Gladiator is way overrated

[George_Bonanza]

I don't like this movie. I never liked it. I duped myself into liking it because of all the great reviews it got, but now, I can clearly say, this is an average movie at best. To summarize my feelings, the characters are flat and static. Russell Crowe is the boring reluctant hero with no real special personality. He has a flair for violence, and has animal magnetism because the script says so. He's supposed to be this inspiring battlefield general, but only because the story blueprints him as one. William Wallace was an inspiring leader. Spartacus was an inspiring leader. Maximus is boring. And Commodus is no villain at all. It's like Goliath (Maximus - powerful and popular) vs. David (Commodus - puny, whiny, and spiteful). Wow, that's interesting and uplifting. It's almost like watching the bully beat the crap out of some lesser punk because he screwed his girlfriend or something. The battle scenes weren't that captivating to me, and the CGI Rome just didn't feel like Rome.

The best movie about Romans I've seen? The great Ben-Hur. Regardless of one's opinion of Heston's NRA affiliation, no one can deny the scope and majesty of that movie.

[Kamika]

1. I liked it..

The ending sucked asmuch as bush does though but it was rewritten.

In the real script he was actually supposed to go into rome with his army

[George_Bonanza]

4. That would've been MUCH better

Imagine a vengeful Roman army of 2000 rampaging over a CGI Rome fully given its rightful exposure, slaughtering other Romans.

Instead, what did Scott put in? Some lameass ending where the emperor jumps into the gladiator ring with some fallen general. Some reviewer made the witty analogy about how it's the equivalent of our president suddenly jumping into the middle of the Superbowl.

[HEyHEY]

2. It fucking sucks

I agree.....just a hype fest. They tried to hype as being on par with epics like ben-hur and Lawrence of Arabia....But we know better right! ;-) just a big budget shitfest

[cherryperry]

3. I agree that Gladiator is way overrated, however,

it has one redeeming quality for me. It showed me Joaquin Phoenix which led to a crush and to many cool movies with him in them (sigh).

:hi:

[George_Bonanza]

5. I like Phoenix too

I liked him in Signs, and although he's not some mega-star, I think he's a talented actor with an air of likeability.

[tjdee]

7. After Signs, I'm liking Joaquin too.

Everyone here hated Signs, LOL, but I really liked it. And I really liked him in it. Very affable, nice style...

I kept thinking, hello, young Phoenix! Looking good, looking good! Swing away, LOL!

He's going to be filming The Woods this fall with my sweet baby Adrien Brody--gonna try to make it over to filming, doubt if I'll get too close to them though.... :loveya: sigh.

[neomonkey]

6. Oh yeah

Thank you

I have a hard time finding people who realize that was the biggest piece of shit to win the best pic Oscar.
I just don't get it.

Along with Forrest Gump, 2 movies much lauded which I thought just stunk to high heaven. I would have garnered more enjoyment staring at one of my bm's sitting in the bowl for 2 hours.

[George_Bonanza]

10. Hey, I love Forrest Gump!

Sentimental and unrealistic? Yes. But funny and greatly enjoyable? Yes. Although that bit of the 3-year marathon was highly tacked on.

PS Why did everybody here hate Signs?

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

8. I saw something rather scary in that movie...

During the first scene in the Rome Coliseum, I watched the audience, rather than the film. They were cheering right along with the film whenever someone got killed.
It made me realize that America is the new Roman Empire.
:scared:

[Astarho]

9. Check out this article

Producers were not very accurate as far as the Berbers were portrayed in the North African scenes in the movie. Which isn't surprising since they got some of the other history wrong too.

http://waac.info/amazigh/editorials/general/gladiators_misrepresents_imazighen.html

We, the Imazighen in America, with the support of the millions of Imazighen in various parts of the world, denounce the perhaps unintentional, but no less grievous, and flagrant dismissal of our rights as people to be depicted fairly in our habitat, our music, our form of dress - in what constitutes our patrimony and cultural heritage. We would prefer not to be displayed across cinema screens all over the world in the disguise of another culture.

[DemNoir]

11. Have you ever got that right

The dialoge is dopey at best and Russel Crowe is sleep walking. Amazing he got the Oscar for that but was passed over for his incredible performance in "The Insider". Maybe they were trying to make up for that.

Anyone who has not seen this and is tempted to, I suggest you rent Spartacus instead.

[Astarho]

13. That's why he got it

The Oscars have a habit of that. When they pass over an acotr in a great role, they tend to give them oscars later for less then perfect roles. They felt bad for passing over Russel's performance in "The Insider" so they give him one for "Gladiator" to even it out.

[wtmusic]

12. If Russell Crowe's 'puppy dog' concerned look doesn't move you

neither will the movie.

[DS1]

14. you at least gotta admit the opening battle scene was good

:shrug:

[Deja Q]

15. IT'S PURE CRAP!!!!!!!!! ESPECIALLY THE "WRITING"!

The pacing - well, there was none of that. Characterization was bad, the plot was gritty - but the time period it portrayed was gritty, duh. And did I mention how awful the pacing was?

Boring and unimportant bits got elongated and had more screen time yet important shit was glossed over.

I can't critique the acting because the characterizations were really pathetic to begin with.

John Logan is a pure dipshit. "Time Machine" wasn't too bad but that was a remake, not anything original.

As for "Nemesis", don't get me started.

How the twit gets any credibility in the industry is beyond me.

I could see through half the visuals as well, definitely computer or CSO (bluescreen) effects.

[radwriter0555]

16. What MORE can you say about MANLY MEN IN SKIRTS? Yeeee HAW!

and I liked the writing.

Actually I thought Joaquin Phoenix was positively brillant... and RC's low rumbly voice was way woof. I liked it, thumbs UP!

[Clete]

17. Hey any hour of Hercules or Xena on television

was far more entertaining, had better character development and really jazzy costumes. The stories for the most part were good too. The Aussies and New Zealanders playing the Barbarians were far more "animal" like than old Russell.

So I have abysmal taste in entertainment. Flame me.