Travis Simpkins: Russell Crowe

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Man of Steel (2013): DC Comics. Henry Cavill as Superman

Man of Steel. 2013. DC Comics. Henry Cavill as Superman

Directed by Zack Snyder, based on characters from DC Comics, Man of Steel (2013) added renewed energy and dark style to the Superman franchise and served as the first entry in the Justice League film series.

The plot is summarized: With the imminent destruction of Krypton, their home planet, Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his wife seek to preserve their race by sending their infant son to Earth. The child's spacecraft lands at the farm of Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha (Diane Lane) Kent, who name him Clark and raise him as their own son. Though his extraordinary abilities have led to the adult Clark (Henry Cavill) living on the fringe of society, he finds he must become a hero to save those he loves from a dire threat.

The cast is great, including Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner and Diane Lane.

Man of Steel. 2013. DC Comics. Russell Crowe. Krypton

Man of Steel. 2013. DC Comics. General Zod

Man of Steel. 2013. DC Comics. Henry Cavill as Superman

Man of Steel. 2013. DC Comics. Amy Adams as Lois Lane

Man of Steel. 2013. DC Comics. Henry Cavill as Superman

Man of Steel. 2013. DC Comics. Amy Adams as Lois Lane

Man of Steel. 2013. DC Comics. Henry Cavill as Superman

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.