Gladiator

Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" is an epic Ancient Roman historic drama masterpiece. An epic genre with the story of a Roman solider who is betrayed, loses everything and is sold into slavery, only to fight his way back as a gladiator, all the while driven by vengeance for his murdered family. The recreation of Ancient Rome is splendid with all its magnificent buildings and atmosphere. Ridley Scott successfully shows all brightness and the greatness of the Roman Empire with its political problems and military discipline, and love and treason, of hate and jealousy. The costumes, weapons, armor, props and movie sets are also remarkably well-done and give an excellent depiction of Ancient Rome. The movie dialogue is literate and poetic and has very iconic memorable speeches. John Mathieson provides very wonderful cinematography. The choreographer of the action sequences was brilliant. The scenery used in the movie is brilliant. The modern camera technique contrasts sharply to the brutality of the gladiators actions and bloodshed. The movie script is very well written, and the plot is very easy to follow. Wonderful storytelling. The acting is terrific. The cast are very brilliant in their roles. Russell Crowe is brilliant in his role as Maximus, the Roman general who became a slave, who became a gladiator and who defied an emperor. We can still envision Russell Crewe as an actual Ancient Roman gladiator. Joaquin Phoenix is fantastic in his role as the scheming and corrupt Emperor Commodus. Joaquin Phoenix indeed plays a great villain as he gives a great depth of Commodus' certain vulnerable or fragile sides and letting his character’s ruthless nature out all at once. Richard Harris was perfect in his role as Marcus Aurelius. Connie Nielsen was very good in her performance as Lucilla who herself torn between loyalty to her brother and doing what is right. Oliver Reed was very great in his role as Proximo, the trainer for the gladiators. Hans Zimmer's does an excellent job in composing beautiful music that captures the tone of the movie. The song, "Now We Are Free" by Lisa Gerrard that plays during the movie credits is hauntingly beautiful and hypnotic. Gladiator" is a deep, rich, and meticulously detailed visual experience. This is still one of the most breathtaking and epic gladiator movies that I have ever seen. What we do in life echoes in eternity.

Don’t buy this. Buy the other Gladiator in 4K because this extended version is included in the iTunes extras!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14 (3920)

This Is literally an option one the menu of the standard movie. One of my all time favorites, but this shouldn’t be sold separately, very deceptive.

Definitely worth a watch.

Great acting. Great storyline. Great cinematography. Should have won more awards.

You want us to rebuy the movie to get the extra 25 minutes? Then you don’t put it in 4K when the original version is? What are you thinking?

The movie is 5 stars easily and while I don't know if I prefer the extended cut, the added scenes do add some depth (but also make for a bit less tight of a movie). But it's really puzzling that this extended edition is available on the Blu-Ray in 4K yet is not in iTunes. The work for 4K/HDR has already been done for it, except the encoding for iTunes. Are they working on this? Is it an oversight? So the 1 star is not for the content of this edition, just for the lack of the (already existing) 4K/HDR upgrade it deserves.

Unlike the original version this has not been upgraded to 4K and HDR.

While I love this movie, it's such a shame that it's a separate buy from the theatrical movie that also just had the 4K option added to it. Why doesn't this version have a 4K option, as well?