rdfs:comment
| - In Ancient Rome, General Maximus Decimus Meridius is named heir to the ailing Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who wishes that Rome be restored to a republic with the Senate ruling as the representative of the people. The Emperor's son, Commodus, refuses to accept this future: he murders his father, declares himself to be the new Emperor, and orders that Maximus be killed when the general refuses to pledge loyalty to him. Maximus escapes this fate, but unfortunately for him, his wife and young son do not. Maximus swears to avenge their deaths and join them soon after; wandering around the countryside, he is soon found and brought into slavery. Maximus is trained as a gladiator by his captors, and he successfully wins the crowd's approval in his first few performances; this allows Maximus to travel
|
abstract
| - In Ancient Rome, General Maximus Decimus Meridius is named heir to the ailing Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who wishes that Rome be restored to a republic with the Senate ruling as the representative of the people. The Emperor's son, Commodus, refuses to accept this future: he murders his father, declares himself to be the new Emperor, and orders that Maximus be killed when the general refuses to pledge loyalty to him. Maximus escapes this fate, but unfortunately for him, his wife and young son do not. Maximus swears to avenge their deaths and join them soon after; wandering around the countryside, he is soon found and brought into slavery. Maximus is trained as a gladiator by his captors, and he successfully wins the crowd's approval in his first few performances; this allows Maximus to travel to Rome and compete in gladiatorial battles arranged by Commodus. Maximus soon wins Rome's approval -- to the point where he begins to become more popular amongst the people than Commodus -- and begins to plan his revenge... Gladiator, released in 2000, is known for reviving the epic movie genre, great action sequences, and all-around general badassery; it was also a huge hit for Ridley Scott. Though Scott didn't win the Oscar for Best Director, the film itself took home many others -- including the all-important Best Picture -- and earned Russell Crowe his first Oscar. This film is not to be confused with the proto-superheroic 1930 book.
|