Sometimes a liberal education is an interwoven experience. My son is taking a Film Sound class (where this was shown) and a history class on the fall of the Roman Republic (the time period that this film taks place in). Lucky me, because I am reading the Roman history material out loud to him, and I know next to nothing about the time period (for examply, I couldn't reliably spell Caesar, despite an affection for the salad).
I am neutral on Russell Crowe, but he is very good in this role. He is a general who is betrayed and becomees a slave, a slave who becomes a gladiator, and a gladiator who once again becomes a leader of men. It is a part that requires a certain amount of finesse to pull off well, and he managed it. The corruption that brought the Roman Republic to an end it well displayed here (although it is not central to the plot moving forward). The problem was that Rome ran very much the way the U.S. Congress does today--each member was less concerned with representation of the republic and more concerned about their personal influence and amassing personal wealth. Generals controlled armies (legions) that were loyal to the man and not to the state--so leading a legion was a pathway to wealth and prestige, and literally no one is worrying about what is good for the country. If a senator could not benefit financially and politically, it was of no consequence what the effect was on Rome--which led to it's collapse. Beaustifully filmed and costumed, and the soundtrack, with special emphasis on the collosium scenes, is excellent.
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