Gladiator (2000)

[GreasyJack]

@Dale_Sams

What other film was MORE realistic? I think that’s the first one I’ve seen where the Roman population wasn’t 100% lily white. Sure they could have used even more ethnicities, but it’s some progress.

Edit: Note…I’m well aware of all the listed inaccuracies, from the Germans looking like stone age barbarians to armies not being allowed to camp so close to Rome. I’m just saying they did a lot better job than normally seen.

I agree with Hypno-Toad’s “uncanny valley” assessment. What made it so jarring was that the movie was very realistic-feeling in terms of the world they created, but then parts of the plot were just sort of goofy. Especially the end. If it’d been the same general plot in more of a campy sword-and-sandals type setting it would have been fine, but the juxtaposition of the two (IMHO) didn’t really work.

[racepug]

@interface2x

Out of curiosity, what level of violence were you expecting in a movie that depicts men fighting to the death for the entertainment of others?

My wife (who’s the one who REALLY wanted to see it) and I expected more of a movie that was later nominated for (and won) Best Picture. All we saw was violence and killing, violence and killing, and more violence and killing. We both understand that, as my wife puts it “life was cheap” back in that era, but we both thought that P.o.S. of a movie went WAAAAAAAAAAAY over the top in depicting what life might have been like back then. So, not impressed, no. We (at HER insistence!) both left that movie early and I have never, not even once, regretted having done that.

[Darth_Panda]

@Dale_Sams

Well, they wouldn’t let Crowe use a Spanish accent like he wanted…not that any kind of Spanish accent would even exist back then.

As for the soundtrack…and the use of Lisa Gerrard? I disagree on the transparency. I have a kabillion soundtracks, and “Planets”. I picked up on the Conan soundtrack connection immediately, and now that you mention it can see some connection with Gladiator, but it’s not THAT transparent. Especially since I think the Maximus motif (which has nothing to do with Planets) is more profound.

I loved the use of Lisa for the movie - she’s just awesome.

[Gedd]

@toast_pakora

How many of you had a problem with the 2005 Pride and Prejudice? Keira Knightley, whom I often enjoy as an actress, stuttered, wrinkled her nose adorably and grinned toothily through out the course of the movie playing a supposedly refined character in a deeply conventional era, anachronisms in the dialogue, a brooding Heathcliff instead of a superior Mr Darcy, the complete disembowelment of a critical plot point. By the time the very proper Lady Catherine showed up in the middle of the night and was received by the family in nightclothes, I’d completely given up.

And yet, I can watch it today. It’s like watching a cartoon. I couldn’t read a Harlequin Romance without retching but I can watch this. It’s not Jane Austen, it’s pretty people doing pretty things.

The 1995 TV mini-series was much better, if you can take four or five hours. And this is coming from someone who’s favorite version is Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Well, I liked both Gladiator (Crowe is awesome, soaring soundtrack, great set-piece battle at the beginning, a hissably good villain in Commodus) and the 2005 Pride & Prejudice (Knightley is luminous, beautiful cinematography, great Oscar-nominated neoclassical soundtrack, Judi Dench is a fearsome Lady Catherine) very much, so you may now commence throwing large boulders at me.

[JustinC]

@mhendo

I liked Gladiator perfectly well as a big-screen action drama, but was amazed that it won the Oscar. Even more amazed that Russell Crowe, who is an excellent actor, won the Best Actor award. Crowe probably deserves to have an Oscar, but i can think of at least five movies where he’s been far better than he was in Gladiator.

I enjoy(ed) it immensely as a big film and with some heavyweight actors. I didn’t even know it was supposed to be based on real events, I thought it was just pop. I prefer Master & Commander and have seen it about 5 times, the duality running through that (fictional) film is almost comforting. I wander from place to place (worked in 4 countries last year) and appreciate having to bandage your wounds - physical or other - at sea.

@Penfeather

Are you not entertained?

No! Err… Yes! Um… Orr, yeah, ay!

@Bryan_Ekers

Personally, I wasn’t especially impressed by Crouching Tiger or Gladiator. Nice technical feats, to be sure, but the stories were lackluster and in the case of Tiger, sleep-inducing.

I would’ve voted for Traffic.

I saw Crouching Tiger in the cinema and felt very uninspired by it.

@Dale_Sams

I disagree. Cast Away, O Brother Where Art Thou, High Fidelity, 28 Days, American Psycho, Chicken Run, Unbreakable, 13 Days.

All excellent movies, especially OBWAT and AP. And 28 Days. Actually I really liked Castaway, and High Fidelity rocks, literally.

@msmith537

How about why does a Spanish general in the Roman Army speak with an Australian accent? Or that some sort of British accent is used in EVERY portrayal of ancient Rome? Is it because it sounds pompous and “imperial”?

It’s Italy! They should-a talk-a like-a this!

Crowe is from New Zealand, but does live in Oz and most 'papers also get that wrong.