Gladiator (3 Disc Extended Special Edition) [2000]

Onto the film: This rivals all the old epics like Ben Hur and is still the best epic of recent times after Alexander and Ridley Scott's very own Kingdom of Heaven have both tried and failed to take Gladiators crown.

It's a simple story about a soldier who is cast out, becomes a slave gladiator, earns his freedom and takes the fight to Rome itself. It is full of the glory, grandeur, and legendary status that make epics so enjoyable to watch.

This is a full on swords and sandals pic, with everything looking incredibly authentic for the time, and the scenes set in the Colisseum jaw-droppingly stunning.

In fact, from the very first frame this film is awe-inspiring. the snowy forest battle, to the dusty arena fights, this shows violence and gore but is in no way excessive. It will please action fans as much as those who like drama.

It is held together by some very fine performances. Career making turns that are yet to be bettered by Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix really bring the film home. Russel a true hero to root for, muscular and bellowing he really fits the part.
Joaquin also fits his boo-hiss evil emperor, and seems to revel in the discomfort he causes to the characters in the film and the audience.

This is an unforgettable piece of film-making, Ridley Scott at his most sweeping greatness, and fully deserved all its oscars.


Brilliant item for the commentary alone!   September 18, 2005
Iceni Peasant (Norfolk, England)
25 out of 28 found this review helpful

If you loved the movie "Gladiator" then you'll love this extended edition box set. This set is packed with extras.

The bonus discs 2 & 3 have a few HOURS of interesting featurettes, all connected to the making of the movie. Some of the things fans will have known before but a lot of it is new footage and makes very interesting viewing.

However it can safely be said that the reason most people will buy this set, AND the reason you SHOULD buy this set, and the disc that will be watched the most is the Extended movie on disc 1.

To be honest the extra scenes that have been put back into the movie are not as numerous as I thought they'd be. It amounts to only a handful of extra scenes...but those are still very good scenes and DO add to the understanding of the story as Ridley Scott wanted to put forward. The real GEM of the whole DVD set though, is the commentary of the movie by Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe. It's just fantastic!!! The commentary is spontaneous, amusing and extremely fascinating on the film-making aspects and also on the behind-the-scenes tales and anecdotes about the other actors and crew. Russell even points out a couple of the well-known visual errors including that guy in the pair of jeans that gets into a shot. It's a warm and funny commentary and shows just how well Ridley and Russell worked together and how much respect they have for each other. SUPERB!! A must for all fans of Gladiator!


Powerful and emotional epic at its best.   May 16, 2007
Mr. Andrew Moore (Worcestershire)
24 out of 26 found this review helpful

Okay. so you have probably already seen Gladiator either at the cinema or on DVD. So whats special about this version and why should you but it? Thats the question I asked myself. Well, I already have the original version and so has to think about getting this one, but I am glad I did. I read other reviews saying not much was in this that isn't in the original, but I say they are wrong.

Okay, so theres nothing really new here, everything is the same right through to when Maximus (Crowe) gets to Rome. After this, there is nothing brethtakingly new, no new battle scenes, no amazing effects... but there is depth. The additional scenes add to the intigue, build the characters even further and adds a more understanding to the minds of the main characters. We have more behind the scenes plotting to bring about the downfall of the insane Commodu (Phoenix) including one scene where he stands in front of the fireing squad while two Soldiers are executed (if thats not mad I don't know what is!).
So, is it worth getting if you already have a copy of the original? In my view, yes it is because the understanding is heightened far beyond what we had before. If all you want is more battles and gore... don't bother. I will watch this version over and over, the original will stay in my collection bit this is the version for me.


A vast improvement, but it's still no Fall of the Roman Empire   September 9, 2006
Trevor Willsmer (London, England)
21 out of 28 found this review helpful

The extended cut of Gladiator still has many of the problems of the original but doesn't feel as disjointed or quite so disappointing. It's not just that it has more room to breathe, more that the additional footage, particularly the scenes away from Maximus where the future of Rome takes center-stage, raise the stakes beyond the simplistic revenge tale the theatrical version all too often settled for. The climactic fight with Commodus is still a major disappointment not just because it's so underwhelmingly staged but because, unlike The Fall of the Roman Empire, the film it relentlessly plagiarises, Commodus is never a credible threat: where Mann gave him foolhardy courage, Scott has implied he's a coward throughout until even a wounded hero can't even the odds. It's still no Fall, but it is a more satisfying film than the one released in cinemas. Very impressive extra features too.


The Emperor's Clothes   December 3, 2006
P. Smith (Vienna)
21 out of 40 found this review helpful

Reading through the reviews for this film I concede that I may be missing out on what everyone else can see, apparently. I've just watched the film again, having seen it before at the cinema on its release but my view of it remains unchanged.

The blood and battle scenes are brilliantly executed. They're by far the highlights of the film and I think it's fair to say that Ridley Scott handles this kind of action with practically no peer as a director. The DVD extras show the meticulous care he takes over every shot.

Looking at the film as a whole, though, the best comparison I can make is that it's a bit like driving into London (or any big city) in the morning - at one moment you're coasting along and then you hit some traffic lights and then some more and then some more and then, if you're very lucky, you're on your way again. The coasting along could stand for the action sequences in this film and the traffic lights, the dialogues (especially the head to head ones). These are all far too long-winded and heroic (or to put it better, mock-heroic and even cliched). Once you are away from the frenetic action it is these speeches that drag the film from a plod to a stop.

As for characterisation, I wish Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) had been given some darkness in his character too. He is shown to us as a kindly, avuncular figure who longs wistfully for peace and for what sounds suspiciously like a modern Western liberal democracy. Although Marcus Aurelius was philosophical and serious-minded and a reformer it is a mistake to portray him as Dumbledore. It is the part not the actor (Richard Harris, is as good as ever) that needs some colour.

Other characters are given some terribly creaky lines to deliver, too, Lucilla (Connie Nielson) , for example, in the Colosseum final scene. Her squeaky-clean character is somewhat monochromatic and underdeveloped as well, which ia a pity.

Some characters are well-drawn, granted. Commodus (Joaquin Pheonix) is wonderfully flawed and cunning and Oliver Reed gives a fine performance (one of the best of his career, in my view) as Proximo so the film is far from a disaster. It's just as equally far, though, from a masterpiece which is clearly the accepted view but not mine.

The DVD contains some excellent 'making of' documentaries showing the evident care taken over costuming and setting up the battle scenes amongst many other things so you do at least get your money's worth with this package.