# Gladiator **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 6, 2000, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752 "2000-05-06T13:17:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rousseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Rousseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rousseau)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/1 "2000-05-06T13:17:58Z")
Wow. Amazing. If you didn’t see it last night, go see it as soon as you get a chance. Don’t wait for rental. Personally, I can’t imagine how Out of Africa or Back to Africa or whatever the hell it’s called could possibly be more visually spectacular than this film. The shots of Rome, or even of some of the landscapes, are amazing. ---
**Author:** ![concrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@concrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/concrete)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/2 "2000-05-06T14:12:27Z")
I’m hoping to see it next week sometime. Been waiting for this for awhile now. ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/3 "2000-05-06T14:50:11Z")
Yee-ha, Rousseau! That’s just what I wanted to hear. I’m really fired up to go see this movie. That’s it. I’m going today or Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/4 "2000-05-06T17:11:11Z")
Is this the new movie with Russell Crowe in it? If so, it’s already got some seriously good raps from a few critics. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/5 "2000-05-06T17:29:33Z")
I saw it last night. There are some serious flaws. I didn’t care a whole lot for the way the fights were edited and the story isn’t the most original. That said, it visually mesmerizing and I doubt anyone will regret seeing it. Russell Crowe is great though. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/6 "2000-05-06T17:32:34Z")
Hasn’t anyone told the “happy Roman” joke? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/7 "2000-05-06T18:10:51Z")
Could someone explain the appeal of this movie? I was at the theater last night (seeing Hi Fidelity), and the line to get into Gladiator was most impressive. But the commercials have done absolutely zilch to make me want to see the movie. Why are people going nuts over this? ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/8 "2000-05-06T18:20:59Z")
I’m sure part of the appeal is that it’s a “they don’t make 'em that way anymore” genre. The classic American, John Ford style western was gone until movies like _Silverado_ and _Tombstone_ came out. Be interesting to see if this could do the same for the sword and sandal genre. ---
**Author:** ![TheUnforgiven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TheUnforgiven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUnforgiven)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/9 "2000-05-06T18:48:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > …But the commercials have done absolutely zilch to make me want to see the movie… > \*\* My sentiments exactly. ---
**Author:** ![TheUnforgiven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TheUnforgiven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUnforgiven)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/10 "2000-05-06T18:56:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > …But the commercials have done absolutely zilch to make me want to see the movie… > \*\* My sentiments exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/11 "2000-05-06T18:56:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Hasn’t anyone told the “happy Roman” joke? 😃 > > \*\* OK, put me out my misery - what is the happt Roman joke? Gladiator isn’t out in the UK until next week, but I’ll definitely be there. (And my cousin has just been made the foyer manager so I’m looking for free tickets 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/12 "2000-05-06T20:37:02Z")
I saw Gladiator earlier this afternoon, wanted someplace with A/C to spend part of my day off. The story line is relatively predictable but I will have to agree that it was a great movie simply because of the artistry of the filming. The previews and commercials simply can’t get that across in the short time they have to lure people into the theatre. That’s a shame because people that wouldn’t normally go to an action flick would go to see this movie if they could get some of the artistry across in the commercials. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/13 "2000-05-06T20:57:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Be interesting to see if this could do the same for the sword and sandal genre. > \*\* The trouble with this genre is that it’s REALLY expensive to produce. CGI\* isn’t cheap. Also, it’s getting more and more difficult to find locations that don’t have utility lines, highways and other signs of modern civilization. Imagine an expensive sequence being ruined because an aircraft flew over. You either re-shoot or hire the computer geeks to digitally erase the image of the contrail or the plane itself. And you often miss some things in the rush to get the film done, but the eagle-eyed movie-goer notices the Centurion wearing a wristwatch or the truck tooling along the highway at the horizon. Anyone who wants to shoot a movie that’s set in a different time had better be prepared for a LOT of headaches! Haven’t seen _Gladiator_ yet, but I’d like to. - Computer-Generated Imagery ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/14 "2000-05-06T21:06:26Z")
> [@](#): > > OK, put me out my misery - what is the happt Roman joke? Did you hear about the happy Roman? Gladiator. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/15 "2000-05-06T21:51:32Z")
Excellent movie, loved it. The only problem was that the story was so grand it could have easily been 6 hrs long and been very riveting. Certain segments were glossed over that could have added richness to the film. It is even more satisfying if you are the type who knows and appreciates Roman history and culture. Russell Crowe is magnificent, and can do more than most actors without saying a word. His silence tells the story half the time. And he has a excelent voice to carry the roll. I liked they didn’t sanitize the blood and guts much, but it never seemed gratuitous and was always in context. Jauquin(?) Pheonix was superb and the vilian seemed very real, and his motivations and development make it seem very plausible. Not a whole lot I felt was missing. I miss this type of storyline, not enough attention to the Roman era in film. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2000, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/16 "2000-05-06T22:00:46Z")
Ben Hur, done that. ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2000, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/17 "2000-05-07T00:03:19Z")
Sounds good. The coming attractions look good. I am going to see it for sure now! Thanks Rousseau! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2000, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/18 "2000-05-07T00:27:18Z")
I’m going to see it tonight, tell you tomorrow if it’s good. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2000, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/19 "2000-05-07T02:10:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > The trouble with this genre is that it’s REALLY expensive to produce. CGI\* isn’t cheap. \*\* Actually, CGI is really cheap. A simple case of erasing a plane or vehicle is piss-easy. Creating a wide vista in a 3D matte painting is standard stuff you can do on a home PC. It’s Hollywood that’s expensive. They charge out the wazoo for this stuff because they can. You will see more and more movies like this (assuming Directors understand that effects don’t make a movie, they merely enhance it) in the next few years. Then there has to be a new drawcard to make a movie visually special again. ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752/20 "2000-05-07T05:44:42Z")
Just saw it, good movie, thumbs up. Go see it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator/18752.md?page=2)