Gladiator (2000) - Two Disc Set [DVD]

Description

Product Description DVD Special Features Commentary with Director Ridley Scott, the Director of Photography and the Editor Making of Gladiator: HBO First Look -- 25 mins Deleted Scenes with optional Director's Commentary Gladiator Games -- Roman Blood Sport: Learning Channel Special -- 50 mins Hans Zimmer Profile -- The Making of the Music for Gladiator Pietro's Treasure Chest: Best of Deleted Footage Montage Spencer Treat Clark (Lucius) Production Journal Original Storyboard Comparisons & Conceptual Art Photo Gallery Trailers Animated Menus Production Notes Cast & Crew Biographies Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS Anamorphic 1:2.35 Subtitles: English, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Icelandic, Hindi, Hebrew, Bulgarian, Croatian, Turkish, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Greek, Norwegian, Arabic, Dutch desertcart.co.uk Review Ridley Scott's glossy historical epic Gladiator revitalised the classic sword 'n' sandal genre, bringing both a modern pop-culture sensibility and state-of-the-art computer-generated special effects to what had seemed like a worn-out formula. Essentially a remake of Anthony Mann's stodgy 1964 Fall of the Roman Empire, Gladiator also borrows heavily from Saving Private Ryan in its stunning opening sequence, and employs Ridley's brother Tony Scott's rapid-fire editing style for the remarkably staged Colosseum fights. The overall effect is a hugely impressive but emotionally empty spectacle complemented by Hans Zimmer's bestselling but derivative score. Russell Crowe cements his star status with a brooding, muscular performance helped along by lots of pithily quotable mock-Shakespearean dialogue. But Crowe's Maximus, along with everyone else in the film, is a disappointing two-dimensional stereotype: there's also the ridiculously melodramatic villain (Joaquin Phoenix), the old flame who's still in love with her hero (Connie Nielsen) and the trusty companion (Djimon Hounsou--who seems stuck in these roles). Richard Harris lacks the gravitas to convince as the philosopher-king Marcus Aurelius, and only Oliver Reed, in his very last film, brings some depth to his world-weary ex-gladiator. Still, if Scott's film lacks the profundity of Ben-Hur, Spartacus or even Cleopatra, it remains a kinetic, exciting thrill ride that gives us some sense of what it must have been like to fight and die with a gladius in hand. On the DVD: Gladiator's two-disc set quickly became a must-have on its first release and remains one of the absolute essential DVD purchases. It set the standard both for picture and sound quality (Dolby 5.1 or DTS) as well as providing a second disc fully loaded with excellent special features. Scott's audio commentary is on the first disc, and the second has documentaries about both the history and the film, deleted scenes, storyboards, hidden "Easter Eggs" and more. --Mark Walker Review: One of the greatest - One of the greatest movies, which will be a classic and will stand the test of time. I watched it many times and never gets boring, every single scene is great, this movie simply has everything: great plot, great acting, great quotes, amazing scenery, costumes, Zimmer's music and Scott's directing! If you haven't watched it yet, what you are waiting for, special invitation?? :) Review: A Tribute to the late Oliver Reed - One of the most important films made during the last ten years. The reason? Hollywood hasnt lost its appetite for its epics. A wonderful achievement. Not always entertaining to watch for some of the fight scenes are horrendous. The story evolves around a Roman General Maximus(Russell Crowe) who is betrayed by the evil Roman Emporer Commodus (Jaoquim Phoenix). After Maximus' family is slain, Maximus arrives back in Rome as a gladiator under the guidance of Oliver Reed seeking revenge against Commodus. Wonderful set pieces, filmed in Morocco, Malta, and yes, England. This DVD version is enhanced by superb picture quality and sound; and extra features which need to be seen in order to see the tremendous work which went into the making of Gladiator. According to the critics and movie fans alike, Joaquim Phoenix left a lot to be desired; but i do not agree. Bearing in mind its a difficult part to play an evil Emporer, (Peter Ustinov hammed it up superbly playing Nero in Quo Vadis) J. Phoenix played him rather well considering. Overall, a fine achievement in what was, sadly, Oliver Reed's final film. He couldnt have asked for anything better than this to make his final film appearance.