Gladiator

I'm still waiting to learn the secrets of Greek fire.

The high point of Rome is indeed impressive. I always think back to that quotation from "A World Lit Only by Fire":

It says much about the Middle Ages that in the year 1500, after a thousand years of neglect, the roads built by the Romans were still the best ones on the continent.

You can do lots of reading on the current idea about that incendiary horror.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_fire

Joaquin Phoenix describing his terror being in his first major motion picture of such scale


https://youtube.com/shorts/J6FrhU0iXlo?feature=shared

Not sure if I have posted here before, this is a favorite of mine and has a great soundtrack.

The buzz about the sequel is good. I think if people just watch the movie for what it is and not compare it to the first it will have a fair chance.

Joaquin is the only thing I liked about this movie

I think Phoenix is one of those "talents" who isn't really an actor, but a deranged person who has found work in front of a camera. In years past, a mentally distressed person might find themselves venerated as an oracle or elevated to rank of Jester for the amusement of the court. I think Phoenix is the latter (we just kind want to see what he's going to do next), and in this sense he really is "the Joker." Sadly, his new movie still sucks.

Yeah....some actors act by imitating a character, while others act by being themselves and getting chosen for a role that fits who they are. Phoenix reminds me of the latter. It's interesting as a psychoanalytical proposition since, who but someone who has "been there" (mentally speaking) would know how to be some of these deranged characters like Commodus.

Commodus was one of the crazier Roman emperors and that's probably more difficult to portray than it is to be a beefy, manly actor with lots of muscles and bravado portraying a gladiator. The Crowe-styled gladiator would have to be a winner in the arena since most people who went into the ring were slaves, disposable and short-lived. Only a few got to be stars. A few even retired rich.

i watched the first one and i got bored with it :/ so i be watching gladiator 2 on this friday

I always thought Reed deserved the BSA nomination over Phoenix

I love Oliver Reed. He's amazing. Denzel can never be Oliver.

I am half way through it. First re-watch in 24 years. Saw this at the theater with my wife who had a thing for Crowe. Man, we were younger.

Just rewatched the original again as well, in preparation for seeing G2 in the theater next week. What strikes me 24 years later is that it's predominantly spectacle. Some babbling here and there about loyalty, respect, familial devotion, preserving Rome's republican heritage, and such. But it feels forced, as if the writers felt obligated to throw in a few bites of substance here and there to create a little buffer between action scenes. Still, it's a rousing tale and enjoyable enough. I've always wanted to conclude the kickoff meeting for a project team with Maximus's famous line, "At my signal, unleash hell."

__________________
Scarecrow: I haven't got a brain ... only straw. Dorothy: How can you talk if you haven't got a brain? Scarecrow: I don't know. But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they? Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

LOL, you're right.

Fast and Furious: Roman Drift

Vin Diesel as Maximus
Michelle Rodriguez as Lucilla
Tyrese Gibson as Juba
Paul Walker as Commodus
Ludricrous as Lucious
The Rock as Tiger
Jason Statham as Quintus
Kurt Russell as Marcus Arueius

and

Noel Gugliemi as Hector

I just finished for the second time in 24 years. I kind of agree with you. It is a bit overwrought in places but still enjoyable.

My review


The first time seeing this since 2000 in the theaters. It's a bit of a spectacle and certainly not a deep dive into Roman history or culture. It just scratches the surface. Viewers should watch The Fall of the Roman Empire from 1964 directed by Anthony Mann. Gladiator steals a lot from that movie in my opinion. The performances are great in this movie all the way around. Crowe was spot on. Really sad to see to Oliver reed who didn't make it to the end of this film ( stay away from drinking competitions in Malta). I thought he deserved a BSA nomination. Good entertainment all around with some great battle and fight scenes as remembered it from long ago.