Review of Gladiator (1992) by The Critic ( — 26 Aug 2013

Ridley Scott's swords-and-sandals epic perhaps owes more to Stanley Kubrick's superior 'Spartacus' (1960) than history, but 'Gladiator' is nonetheless an engaging and highly entertaining film.

Set against the handsomely done backdrop of Ancient Rome, the time-old themes of friendship, power, loyalty and vengeance are captured beautifully here with stunning performances from Russell Crowe and Connie Nielsen keeping their audience anchored in the unfolding plot.

That said, there's no denying that this film belongs to an electrifying Joaquin Phoenix, whose portrayal of an erratic and complex ruler ensures that all eyes are on him; his brilliant albeit brief 'busy little bee' dialogue marks one of the greatest scenes in the actor's diverse career.