Gladiator
What we do in life echoes in eternity.
After the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, his devious son takes power and demotes Maximus, one of Rome's most capable generals who Marcus preferred. Eventually, Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and battle to the death against other men for the amusement of paying audiences.
Wokeness: 0%
Overall Score: 100%
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User Submitted Reviews
COWBOY
GREAT MOVIE
Nothing woke here
Created: 12-23-2022
Pha-Q woke
Great Movie That Still Holds Up Today
Nothing woke. Great epic movie. Well acted and excellent cinematography. Top notch FX and action scenes. Great story. The only
real complaint is the use of the dropped frame slow motion. I hate that effect, it looks terrible and adds nothing to the action. Luckily it's not used too much so while annoying it's able to be ignored. Must watch part of cinematic history.
Created: 07-22-2024
LmaoXD-kun
Revenge done right!
Gladiator is one of those movies that reminds you why you love movies in the first place. It’s raw, brutal, and unapologetically badass—a far cry from today’s pussy standards or politically correct fluff. And it’s glorious.
Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius? Pure alpha energy. He’s a man’s man—loyal, honorable, and driven by vengeance. His quiet charisma is the backbone of the movie. Meanwhile, Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus with his warped obsession with his sister Lucilla, is a villain who feels real because he’s driven by a disturbingly human cocktail of inadequacy and narcissism. Add in Oliver Reed (RIP, legend) and Connie Nielsen, and you’ve got an all-star cast firing on all cylinders.
The action scenes are insane and still holds up even by today's standards, and that’s because it’s not reliant on overdone CGI or flashy digital overload. The arena fights are savage, the stakes are high, and the crowd roars as Maximus tears through his enemies. And let’s not forget the sweeping score by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard--it’s so epic it feels like it was written for the gods.
Now, let’s talk about what makes this movie such a breath of fresh air. There’s no modern-day preaching shoved into the script. Maximus isn’t some neutered, overly-sensitive dude who needs to "learn a lesson." He’s a warrior from the start, plain and simple. The movie doesn’t try to force in some unnecessary “girlboss” angle, either. Lucilla’s a great character because she fits naturally into the story—smart and strong willed, but still very much a product of her world. The film isn’t trying to make some grand statement about gender or identity; it’s just telling a damn good story.
Maybe the only thing that feels a little too Hollywood is how they clean up some of the uglier aspects of ancient Rome (slavery wasn’t exactly as honorable as it looks here), but that’s just nitpicking. For the most part, the movie sticks to its guns and delivers a gritty, no-nonsense epic.
Bottom line : Gladiator isn’t a movie for people looking for lectures or agendas. It’s for those of us who just want to see a man take down an empire with grit, honor, and a sword. Gladiator doesn’t hold back, and that’s why it’s still a classic.
Created: 01-27-2025
