I normally avoid “Blockbusters” but I rather like “Gladiator” … Russell Crowe (Maximus)  carries the film, and the other main characters played by Joaquin Phoenix (Commodus) and Connie Nielsen (Lucila) are very good too. The supporting cast headed by Oliver Reed (Proximo) and Richard Harris (Marcus Aurelius) are also very good.  I don’t know much about Connie Nielsen (except for her scarey / erotic role in “The Devil’s Advocate”),  but in thisf ilm she sizzles with barely subdued sexuality but … in a good way. The plot goes something like …  Russell Crowe (Maximus) is the General of the Roman army fighting the last battle in Germania. He wins and wants to go home to his wife and son but … Caesar, Marcus Aurelius, on his last legs (Richard Harris), fearful of his immoral son Commodus decides to give his powers to Maximus, with a view to making Rome a Republic run by the Senate.  On hearing this, the immoral son suffocates his father and has Maximus arrested and orders him to be killed. The soldiers botch the killing of Maximus and he escapes (having killed them all) … he is injured but still manages to ride home only to find that his wife and son have been murdered by the wicked new Caesar’s guards. He buries his Wife and child and then collapses  and is picked up by a slaver who sells him to a man (Oliver Reed) who runs Gladiator events. Maximus ends up as a hero Gladiator fighting in the Coliseum. There is some plotting to overthrow the wicked Caesar by his sister (Lucila … the lovely Connie Nielsen) and Russell and a Senator played by Derek Jacobi but the wicked Emporer discovers it, and threatens to kill his sister’s son (next in line) if she doesn’t back off. There is also some implied incest between Commodus and Lucila but … carefully underplayed for the young audience.  Once the plot to overthrow him has been quashed, Commodus, the new Caesar plots the killing of Russell Crowe-Maximus is known as either “Gladiator” or “The Spaniard” in the Coliseum, and, having wounded Maximus (whilst he was in chains), the wicked new Ceasar (Commodus) sets up an unfair battle to the death in the Coliseum … stupid man … we all knew that Russell Crowe would beat him.  Once the new Caesar is killed by our hero, who puts a knife through his throat, Maximus decrees that the Senate will now run Rome (as the old Caesar had wanted) and Maximus then duly dies. Order is now restored in the world and Rome survives. What could be simpler. Russell Crowe is moody and magnificent and the ladies love him for it. The fight scenes are excellently done, and Joaquin Phoenix, as the evil Commodus very nearly steals the film but … not quite. Oliver Reed died(after arm wrestling on location in Malta) whilst making this film, and it is a fitting swan song for him.  I have only one question about this film … where did the General’s dog get to ? It was in quite a few shots in the early battle sequences and seemed intrinsic to the film but then … completely disappeared after about 20 minutes into the Movie. Who knew ?

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