Gladiator Revisited

Any man that wants to see what the Imperial Roman army, at essentially its height, would have possibly looked like simply needs to watch this film’s first twenty minutes. It’s worth the price of purchase alone. You get the Germanic barbarian horde and the Roman legionnaires’ in their full regalia. There’s also fire tipped arrows, catapults, glistening gladius swords, shinning iron armor, and a cavalry charge too! I forgot the main protagonist has a war dog that gets a moment as well.

Are there tons of historical inaccuracies? Yes, of course there are. Is there actually a good storyline and moving dialogue? Yes, there’s that too. Technically speaking, there are some gorgeous shots and the CGI holds up pretty well to this day. It’s not overdone or cartoonish. You get to see different levels of gladiatorial combat, from smaller regional shows, to full Colosseum battles. Almost all supporting actors add to the drama, and the main villain is believable and even has glimpses of sympathetic emotions and situations.

You can enjoy this film and not really even understand anything about the ancient Mediterranean world. Though it might help some, you don’t need any historical knowledge of Roman society or gladiator combat at all, but you will still be able to follow the story perfectly well. The costume design and cinematography are top notch. This has always been one of Ridley Scott’s strongest areas.

I’m not going to spoil the movie for you (even though it’s been out since 2000), I enjoy it too much to do that. I’ll tell you why you should watch it and why it’s worth showing to your son, if he’s mature enough to see some violence. Gladiator’s main protagonist, “Maximus,” is an archetype of the warrior or the heroic man. He isn’t perfect, but he is an ideal in many ways. He is humble to both his superiors and subordinates, orderly, dutiful, calm under pressure, courageous, and, most of all, he never gives up. Beyond all this, he is a husband, father, and a patriot in the truest sense of the word.

Sometimes we need reminders of what men really ought to be. Many men don’t have role models in their everyday lives. And, as silly as it might be to admit, even movies can act as a kind of distant mirror to emulate. If the men around you aren’t worth emulating, then maybe it’s time to look at these archetypes for guidance and symbolic remembrance. It’s okay to read books and watch films for inspiration. It’s better than the alternative, which can lead to a sort of cynical spiral toward oblivion. If you’re looking for something watch or even rewatch, my vote is for Gladiator. It’s probably one of the manliest movies of all time. There I said it! Hell, if nothing else it’s fun to watch and you won’t lose your soul watching it.

“Brothers, what we do in life… echoes in eternity.”

-By JJ

Identity Dixie Guest

O I’m a good old rebel, now that’s just what I am. For this “fair land of freedom” I do not care at all. I’m glad I fit against it, I only wish we’d won, And I don’t want no pardon for anything I done.