Movie #68 - Gladiator

Commodus: How dare you show your back to me! Slave, you will remove your helmet and tell me your name. 

Maximus: [removes helmet and turns around to face Commodus] My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

Day #68

Gladiator
This is an epic story/film about the general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor. Winner of five Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director and Actor included), five BAFTAs and two Golden Globes.

This film encompasses everything movie-making should be about ... artistically entertaining. The director -- Ridley Scott was absolutely brilliant in his depiction of the Roman Empire from the epic scenes of the war against Germanic tribes to the Gladiatorial feats at the Colosseum, and much praise to the screenwriters who delivered lines that are quite legendary - befitting of a film that whose theme portrays Revenge and Heroism.

And then the actors; Russell Crowe's soulful yet intoxicating performance as General Maximus Decimus Meridius was /is legendary (and he walked away with a well deserved Oscar); and opposing Crowe on-screen is Jaoquine Phoenix as the ruthless, ambitious and crazy son of the Emperor Commodus, a role that was portrayed perfectly as you could not help but simply hate the character. Accompanying such brilliant performances were Djimon Hounsou as Juba, Oliver Reed as Proximo and Tommy Flanagan as Cicero.

Finally, the score composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard simply added "grandness" to the film.

This 2000 revenge epic is certainly one of the greatest films ever made.

"Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?"