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Gladiator
Steyn Online ^ | 2 May 2020 | Mark Steyn

Posted on 05/02/2020 3:27:03 PM PDT by Rummyfan

Our star movie columnist, Kathy Shaidle, is off this weekend, so her fill-in guy is obliged to step in. I can't quite believe it's twenty years since this film was released, but nevertheless it is: May 5th 2000. So in honor of its first two decades, and in memory of a ridiculously distinguished cast too prematurely departed (Richard Harris, David Hemmings, Oliver Reed), we salute a film that has the courage of its own ridiculousness and features a splendid turn by Russell Crowe, although his turn as Javert in Les Miz came close, and so did his performance at the Riskie Awards. The historical research by Ridley Scott speaks for itself, so just to set the scene:

Germania, 180 AD. Rome is at war with the, er, Germaniacs, who stand around in the Black Forest grunting like Brits on the piss who've nutted themselves in one pub fight too many. You need a cool head to take on the Roman Army, and the only one the barbarians have belongs to Caesar's emissary, whom they thoughtfully decapitated before sending back. They wave the old noggin around like a treasured footie ball, grunting, "Ug Eugh Blug" or, translated from the original gibberish, "Over 'ere, mate." It's a scene that rings oddly contemporary in the age of Isis, although when I first saw it, a year before 9/11, it gave me the giggles. But then barbarians always seem funny from a distance, don't they? Here they scratch their pelts and grunt some more, seemingly unconcerned by the fact that the Roman legions are lighting up their blazing arrows and fireballs, the smart bombs of the day. The ensuing battle, whose outcome would seem never to be in doubt, is apparently the final bloody act in a twelve-year war.

(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...


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Comment #1 Removed by Moderator

To: Rummyfan
Instead, he is going to make his brave general Maximus a "trustee" until Rome is ready to become a republic again. Maximus (Russell Crowe) is a Colin Powell type of general: a nice fellow everyone respects who supposedly has no public ambitions. Commodus, though, has other ideas, and suffocates his father. As the old showbiz saying has it, dying is easy, Commodus is hard.

Gotta love Steyn!

2 posted on 05/02/2020 3:29:39 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
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To: Rummyfan

Gladiator is a great movie.

If they tried to make it today the main character will be played by a transvestite.


3 posted on 05/02/2020 3:30:01 PM PDT by wildcard_redneck ("Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither.")
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Also, Oliver Reed’s last film. During production in Malta he went out one day and quite literally drank himself to death. Fortunately for the production most of his scenes were complete.


4 posted on 05/02/2020 3:35:30 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
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To: wildcard_redneck

There’s one scene where an automobile is momentarily seen for a split second. One of those famous movie faux pas. At least I think that’s the movie.


5 posted on 05/02/2020 3:36:16 PM PDT by John Milner (Marching for Peace is like breathing for food.)
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To: Rummyfan

I was so taken with and loved this movie, that I ended up going to see it in the theater 10 times, the first time was when it had already been out for 2 months. I just could not get enough of it. I was so taken with its historical nature, the recreation of the Roman empire, the characters, the music, the costumes, everything about this movie!


6 posted on 05/02/2020 3:41:31 PM PDT by nfldgirl
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To: Rummyfan

7 posted on 05/02/2020 3:42:22 PM PDT by ExGeeEye (For dark is the suede that mows like a harvest.)
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To: wildcard_redneck

I liked it too. He has been in some good movies-My favorite is “Master and Commander”

How can you not like “ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?”

That ranks up there with “I love the smell of napalm in the morning...”


8 posted on 05/02/2020 3:42:37 PM PDT by rlmorel (The Coronavirus itself will not burn down humanity. But we may burn ourselves down to be rid of it.)
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To: John Milner

There is also a scene with a guy walking by leading a horse and he’s wearing jeans.


9 posted on 05/02/2020 3:43:21 PM PDT by nfldgirl
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To: John Milner

There’s a scene near the beginning where everyone is lined up to do battle and a guy in jeans steps out from the far left, you see jeans between the horse’s legs.


10 posted on 05/02/2020 3:44:02 PM PDT by Ciexyz (Prayers for America.)
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To: rlmorel
I liked it too. He has been in some good movies-My favorite is “Master and Commander”

I think that was the best work Crowe has ever done.

In the service, one must always choose the lesser of two weevils.

11 posted on 05/02/2020 3:46:53 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
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I like the opening battle scene with those nasty barbarians. Kind of wish I were there, on either side.


12 posted on 05/02/2020 3:47:03 PM PDT by Enterprise
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To: rlmorel

Are you not entertained?

13 posted on 05/02/2020 3:48:58 PM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel.)
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To: wildcard_redneck

>>If they tried to make it today the main character will be played by a transvestite.<<

“Gladiatix” starring ru paul.


14 posted on 05/02/2020 3:50:52 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ("DonÂ’t mistake activity for achievement." - John Wooden)
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To: Rummyfan

I recently watched it since it happened to be on TV, and I had forgotten how good it was since I saw it many years ago. He was loyal to the dream of Rome to the bitter end and fought to keep an evil ruler (Commodus) from corrupting it.


15 posted on 05/02/2020 3:54:17 PM PDT by KittyKares (Drain the Swamp)
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To: Rummyfan

Haven’t bee n to a movie in several years but use to go regularly. If I were to rank what I’ve seen this would be number 1!!!


16 posted on 05/02/2020 3:56:34 PM PDT by Allen In Texas Hill Country
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To: rlmorel
Here my favorite movie quote from Unforgiven:


17 posted on 05/02/2020 3:57:28 PM PDT by wildcard_redneck ("Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither.")
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To: wildcard_redneck

ANOTHER of my favorites! Great movie...

Ever see “Open Range”?


18 posted on 05/02/2020 4:01:42 PM PDT by rlmorel (The Coronavirus itself will not burn down humanity. But we may burn ourselves down to be rid of it.)
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To: Rummyfan

I’m always in awe of what the Great Steyn can do with words.


19 posted on 05/02/2020 4:01:53 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Grunting, "Ug Eugh Blug" or, translated from the original gibberish, "Over 'ere, mate.")
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To: Rummyfan
"Do you not know, my good doctor...

I just love the complete look of disbelief when he realizes he has been had...

Beautiful. I love the portrayal of shipboard life in that time. It inspired me to read all the novels it was loosely based on.

20 posted on 05/02/2020 4:06:02 PM PDT by rlmorel (The Coronavirus itself will not burn down humanity. But we may burn ourselves down to be rid of it.)
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