I walked into Gladiator with high expectations and an overhanging dread that they would not be met. Were they met? Yes. Were they surpassed? YES. This movie astounded me. I'd had the somewhat cynical view that it would be another bash'n'slash violence flick which gave only lip service to the plot. Instead, it was a wonderfully depicted film which, while including many violent elements, kept them off the main focus, as if the director didn't want the audience to get so wrapped up in the fighting that they lost track of the plot. The plot was excellent, but I won't include spoilers. The scenery and cinematography.. blew my mind. While I knew they used computer CGI and enhancements to create most of the backdrop, I couldn't see it in the movie. They blended the real and the not real so perfectly, I couldn't tell it wasn't an actual reproduction of the Coliseum. THIS is how CGI should be used in movies! As for the actors.. R. Crowe pulls off a splendid Maximus, fully as heroic as you could ever wish, but the true glory should go to Joaquin Phoenix, who portrayed a disturbing and heartbreaking character, Commodus, spectacularly. Anyone can play a hero, but to play a villain well enough for the audience to both love and hate him takes true talent. Phoenix is one of the few actors who crawls so completely into the character's skin that it ceases to be acting, because the character seems so real. Reed plays a delightfully debauched Proximo, and again, a wonderful use of CGI, since I could not see the scenes filmed after his death. This movie is definitely on my 'must buy the day it comes out on video' list, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves truly wonderful movies.
