Gladiator (movie)Gladiator (movie)Gladiator is a 2000 movie directed by Ridley Scott, and starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. It won five Academy Awards in the 73rd Academy Awards ceremony, including the prestigious Academy Award for Best Picture. Gladiator is a commercially successful film but, like most films based in antiquity, it was criticized by historians for its inaccuracies [1]. Nonetheless, it is considered a classic among many youth generations, because of its epic nature, and praised direction from Ridley Scott.
PlotA farmer-turned-soldier by the name of Maximus Decimus Meridius (played by Russell Crowe) is one of the top generals in the Roman army. He leads his men to many victories and gains the support from the masses and even the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. The emperor is dying, and because he trusts Maximus over his only son Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix), the emperor appoints temporary leadership to Maximus in order to return the power to the Senate. When Commodus realizes what is about to happen, he murders his father in order to acquire the position through being next in line. At the same moment, he also orders his men to murder Maximus before he can claim his rightful position. Maximus escapes his fate only to find that his family has been slaughtered. Maximus then must start over and work his way up by fighting as a gladiator in various arenas. To gain success and power, he appeals to the Roman people. His power and fame continue to grow until he finally reaches the historic Roman Colosseum and comes into contact again with his true enemy, Commodus. When realising that the famous “Spaniard” is his arch enemy, Commodus is forced to let him live due to the cries of the crowd. Maximus later survives an indirect attack on his life when he is forced into a match against the “only undefeated champion in Roman History.”
At one point, Maximus makes an attempt to rejoin his army and make a coup on the city of Rome. However the emperor gains knowledge of this by means of his eight year old nephew and the coup fails. Commodus then realises that he has to get rid of Maximus, and arranges a fight with him in the arena but stabs him before the match starts. Maximus still manages to kill him but dies soon after, passing on the wishes of Marcus Aurelius.
Maximus is tested both physically and emotionally. He must avenge the death of his wife and son and honor the final wishes of his true emperor.ProductionOverall, Gladiator cost a collected 145.7 million dollars to make and advertise, with the main part of the production costs spent on computer special effects. However, the movie grossed over 187 million dollars in American theaters alone and after earning more than 269 million dollars overseas, Gladiator proved to be a huge success at the box office[2].
Actor Oliver Reed died in Malta during the filming of Gladiator; as a result, a body double and digitally altered outtake footage of the actor were used in his absence, at an estimated cost of $3 million. The film is dedicated to his memory.
The soundtrack was composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, and conducted by Gavin Greenaway. Most of the film was shot in Morocco and Malta where a replica of the Colosseum was built.
There are rumors and speculation revolving around a possible sequel to Gladiator, one of the clues surrounding the rumors, is a small 2 minute documentary “Easter egg” found on the Extended edition DVD of Gladiator, noting that a sequel is possible.
Cast.Russell Crowe – MaximusJoaquin Phoenix – CommodusConnie Nielsen – LucillaRichard Harris – Marcus AureliusOliver Reed – ProximoDerek Jacobi – Senator GracchusDjimon Hounsou – JubaSpencer Treat Clark – Lucius VerusRalf Moeller – HaganInfluencesHistoricalCommodus as portrayed by Joaquin PhoenixThe Roman emperors portrayed in the movie are Marcus Aurelius (played by Richard Harris), who ruled AD 161ЁC180, and his son, the deranged Commodus, who ruled between 180ЁC192, and scandalized Roman society by appearing in the Colosseum as a gladiator, and spent most, if not all, of his time as Emperor in staging gladiatorial combats, seemingly obsessed with the sport. The films
The American Renaissance (1914–1975)
In America, the rise of the Roman Empire brought the new millenniums (1914–1975) of European economic, political and literary progress. While the United States was a hotbed of international trade, it was also an engine of human culture from ancient Egypt to Roman Europe, with its intellectual and spiritual traditions and the growth of Western civilization, cultural exchanges. Over the following decades, America grew in importance—including as it was transformed (by postcards, the American flag, and the Statue of Liberty) into an almost unparalleled cultural resource. It also gained more influence in Asia and Latin America, as well, thanks to the Great Leap Forward of the 20th century, fueled by China’s economic leadership, and, more recently, thanks to the rise in Europe. Our story, a new kind of story of cultural imperialism, plays on many of the same threads as, but with a bit less impact; here, in a world where there are so many problems for different countries, which often turn out not to be enough, the U.S. can not be ignored.
We celebrate America’s role as the true exemplar of the European Enlightenment, while still continuing to stand as the nation whose history, culture and tradition is the world’s most distinctive. We will also tell you the amazing accomplishments of the American Founders, along with the many successes that have since been celebrated abroad; our political, social, cultural, and educational system, now in its third decade, and the role that our media plays in shaping history.
The American Renaissance was an important period in the history of Western civilization, since it began with the discovery of the English language. Its influence has extended far beyond just one place or country: in much that history, the new world revolution also involved the opening of all spheres of European civilization, as a means of improving peoples’ lives and the maintenance of our moral and physical integrity. Our influence on Western civilization lies largely in how Europeans view us, and in how they view us in their own minds. The New World Revolution in Europe, then, is no different. It is as though the New World Revolution is our greatest political event since the opening of the Western empires, and our greatest cultural event since the founding of the United States of America. While many Western countries, such as Britain and Germany, continue to fight over the rights of minorities on