I'd heard so much about the Roman Empire from history class, but never got to watch many movies about it. I'd watched Ben-Hur but this was closer to the grandeur of a lost empire. Nail-biting action and suspense with a revenge plot make for a good story. A respected warrior goes to zero then back up again in order to find justice and peace. Will he succeed? Is he doomed to a premature death? Let those be your guiding questions as you watch the film. It may not be entirely accurate but it's good as a period piece. Plus we get some familiar faces.

Great music. Great acting and character development. Great heros and villians. Amazing battle scenes. Beautiful sets and scenery. The good guy wins in the end, well sorta. What more could you ask for!

Gladiator is just greatness...normally I can think of a way a movie can be improved....well with a 10/10...nope. Its so good. Russell Crowe is amazing. Caesar is a good villain too. The movie moves you....and that ending ....so sad yet satisfying. A true classic and the best ancient based movie to date I thnk

Veni, Vedi, Vici- the Latin phrase translated to I came, I saw , I conquered. This is a master collaboration, between Russel Crowe (whom I have seen in other roles before and as Maximus Aurelius is supreme) , and Ridley Scott, the revolutionary Einstein of film making and the phrase comes to mind whenever I see this film. These two are the men's men and Gladiator is a movie about rising and falling and rising and falling again but with dignity and passion. Another standout is Joaquin Phoenix who played the conniving, power-hungry, incapable, brutal, unpopular emperor who killed his father for the throne and framed Maximus and killed his wife and son for it. Who will ever forget, " And I shall have my revenge, in this life or the next " . I disagree with some commenting that this film is testosterone packed for this is a tale as true as it can be and it's not only about the fight scenes and action but more about our own mirror of moral compass , survival, honor and love. A two thumbs up movie .