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GLADIATOR by Mike NurseyThe FilmGladiator the new film by Ridley Scott, of Alien, Blade Runner fame, brings a sword and sandal epic back to the big screen. For those who haven't seen it yet it tells the story of general Maximus who is betrayed by the Emperor's son, Commodus, and ends up fighting as a Gladiator slave for Oliver Reed who died during the filming after a drinking binge with a group of sailors. Maximus, who of course becomes the greatest Gladiator ever sees how to avenge the death of his family. The first ten minutes feature the legions fighting against the hairy Germans and the battle scenes are very good, the legionaries look particularly battle hardened, with blackened armour, as are all the gladiator scenes especially the scythed chariots. Scott has a particular style, and the two and a half hour film drags a bit. Its not the blockbuster that virtually every paper is hyping it as except the EDP which gave it three stars and that's about right. Cost $100 million, 10,000 costumes, good special effects, 2000 extras. Russell Crowe is good, and the film's worth a look. The FactsGladiator is the film, but Commodus did really exist. He succeeded his father Marcus Aurelius who died after a short illness in 180AD. Commodus became quite corrupt and increasingly unbalanced although not to the extent of Caligula, or Nero. Commodus wanted himself dedicated as a god, based himself on Hercules and did indeed fight in the arena as a gladiator, shooting animals from the safety of a walk way. After several attempts on his life he began keeping a sword under his pillow, well at least the tooth fairy would get a nasty shock! He retired to a life of drinking etc, leaving the empire to be run by his wife. He even had his sister Lucilla killed. Eventually, everyone ganged up on him including the head of the Praetorian guard and his wife. They tried to poison him but he vomited it up, so they sent in a young athlete called Narcissus who strangled Commodus. He was so disliked that the Senate wanted his body dragged around the streets of Rome as criminals were. Even so he'd managed to hang on to power for 12 yrs. The HypeIts now gone into overdrive. Articles of two pages and more in most of the newspapers on what a Blockbuster the film is. An article on Marcus Aurelius and his sayings such as 'always put the cat out at night', 'look both ways when crossing the Appian Way in case a chariot is coming' etc etc. The digital remastering of Ollie Reed, who appeared in 10% of the film. One reviewer said Gladiator is in fact Star Wars in a toga. Simply on the grounds that their was an 'EMPIRE' in all the films, and goodies and baddies. Well, it appear in the Daily Mail. Every extra who lives anywhere in East Anglia has had a feature in the local press, EDP and Yarmouth Mercury. Then the Daily Mirror sent their female staff to review it, (another two page article), who declared it a 'gorefest', 'chick flick'. How do they get these jobs? Lineone the internet company are giving away their free Gladiator service on CD ROM. Well at least that's what I thought it said. (www.screendragon.com), for film clips, etc. The ReviewerMicus 'Where's my sword' Nursus had an illustrious career carving his way across ancient Rome. Armed with only a gladus, razor wit and a few thousand legionnaires, he was instrumental in the defeat of both Mark Anthony and Julius Ceasar himself. Exiled from Rome by a distrustful senate, he found refuge in a small corner of the empire. Mike is a direct descendant from Micus, and it is rumoured he still enjoys the time honoured family pastime of dressing in sandals and leather armour whilst whipping his slaves (the sandals are optional). |