Mr. Christian, this books author, presents documentation that the movie studio which produced the Gladiator epic actually admits in one of its own publications that the movie is patterned after what is arguably considered to be the 20th centurys greatest mind control cinematic production, the celebrated Hitlerian documentary, Triumph of The Will, directed by famous German photographer Leni Reinfenstahl. In a separate book accompanying the movie, its makers reveal: Gladiator Director Ridley Scott wanted Commoduss grand entrance into Rome to echo Nazi-era propaganda films like Leni Reifenstahls Triumph of The Will.It's in the DVD too. They are trying to make a point, about Commodus especially, comparing his love of "games" and splendor to that of Nazi's flair for the same thing. Why do you think they put in Wagneresque music in those scenes? They are comparing the power of the Emperor to Hitler in a way.
To make Gladiator somehow satanic just seems looney to me.