Travis Simpkins: Gladiators

Showing posts with label Gladiators. Show all posts

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Gladiator (2000): Ancient Rome. Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix

Gladiator. 2000. Ancient Rome. Ridley Scott. Russell Crowe. Joaquin Phoenix

Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator (2000) was widely acclaimed at the time of its release and won a Best Actor Academy Award for lead actor Russell Crowe. The CGI effects work together with excellent set design to create a very convincing Ancient Roman atmosphere. 20 years later, Gladiator is still astounding in its attention to historical detail and overall excitement of gladiatorial combat in the Colosseum.

The plot is summarized: Set in Roman times, the story of a once-powerful general forced to become a common gladiator. Emperor Marcus Aurelius' son is enraged when he is passed over as heir in favour of his father's favourite general. He kills his father and arranges the murder of the general's family, and the general is sold into slavery to be trained as a gladiator- but his subsequent popularity in the arena threatens the throne.

The cast is great, including Russell Crowe, Joachim Phoenix, Richard Harris, Connie Nielsen, Olicer Reed and Djimon Hounsou.

Gladiator. 2000. Ancient Rome. Ridley Scott. Russell Crowe. Joaquin Phoenix

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Spartacus (1960): Stanley Kubrick and Kirk Douglas in Gladiatorial Ancient Rome

Although Anthony Mann was initially hired to direct Spartacus (1960), producer and star Kirk Douglas fired him after only one week of filming, and replaced him with Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick reluctantly accepted the job, and Spartacus is the only film to his credit in which he did not have complete creative control. This is evident in the lack of signature camera tricks associated with a Kubrick film. The film, however, is Epic and powerful... focusing on a slave turned Gladiator who rises up to challenge the forces of Ancient Rome. The cinematography is great, Dalton Trumbo's screenplay is tight and the all-star cast does a fine job, including Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, Charles Laughton, Woody Strode, John Gavin and Peter Ustinov (in an Oscar-winning supporting role).

Kirk Douglas: Spartacus

: Spartacus

Kirk Douglas: Spartacus

Peter Ustinov and Charles Laughton: Spartacus

Kirk Douglas: Spartacus

Laurence Olivier and Tony Curtis: Spartacus

Tony Curtis: Spartacus

Kirk Douglas: Spartacus

Laurence Olivier: Spartacus

"Spartacus"- movie trailer

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Gladiator (2000): Russell Crowe in Ancient Rome

Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator (2000) transports the viewer back to Ancient Rome is luscious, stylish form. The story of a general who becomes a slave, then a gladiator, then a savior... is moving and won over audiences and critics alike. The cinematography is brilliant, with muted tones and warm hues, the action is tense and the CGI effects (particularly with the Colosseum scenes) are dazzling. The costume and set design teams paid great attention to detail in creating the backgrounds, armor, weapons and props. Russell Crowe delivers an Oscar-winning performance in the lead role. The supporting cast is great as well, including Joaquin Phoenix, Richard Harris, Djimon Hounsou and Connie Nielsen.