Gladiator (2000) - Page 2

What got botched?

Reed won the shit out of Most Grizzled.

Awkward edit: "At my signal, unleash hell." Cut to a dog I assume is named Hell being literally unleashed.

What got botched.

God damn Reed was fucking awesome. I doubt we'll see a bunch of brit thesp bad boys like that hard drinking brit crew of Reed, Harris and O'Toole again personally.

Braveheart is a movie who's appeal really, really escapes me. The good/evil dynamic is played in cartoonish strokes that would make George Lucas blush. It's actually some strange cultural hypocrisy that 300 is a guilty pleasure and this is an Oscar winner. Mel Gibson stops just short of holding up signs on when to cheer, jeer, and who to feel what for. Gladiator is not a tapestry of moral complexity, but it allows it to speak for itself a little more often. In fact, Wallace's Pearl Harbor script is actually only marginally dumber--it's just more boring.

"I'll be closer to you than that bitch of a mother who brought you into this world!"

...but yeah, I like when Commodus sticks out his tongue.

The snot part's tops, too.

I also like it when he goes, "OOOoOOOOooooooOOOoh!"

The one scene of the Deleted Scenes/Extended Edition which I never understood why it was cut is the firing squad execution of the two soldiers who let Maximus escape. Its such a powerful, well-played Commodus scene, and its not like the pacing of Gladiator is too tight to allow for a few minutes extra Commodus insanity anyway.

I watched this on Blu this week. Its fucking brilliant, really. Its easy to forget that Crowe wasn't a major star before this, Ridley Scott hadn't had a big hit in years and $100+ million historical epics hadn't been en vogue for about 30 years. This was a pretty big gamble for Dreamworks.

I've always liked this film, but goddamn, did I enjoy it this time. I watched it with a history teacher friend of mine who'd never seen it before and - while the main story is, historically, obviously guff - he couldn't believe the level of detail in the production design. Its an incredibly handsome film, as well being filled with good to great performances and an incredibly quote-worthy script.

I've heard a lot of bad concerning the Blu transfer, what did it look like to you? I have it on DVD but if I'm getting a PS3 this holiday then I'll want this film in the best possible format.

Ben,

I love the film too. However, the way the film presents Rome (both the society and how it looked) is hardly accurate. Detailed sure, but mostly just made up details. Watch HBO's ROME if you want to see the most accurate version of Rome yet put on screen. All the white marble in Gladiator makes the Classics Student in me cry

The Blu-ray transfer is covered in DNR and looks no better than an up-converted DVD. It's probably too late to warn everyone, but I saw this on my New Posts list.

Well, I dunno if we got a different transfer over here, or if mine eys doth decieve me, but it looked pretty fucking sweet to me.

You're right. And all those puncture marks in the shields... there was something a bit samey about them.

I've watched it three times since buying it. I reiterate from the BR thread: The bigger your set, the more problems you'll see.

It's still really pretty, though.

UK got the same transfer. It's bad. I put it on with the first DVD release and flip between the two. They're almost identical.

This film shows less violence than I remember. And I was watching the 'more explicit' extended edition. In fact I think there's only one clear shot of blood: when that charioteer gets throat-slashed.

As for the extended edition's scenes: I didn't think they added much. I guess they'd be interesting if you're a big fan of the original.

I sort of hate to do this.

Kate's .....sort of.....right. Every marble/plain unicolored statue of Greek and Roman origin? Never looked like that in the period. These statues were painted like you wouldn't believe. Think the saint/madonna figures of their time. The eyes were painted in, the clothing was painted rich colors....It's just that the paint was wax based, I believe, and wore away over time. We've just seen only very rare examples of the original paint remaining in any great detail.

It doesn't bother me so much because hey, it's a movie. It's also how the Greeks and Romans are represented to us. Visual shorthand, y'know. But if you're checking for period appropriate detail, it is one of the first things to look for.

Anyways: Love the film. Wasn't Johnny Cash quoted as saying he wanted Phoenix to play him in a film after viewing this? It's one of those perfectly paced films, it's a visual fucking feast.

My first viewing of this, in theaters, was an odd one. When Crowe/Maximus took out the votive figures and knelt to offer prayers, my mom took this moment to point out about how he's secretly a christian since, y'know, only christian folks pray. And for some reason I believed her as to the intent, and was really, really confused till someone pointed out the obvious.

Granted, this is the same woman who threatened to kick me out of the house because I refused to be confirmed/'re-baptized' in the Methodist church.

But huzzah to the flick for acknowledging the pagan beliefs in a subtle, positive depiction. (and for them not including the Christians being eaten by lions scene. That was too schmaltzy and on the nose.)