Gladiator

(Please note the early start time)

"You do have a name?"

"My name is Gladiator"

Ladies, may I present Mr. Gladiator... Russell Crowe. Travel back to the time of the Romans where the Empire had spread over most of southern Europe. The Coliseum is all in one peace and Gladiator games have been outlawed. How does this film involve Gladiators then? I'll tell you how... Maximus Decimus Meridias (Crowe) is a powerful General of the then glorious Roman Empire. After winning a final battle against the Barbarian Tribes of Germania all he wishes is to return to his family in Spain. The dieing Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) asks one last favour of Maximus: to command Rome and to pass the power of the Caesars back to the Senate. Maximus agrees to his Emperor's last wish, but Marcus Aurelius' neglected son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), is jealous and murders his father to become Emperor himself. Maximus is sent to be executed by the new Emperor, and his family murdered. Maximus escapes execution and seeks revenge with Commodus through the newly re-instated Gladiator games.

"The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an Emperor." "The blockbuster that became a DVD. The DVD that became a Tuesday showing. The Tuesday that defied a Sunday"

This is quite simply one of my favourite films of all time. This film has a beautiful sound track, stunning visual effects, and a brilliant plot. In order to keep the male side of the species happy there is also blood and fighting. What doesn't this film have? A second showing at the Uniplex on a Sunday. Why, I hear you ask? The Lord of the Rings. These two films alone will make a week ticket worth its money.

With help from imdb.com