Analyze, Critique, and Discuss The Gladiator

HUM/150

It has been said that a gladiator is a warrior, one who was a slave or prisoner, who competed in different gladiator events. Gladiators would fight in rings and be pit up against animals, or other gladiators. These fight usually would consist of fighting to the death. The fate of the gladiators lives was often derived from the unanimous decision of the crowd. (The Roman Gladiator) Usually if a Gladiator was victorious and took the lives of many men, he would be awarded a wooden sword that would signify their freedom. How iconic was it for director Ridley Scott to direct a film by David Franzoni, to depict exactly what it was to be a gladiator. From the infamous fights that took place in the Roman Coluseum, to the melancholy dramatic feeling that overcame Maximus (Russell Crowe) as his family were killed through the treacherous actions of his rival Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Gladiator begins with the battle with Romanian Army under the leadership of Emperor Marcus Aurelius against the Barbarian Tribe of Germania. This scene showed many striking points. For instance take the scene and where it takes place. Both armies are dressed in the traditional Armor helmets with steal chest plates and large shields. The uniforms are made with immaculate detail. The swords the bows, axes, and all the other weapons look as real as the weapons that were used in real life. The ash and corps infested battlefield allowed us to see how well the costume team did on making the battlefield look as real as it did back in 180 A. D. The ever so infamous white horse with the headless man riding up to the Roman Army signifying that the Germanians are not going to surrender but yet take this fight to the death. The roaring sounds from the crowd of soldiers being excited because they are so eager to go into battle to fight rips through the speakers in the surround. The music in this scene drags the viewer into the battle and makes you feel like the viewer is in the midst of the entire fight. The sound effects are awesome from the clinging of swords coming together to the slicing of body parts as soldiers are stab and sliced during battle. The fire burning and ripping through the ground as the soldiers light their arrows. The viewer can hear the lighting flickering through the air as the arrows are being fired. It was great when Maximus was giving his speech to his men and the tree line from a distance showed the fog as morning was setting in.

As the plot continues the Romanians win the battle and return home all the while Emperor Marcus Aurelius becomes ill and is on his last days. Knowing this he privately tells Maximus that he will be the next emperor in the event of his death. Before the announcement was made Marcus Aurelius was killed by his own son to prevent Maximus from being the next emperor. During this scene you can see that the lighting played a significant role because there were no electricity back then and lanterns and candles were the source of lighting. The lighting from the candles show just the faces of Marcus Aurelius ad Maximus as they discuss Maximus taking over as Emperor when he dies. Since they are no longer at war they can dress with traditional furs that look as if they are wearing the animals freshly killed and scalped and made into garments for warmth. Maximus is sent off by Commodus’ guards to be killed as well as his wife and child. As Maximus is marched off by the killing squad surrounded by five men and their horses, it was amazing to see how the frost made the blade stick and you could see the frost on the ground displaying how cold it really was. The special effects person definitely did a great job depicting the snow, frost, and fog as the horses inhaled and exhaled while Maximus was escaping. When Maximus arrives to his home only to find his wife and son hanging to their deaths after they have been savagely beaten and burned. The burns looked so real the charcoal burned bodies still displaying the third degree burns and Maximus and his bruises appeared to be so real. When Juba Djimon Hounsou filled the scar with maggots it look as if they, were really using maggots. The attention to detail that the director used was phenomenal. As we move to Maximus becoming a slave as he, was rescued by Proximo who actually was once a gladiator himself. When Maximus was first captured he hesitated to fight but once he realized that if he didn’t fight then he would be killed. He began to play along with options that he was given. When Maximus was first captured and there was a tryout to become gladiators there was a fight scene with wooden sticks. You could hear the wood swords clinging against each other it sounded so real and the lighting only displaying a hint of light on Proximo’s face as he watches and judges the slaves fighting for a position to be gladiators on Proximo’s team. The blood as they walk the streets seemed as if it was real blood and the cheering of the crowd made you feel like you were in the stadium where the fighting took place. While Maximus continues to to fight and win the venues begin to change and Proximo moves his gladiators to Rome to the ever so popular Coliseum. The Coliseum is where the director really pulls you into the plot of the movie. Maximus fights his first fight at the Coliseum and wins. With victory Maximus was faced with seeing the Emperor Commodus the person responsible for killing his wife and son. During the fight Maximus and his other Gladiator brothers come out not knowing what to expect only to discover that they were greeted with an entourage of gladiators not only armed with swords but also with horses and chariots that also have blades attached to them. The blades look so realistic and the chariots give the appearance as if they are the actual ones that were used back in the gladiator times. The sound of the crowd and the foot steps of the horses galloping through the Coliseum seems as if you were sitting right in the Coliseum. All the while Maximus continues to win defeating other gladiators and animals. Maximus was also faced with fighting men that he served with when he was in charge of the Roman Army. As the fights at the Coliseum draw near the end and Maximus continues to stay alive the only solution is for Commodus to fight with Maximus to the death. What a dramatical way to conclude the film. Commodus knowing that he is no challenge for Maximus instead of fighting Maximus fair and square he goes to see Maximus before that fight and wounds him, by stabbing him in the side wounding him but not killing him. During the finale you see Maximus and Commodus coming into the arena red rose pedals being thrown from the audience the crowd cheering and the music playing bring a more anticipated feeling to the film wondering what is going to happen. Although wounded Maximus is able to conquer his rival defeating him by stabbing him through the neck with his sword. Wow how amazed was I on how the special effects made it look as though Commodus was really being stabbed. The editing to make this scene look as real as possible was great. All the while the director shows the ending of the movie which appears that Maximus is going to be with his son and daughter but leaves it up to the viewer to decide if Maximus is truly dead or not. Gladiator was a great movie. It possessed the necessary things needed to be considered one of the best fight movies ever made. Winning five oscars is a mission well accomplished task that can be bragged about undisputedly. From the realistic scenery where battlefield wars took place to the reconstruction of the Coliseum where the replica gave the impression that it was the actual Roman Coliseum. The music played a great role in pulling the viewer into each and every scene. The plot was great it allowed for the viewer to remain giving his full attention. Just when it was beginning to mellow out the director would find something to pull you back in. Whether it was the drama in the scene where Commodus’s sister betrayed him and sided with Maximus or the music that would draw you into the scene to make you want to draw closer to the action. If the intent of the movie was to display a visual reenactment of what it was to be a gladiator fighting in the Coliseum the director and writer did a great job. There were also so hidden things in the movie that could have shown a different context of the movie. For instance Commodus although they didn’t show him and his sister in a sexual mode did display signs that he was physically attracted to her and that is close to being a considered as incest. Gladiator has proven itself to be a movie worth watching. I would recommend this movie to all action and drama genre watchers. I can watch this movie over and over again and never be let down.