Gladiator
The Movie

By Andrew Stretton

Starred Russell Crowe

“The Gladiator Who Defied An Empire”

Gladiator was certainly one of Russell Crowe’s enormous hits of all time and when released in November 2000 under its first title Gladiator (present title Gladiator 2000) hit major sales, Oscars and reviews.  Crowe plays the part of Maximus Decimus Meridius the Roman General who was betrayed by Prince Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) the son of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) the Emperor of Rome and who has just defeated the Germania tribes after a twelve year battle.

The time has now come that Marcus’ powers be handed to the one of his choice, but it would not be his own son, it would be Maximus, the son he never had. Commodus betrays Maximus after his mistake of believing he would be the next Emperor and kills his father to gain his powers before Maximus was due to be handed them.

Now Commodus is in power and will have Maximus killed at dawn and his wife and child hung.  This is a story of power, politics and vengeance.  It is the movie Gladiator.  I will also be displaying some of my favourites from Russell Crowe’s collection and also some by the notable Director of Gladiator Ridley Scott who is known for films such as an earlier Alien (1979) and a later American Gangster (2007) to name but a couple.