The film’s color palette is very limited with only a splash of vibrant colors here and there. Certain CG scenes have not aged very well.Īlso, keep in mind that the HDR won’t dramatically change the look of the film. Unfortunately, the downside is that the CGI is now more apparent than ever. It’s as if you’re watching the film for the first time. But the biggest surprise is how clear the 4K transfer is. There is some noticeable grain in parts but it adds to the grittiness of certain scenes. Considering the much of the source material is in 4K, this isn’t that surprising. For a film that’s 18 years old, it looks phenomenal in Ultra HD. Gladiator hits 4K Ultra HD with a Dolby Vision/HDR10 4K transfer and a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. It truly is a classic that deserves to be a part of the “Holy Trinity” of historical epics. As Drake once famously said, “started from the bottom, now we here.” There’s no better description than that when it comes to Maximus. It’s a beautiful film about one man’s ascension from the proverbial ashes. Overall, Gladiator is one of Ridley Scott’s best films. After all, Commodus continually frightens her with his incestual advances. Much like Crowe, she’s unafraid of showing a tender side to her as well. Much like her character in Wonder Woman, she is a strong royal presence in the film. Connie Nielsen also brings the strong woman aspect to the film as well. He’s a friendly face in a vicious and violent world. His friendly demeanor and attitude is the main reason as to why we love his character so much. It’s because of his vulnerability that you attach yourself to him.ĭjimon Hounsou also brings it as Maximus’ close friend, Juba. He isn’t like your stereotypical hard-nosed soldier. Yet he’s broken down enough so you can see a tender side to his character too. In his breakout role, Crowe has the gravitas to command the screen. Chief among them is Russell Crowe, who astonishes as Maximus. Joaquin Phoenix isn’t the only bright spot in the film because the entire cast of Gladiator is truly amazing. Not to mention, there’s also a confidence in his performance that you can see as well. There are little nuances to his portrayal if you look closer at his performance. His bratty facial expressions and juvenile petulance are because of his acting ability. Much of this is due to the talent of Joaquin Phoenix. He’s the type of villain that you just love to hate. Yet this is why he’s such a great villain. Thus, if he doesn’t get his way, he acts like a brat. He’s such a good manipulator that he always gets his way. Yes, even the bratty Commodus has a lot of layers to him.Īlthough Commodus is the main reason why haters dislike the film, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s still a complex character. Each character has a lot of layers to them. Not to mention, the characters the fill up this world. It truly feels like you’re in this world and immersed in all of its splendor. From the costume design to the Roman scenery, everything just feels like the spectacles of old. While that may be true in some aspect, the story is its own thing.īut the real reason why people love Gladiator so much is that of its grand visuals, charismatic characters, gladiatorial action. But as haters point out, the story is somewhat similar to its “cousin,” Spartacus. It’s the kind of story that’ll inspire others to do the same-no matter what social class you’re in. If you really think about it, a character that is broken down to his lowest point only to rise up and defy tyranny is a beautiful story.

Maximus’ journey is compelling from its thrilling beginning to its bittersweet end.

Primarily because David Franzoni’s tale of revenge is an impressive piece of character development. Although the haters have some valid points, Gladiator is still a classic.

But Gladiator is the one film that people either hate or love-despite winning the Oscar for Best Picture. Within the last 30 years, there’s been a resurgence of this genre thanks to the Holy Trinity of epics: Braveheart, Gladiator, and The Last Samurai. Historical epics have been a staple in Hollywood since the very beginning.

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