Poonany's Thoughts

I thought Gladiator was everything a movie should be !! It was refreshing to see such a well done film without the need for cursing or sex. I am surprised at the "R" rating, in that the battle scenes were very tastefully done and the filming did not, as a general rule, focus in on any gore.There is a little bit of the Prince of Egypt in the beginning of the story. A father/leader (Caesar/Pharaoh), two sons, one natural and one adopted, with the future of the nation (Rome/Egypt) at stake. And like the Biblical Esau and Jacob story, one 'brother' steals the father's blessing.In this film evil comes in many forms The brutal war at the beginning, the Emperor of Rome, and the tiger. In myth the chaos monster must be overcome. Maximus' victory over the tigers assures his place as ultimate victor in the story's final ending. He becomes "Maximus the savior." In fact that is a closing line in the film.The stadium scenes resonate with 'Spartacus' and DeMille's 'Sign of the Cross.' They are spectacular to watch and the chariots give it a real 'Ben Hur' feel at times. In fact the whole plot is very similar to Ben Hur.

9/10