Gladiator review

In anticipation of the upcoming release of “Gladiator II”, I’m retro-reviewing the Best Picture Oscar-winning original “Gladiator” this episode. You will not have to ask if you’re entertained with this review because “Gladiator” is one of the most beloved movies of all time. It’s the movie that made even your Grandma aware of who Russell Crowe was. It launched a whole era of swords and sandals movies and TV series afterwards. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe playing General Maximus Decimus Meridius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife who would have his vengeance in this life, or the next. Many motivational and meme-worthy quotes were introduced into the zeitgeist by this movie: “Are you not entertained?”, “What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” I could go on, and I will, in this episode all about this Ridley Scott classic about a Roman general, made a slave, who became a gladiator then later, the savior of Rome. You could consider this part of your “homework” for brushing up on what happened in “Gladiator” before you rush out to see “Gladiator II.” “Gladiator” also stars Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Djiman Hounsou, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, David Schofield, John Schrapnel, Tomas Arana, Ralf Moeller, Spencer Treat Clark, David Hemmings, Tommy Flanagan and Sven-Ole Thorsen.