About Gladiator (The First One)
Post 1670:
So I was gonna go see Gladiator 2. The trailer made it look like a movie that had things happening and actors, arrows and swords, etc. Like most American men I have a weird fascination with Ancient Rome, so it made sense to go check it out. They don’t make a ton of these epic type historical fiction movies anymore—maybe a nice change of pace.
And then I decided not to. I watched the original instead. Maybe the new one is good. I’ll probably see it someday, but I like the one I already have.
I remember going to see it the first time, actually. Me and a buddy ditched school and hit the early afternoon showing. Frigging thing was so long I almost didn’t make it back for soccer practice.
Rewatching it, I think it’s better than I gave it credit for. The acting is subtle and purposeful and almost everything happens for a reason. The plot seems simple, but it’s doing a lot with all the major characters. Maximus pretty much wants to die at first so he can be with his slain wife and children, but his work on Earth is not done. His surrogate father, Marcus Aurelius, gave him a directive that he slowly starts to believe he must fulfill, even though he’s a gladiator/slave.
There are some little touches that make this big movie really good. When Maximus walks by his soldiers as a general, they all acknowledge his badassness. The same thing happens when he walks by other gladiators. Everyone gives him props. It’s an echo that is earned. The character has had to suffer to be honored as he once was. I think it’s a hopeful message—that a man who is good and able can earn respect in any circumstance.
Yeah, it’s naive. Maximus probably would’ve gotten knifed the second he was found to still be alive. But that wouldn’t be fun. We like Maximus. So much, in fact, you sort of forget that he’s brutally killing lots and lots of people.
And that’s nice. I don’t want to think about the morality of identifying with a violent guy. I’m like those Romans back in the day. Bread and circuses. Cheers and see you after.
