Presented by Johann Nunez

English Level 6 G611

In the final days of Marcus Aurelius' reign, the aging emperor angers his son Commodus by making it known that he wants Maximus, a

fearsome and respected Roman general, to be his successor. Power-hungry Commodus kills his father and orders the death of Maximus. But the latter flees, only to discover that his wife and child have been murdered by Commodus. Captured, Maximus is forced into slavery, where he is sold to Proximo, a former gladiator who serves as both

mentor and slavemaster. Maximus trains as a gladiator in the arena, where his fame grows. He goes to Rome, intent on avenging the

murder of his wife and son by killing the new emperor Commodus. Maximus has learned that the one power stronger than that of the

emperor is the will of the people, and he knows he can only attain his revenge by becoming the greatest hero in all the empire.

• Also Known As: Gladiators• Production Status: Released• Logline: When a Roman general is betrayed and his family

murdered by a corrupt prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge.

• Genres: Action/Adventure and Drama• Running Time:2 hrs. 30 min.• Release Date: May 5, 2000 • Nationwide MPAA Rating: R for intense graphic combat.• Distributors: DreamWorks SKG• Production Co.: Red Wagon Entertainment, Scott Free

Productions. • Studios: DreamWorks SKG, Universal Pictures • U.S. Box Office:$187,670,866• Filming Locations: Ouarzazate, Morocco Malta Shepperton

Studios, England, United Kingdom Farnham, England, United Kingdom Italy

• Produced in: United States

Plot

Russell Crowe … Maximus

Joaquin Phoenix … Commodus

Connie Nielsen … Lucilla

Oliver Reed … Proximo

Richard Harris … Marcos Aurelius

Derek Jacobi … Gracchus

Djimon Hounsou … Juba

David Schofield … Falco

John Shrapnel … Gaius

Tomas Arana … Quintus

Ralf Moeller … Hagen

Spencer Treat Clark … Lucius

David Hemmings … Cassius

Tommy Flanagan … Cicero

Sven-Ole Thorsen … Tiger

Trivia

When Maximus enters the Colosseum to fight against Tigris of Gaul, he's holding the sword in his right

and the shield in his left hand. And in the last shot you see him walking towards Tigris, the sword is in his left and the shield in his right hand. In the next shot, sword will again be in his right and

shield in his left hand.

During Maximus' second fight in

Zucchabar, he cuts the stomach of the fourth gladiator he

confronts in the first shot of that duel. Two shots later, there is no

wound to be seen on the man's torso,

while Maximus thrusts his sword

between the man's left arm and torso.

Memorable QuotesGracchus:

I don't pretend to be a man of the people. But I do try to be a man for the people.

The Senate is the people, sire. Chosen from among the people, to speak for the people.

Maximus: Do you find it difficult to do your duty? Cicero : Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to.

Lucilla : I want to help you. Maximus: Yes, you can help me... Forget you ever knew me, and never come back here again.

Trailer

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/797848/gladiator_now_we_are_free/

ReviewOpening in 180 A.D., Maximus (Russell Crowe), an acclaimed Roman general, has sent his group of

men into battle against the Germanics, in the final fight to defeat the empire's enemies. Set against the backdrop of the fog-induced, murky Bavarian forest, just as nightfall approaches, Maximus carries on his battle plan, and amidst the carnage, lives to see their victory. A much-loved and admired militarian who hasn't seen his wife and young son for two-and-a-half years, Maximus has become the sort of adopted son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), who offers him the chance to be the ruler of Rome when he passes away, despite the title expectancy going to his own flesh-and-blood son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).

Being trumpeted as the first big "event" picture of the summer of 2000, Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" is a robust, lumbering, often very exciting, extremely well-acted, and long, action-adventure, the first movie of its type to be set in Rome in over three decades. In fact, the film has been made on such an enormous scale (with a price tag of $103-million) that it's difficult not to be completely swept away in its high-style effectiveness and technical grandeur. Despite the sparkling presences of the film's three lead actors, as well as the many rousing battle set-pieces, "Gladiator" is a flawed motion picture, and one that, for all its flashiness, comes off as a mild disappointment. It is still a good film, but only marginally so, and easily could have been a great one.

Once the cowardly Commodus discovers his father's decision, he promptly murders him and demands that Maximus and his family be executed at once. Following his escape and the discovery that his home has been burned down and his wife and son brutally murdered, Maximus is captured by slave traders and sent to the provinces to act as a gladiator for the citizens' entertainment. Known as "The Spaniard," he surprisingly manages to defeat everyone that steps in his way, and is, finally, sent back to Rome, where he must carry out his newly enslaved life. But Commodus, the new emperor of Rome who believes Maximus has long since been killed, does not know that the masked mystery man the crowds have been cheering for in the Coliseum, is the man he most despises.

Unlike most action-adventures, "Gladiator" has a heart, along with its visceral thrills, thus allowing the audience to not only get involved in the sword fights and battle scenes, but also in the fates of the major characters. It also strengthens its entire impact and adds dimension to a story that otherwise might have come off being ineffectual and thin-skinned.

My opinion