Jul 15, 2001

The Gladiator Review

Angela Detter

The movie Gladiator begins with the Roman General Maximus leading the Roman Legion into battle. Maximus is victorious and receives a warm, loving congratulations from the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, who loves Maximus as a son more than his own son, Commodus. This leads to problems for Maximus, as Commodus is very jealous of their relationship. His son during a last embrace of superficial love kills Marcus Aurelius, who plans to return the empire to the people instead of his son Commodus. Its amazing, how dysfunctional this family really is. Commodus never seems to live up to the expectations of his father and is in love with his sister. Commodus demands Maximuss alliance. Maximus refuses and is sentenced to death, along with his family. However, Maximus tricks the guards saving his own life. He returns home to find it in ruins and his family burned along with it. In exhaustion, Maximus collapses after burying his family and is taken prisoner by a trader. After being sold into slavery, Maximus begins training to become a Gladiator. I was really shocked when Maximus refused to fight his first battle. Once Maximus enters the arena, he finds that the people love winners. One of the fighters stated, Ultimately, we are all dead men. We can choose how we met that end. This is very true with all our lives. We can choose to live life to its fullest or we can choose not to live. Ultimately, we are all dead men. Maximus makes many friends in the Gladiator arena and eventually turns them into an army. During all this, Commodus is facing his own battles. Commodus begins Violence in the Colosseum to win favor with the people. The people want blood and thats exactly what Commodus gives them. One of the most remarkable strong points for Commodus is the point during the battle when he alone decides whether the defeated contender lives or dies. Maximus, who leads his team to victory in the Colosseum, meets Commodus in front of the people. After Commodus demands to know who he is, Maximus turns his back on him. Commodus decides to kill him, but is forced by the people with their shots for Live. The plot thickens as Commodus realizes that his sisters allegiance is not to him. In desperation, Commodus threatens his sister into alliance with the life of his nephew. In an effort to kill Maximus, Commodus declares a battle between the victor for Rome, Titus, along with four hungry tigers, against Maximus. At the end of the battle, Maximus refuses to kill Titus. Commodus confronts him, and insults the memory of his family. Maximus, not to be played a fool by Commodus, turns and walks away. This enrages Commodus, which leads Maximus into battle against Commodus in the Colosseum. Commodus inflicts a knife wound on Maximus before the

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Jul 15, 2001

The Gladiator Review

Angela Detter

battle to weaken him. Yet, Maximus is stronger than Commodus ever dreamed. Maximus is successful in the battle, after Commodus loses the allegiance of his army. Commodus falls to his death, and Maximus is declared the winner. Maximus then fulfills his promise to Marcus Aurelius. He returns Rome to the people. He also frees the slaves (Gladiators) and places the Senate in control. Gladiators, and others carry him out of the Colosseum. Ironically, Commodus is left in the Colosseum. Ignored by the very people that he wanted to control. This movie had several very intense moments; yet, it managed to keep my attention. There was a lot of violence in the movie, which has brought about a lot of controversy. Still, I realize that the violence was necessary to make the movie as real to life as possible. The life of a Gladiator was not silent and without blood. The life of a Gladiator was not filled with glamour. The life of a Gladiator, as portrayed in this movie, was filled with many unexpected events. Many of these events were not picked by the Gladiator, but simply happened to them. The events became their reality. The events changed them. The most famous line in the movie says, The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who became a hero. This is so true for our lives. We can all change, and we can all become the hero. Maximus dies in the Colosseum. The daughter of Marcus Aurelius declares him a Soldier of Rome, then Soldiers,

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