it's an impressive achievement that will leave you marveling at the glory that was Rome, when you're not marveling at the glory that is Russell Crowe. Starring as the heroic general Maximus, Crowe firmly cements his star status both in terms of screen presence and acting chops, carrying the film on his decidedly non-computer-generated shoulders as he goes from brave general to wounded fugitive to stoic slave to gladiator hero. Gladiator's plot is a whirlwind of faux-Shakespearean machinations of death, betrayal, power plays, and secret identities (with lots of faux-Shakespearean dialogu ladled on to keep the proceedings appropriately "classical"), but it's all briskly shot, edited, and paced with a contemporary sensibility. Even the action scenes, somewhat muted but graphic in terms of implied violence and liberal bloodletting, are shot with a veracity that brings to mind-believe it or not-Saving Private Ryan, even if everyone is wearing a toga. As Crowe's nemesis, the evil emperor Commodus, Joaquin Phoenix chews scenery with authority, whether he's damning Maximus's popularity with the Roman mobs or lusting after his sister Lucilla (beautiful but distant Connie Nielsen); Oliver Reed, in his last role, hits the perfect notes of camp and gravitas as the slave owner who rescus Maximus from death and turns him into a coliseum star. Director Scott's visual flair is abundantly in evidence, with breathtaking shots and beautiful (albeit digital) landscapes, but it's Crowe's star power that will keep you in thrall-he's a tru gladiator, worthy of his legendary status. Hail the conquring hero! -Mark Englehart

CLASSICS I HATE
Let's get something straight. I don't hate Gladiator, but when a movie gets practically universal acclaim, wins the Oscar for best picture and isn't very good, I figure it's my responsibility as a critic to say something.
Ridley Scott is a damned good director. He made the immortal Blade Runner, Alien, and many other fine films. Scott's films aren't always artistically successful, but they're seldom lazy, at least from the point of view of visual design. Gladiator is no exception to that rule. It's frequently quite beautiful.
But there's something pre-digested and rote about the whole project.
Maximus (Russell Crowe) is Caeser Marcus Aurelius' favorite general. Aurelius (Richard Harris) decides to pass on his throne to Maximus rather than to his squirrelly and decadent son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). At this point, I have to ask, what is it with these names? One sounds like a condom brand and the other sounds like a toilet. (Dear blogger : Just because YOU have an infantile sense of humour....!)
Anyway, I digress. Commodus contrives to steal the throne (no pun intended) and kill Maximus. Through circumstances I won't go into, Maximus ends up becoming a gladiator.

Nothing wrong with that basic premise, but there are problems. Certain people (who I will not name) are slaughtered in a particularly barbarous way, not because logic requires it (Roman logic absolutely required it; executing the family of a traitor deterred others ) , but so Maximus will have stronger reasons for revenge.
Likewise, a crucial decision made late in the game ( to fight Maximus himself ?) by Commodus is not motivated by character (wrong; totally historically apt) (although screenwriter David Franzoni would like to think so) but rather to give Maximus an opportunity to kick butt.
Then there's the nature of the violence. In a film which is basically all about revenge, the violence should have a harsh, realistic edge. Instead, director Ridley Scott makes the unaccountable decision to largely go with CGI instead of prosthetics and practical effects. (Hunh ...???) This decision robs the action scenes of much of their power.
Another problem with the action sequences is the strobing effect that was briefly fashionable in the wake of Saving Ryan's Privates' justly celebrated D-Day sequence. Here, the technique is simply distracting.
So, Gladiator is largely a failure as an action film, despite some pretty nifty action choreography.
To make matters worse, the canned ( Hunh ???) motivations make Gladiator weak as drama.
What's left? As in any Ridley Scott production, there is no shortage of professionalism on display. By all means, enjoy Scott's evocation of ancient Rome.
On the acting front, Russell Crowe imbues the cardboard character of Maximus with a dignity and rage which doesn't really exist on the page. ( Hello, it's NOT a book !) Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus may be laughably modern, like a Valley Boy in a toga, but Phoenix's interpretation of the role is undeniably entertaining.
So, Gladiator is far from a complete waste of time. Just don't expect the masterpiece implied by Gladiator's Best Picture Oscar.