Review of Gladiator (2000) by Xavier C — 26 May 2015

I found this to be very enjoyable. I found the opening act to be the most captivating. It was just a barrage of great character development for Maximus. He was very likable from the start, particularly his trait as a family man above all, though he is much deeper than just that. It tugged at my heartstrings. Commodus is also an interesting and complex character that is integral to the story. The relationship between these two is very unique. I was a fan of how Commodus was always jealous of Maximus despite being in a superior position of power, and how it fueled the conflict. It's quite compelling. These two and all other characters are well acted and masterfully deliver an excellent screenplay that capture the setting and make it fun to just listen to people talk.

The fights leave a little to be desired. Except for the final duel, the choreography is rather shallow. It got so much better when it was just two people both fighting with a sword, rather than a sword and shield or another combination. They were honestly the low points of the movie.

A worthy classic.